Mobile
phones are no longer simply used as a means of communication. They are
now used for a vast array of functions including games,
photos, as a calculator, street directory, stops watch, alarm clock, music
player, calendar and to connect to the internet; hence the reason they have called
the modern day Swiss army knife.
Dr. Patricia Wallace, Ph.D. in her jounal article M-Learning: Promises, Perils, and Challenges for K-12 Education explains that mobile learning is the next stage in technology enhanced learning, because the devices are much more ‘promising compared to the desktop or laptop computer’. When discussing mobile learning it is important to acknowldge that this is not limited to mobile phones and that MP3 players and other handheld devices certainly play an important role; however the mobile phone offers more ‘versatility and convergence’ thefore for this discussion, the focus is soley on the mobile phone.
A report by the Australian Communication and Media Authority titled Convergence and Communications highlighted the value that Australian consumers place on mobility and convenience which was demonstrated by strong levels of mobile-phone ownership. The relativly low costs of mobile phones has lead to their widespread adoption in comparion to desktop or laptop computers. While many lower income homes may not have a computer at home for children to access the internet for school assignments most while will one or more mobile phones.
The major problem that mobile learning is facing in Australia and many other countries is that most schools expected mobile phones to be handed to the office on the way in and collected on the way out. They are seen as a distraction and not considered for their educational purposes and endless potential. Aidan McCarthy, a learning technologies expert, states that schools who simply ban mobile phones from the classroom are failing to provide children a 21st century education. He goes onto to explain the importance of educators keeping up with the children of today and allowing them to express themselves with the contemporary tools that are available such as mobile phones.
In May this year Christian Brothers' College in St Kilda East did something which was seen as radical when it decided to overturned its ban on students bringing mobile phones to school. It was not a decision that the school took lightly, however the reality was that their students (like most other teens) were bringing their mobiles to school anyway and hiding them. The school therefore decided it was time to embrace the technology and use it to their advantage. Principal Gerald Bain-King is quoted in The Age as saying ''If there is too big a disconnect between school and the rest of society, people start to think we have got our heads in the sand - and the boys think we are even bigger idiots than they do normally".
Schools that are currently using mobile learning programs have addressed these possible problems by requiring students to sign contracts about their mobile phone usage at school with priviallages being taken away if the contracts are broken. Just as teachers are required to monitor and manage student behavior in the physical relm so to is classroom behaviour enforced in virtual world.
Mobile phones remain most importantly a social device, they allow students to participate in society in a way that is familiar to them. Because of this the reality is that most high school students now have mobiles and many are bringing them to school regardless of whether the school allows them to. The size of the device is small and light enough to be carried all the time,therefore students will rarely forget to bring their mobile phones (unlike their text books which will often be left at home). This small, always-on, and always available tool can be used as an eductors friend rather than a foe with the right mindset and abit or creativity.
I agree with Wallacewhen she states that ‘The road ahead for m-learning is bound to be bumpy, but mobile phones are already in most teachers’ and students’ hands’ therefore surely it is worth exploring and empracing the endless educational possiblities they provide.
This link
provides some great ideas on how to use mobile learning in the classroom – go
on give a try, what have you got to loose!
References
Australian Communication and Media Authority (2009), Convergence and Communication. Accessed 6 October 2011 from http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100068/convergence_comms_rep-1_household_consumers.pdf
Hanna, C. (2009) Teachers urged to rethink mobile phone ban. Accessed 8 October 2011 from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/teachers-urged-to-rethink-mobile-phone-ban-20090623-cv80.html
Topsfield, J. (2011) School principal answers call to ditch mobile phone ban. Accessed 8 October 2011 from http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/school-principal-answers-call-to-ditch-mobile-phone-ban-20110529-1faxl.html#ixzz1byRaqMRb
Wallace, P. (2010) M-Learning: promises, perils, and challenges for K-12 education. Accessed 17/10/11 from http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/Journals/Winter2011/Wallace
I agree that there is a huge concern about the ethical ramifications of lifting the ban on mobile phones in schools. I was reading the cyber safety page on www.safeinternet.org and they noted that on average, children in Europe own their first mobile phone at 7.1 years of age. I would assume that it must be similar here in Australia. They argue that one of the key teaching strategies for safe and ethical mobile device use is to start digital education young. I think it’s fair to say that a lot of the social networking issues you refer to (e.g. the tagging of unwanted photographs) happen during the teenage years. What if we begin ethical education in regards to digital media before students hit adolescence and allow them to use mobile devices at school early, so the ‘novelty can wear off’ before the teenage nastiness sets in?
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes we underestimate students as well. Last year, we trialled our Year 8 and Year 9 students bringing their (usually banned) mobile phones into class to add any assessments and key term dates onto their mobile phone calendars. Not one student took advantage of the system (and we certainly had students who usually would); we saw improved organisation (e.g. we didn’t hear the familiar “test? What test? No one told me about a test?”) and the feedback we received from both the students and their parents was that they respected the fact that they were trusted.
I too agree, Wendy, that we probably do underestimate students. We probably shouldn't be surprised when they use tools such as mobile phones appropriately. Perhaps one of the main reasons why such technology is not readily used in the classroom rests with the lack of responsibility held by the few. And isn't this often the case in society, that those few who lack the ability of self-control restrict the rights of the entire community?
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't think we can ignore the opportunity as teachers to play an important role in educating our students regarding ethical digital behaviour. We need to spotlight the rights of owning and carrying such small mobile technologies. These rights need to be balanced with the responsibility to treat others appropriately, respect their privacy as well as their own, and be mindful of the legal implications of breaching laws such as defamation. I don't think any of these issues represent new lessons to learn in school. I've taught for over twenty years and these issues have always been addressed in school: respect yourselves and respect others. We didn't propose to ban pen and paper because students would write nasty comments about one another or draw unflattering images. Granted, a paper plane travels across a room, whereas the digital equivalent can circle the globe. But still it wasn't about the tool then and it's not about the tool now.
Interestingly, the Queensland Education Minister, Cameron Dick, has just released a statement identifying the possibility that school students may need a licence to carry a mobile phone into school. Read the media release here: http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=77199.
In one of my posts, I also commented on the lifting of mobile phone bans in schools. As a new advocate for mobile learning in school, I can see many positives in this move as well. However, just as the article suggests, there are always some negative elements, or problems associated with the move. It is interesting that Wendy says that in Europe, the average age for a first phone is 7.1 years of age.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this does not shock me as I have experienced youngsters in a particular Brisbane school carrying and using such technology.
I can completely understand that ethical corollary regarding unauthorised photographs and other behaviours that may break laws or school policy. As my team members have pointed out, if teacher take on the role of ethical educators, student are more likely to understand the ethical implications and use the devices responsibly. It is about giving children and teenagers some flexibility and responsibility.
If the educational benefits of mobile phones were able to be harnessed by teachers, students would in turn have a richer learning experience. I also agree with Wallace who states that ‘The road ahead for m-learning is bound to be bumpy, but mobile phones are already in most teachers’ and students’ hands’. The technology is already available, so it can be used quite easily to ‘change-up’ old pedagogy in to something new that will provide students with a solid understanding of the many uses mobile media has.
To think, we’ve been using Blogger all this time and didn’t think to look at what the site itself offers in regards to mobile media. Have a look at this info page! http://www.blogger.com/mobile-start.g
ReplyDelete