Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/114027
Erin Stevenson creates vocabulary "Cellphones allow my students to check flashcards on her phone with the help of their grades, log in to the class website and StudyBlue, a free application that also cree-mail the teacher, all while sitting at their ates quizzes (www.studyblue.com). She also desk," says Conn, who presents with Scotten loves Sounds: The Pronunciation App, a free at technology conferences. "With proper online tool that sounds out new words. guidelines and appropriate use, these devices "It's helpful to use cellphones in class," enhance students' learning experiences." says Stevenson. She relies on her phone's calendar to issue study "reminders" and Smart phones = smart students? uses her phone's camera to take pictures Students are on a treasure hunt in Reuben of class notes on the board or record the Hoffman's social studies class at West Hills teacher lecturing. "It makes it easy for me to High School in Santee. They are looking remember things." for information to help them understand the It was not easy for Scotten to become concept of "global stratification," or inequaladept at incorporating smartity based on power, property phones into her classroom. and prestige. "As an older teacher, I had Posted around the room are quite a learning curve to overstudent illustrations of global come, but it benefited both me stratification. One is of Waland my students. I can now Mart driving out small stores speak to them in their language. around the world. If students We learn and grow together." like one of their classmates' In the classroom next door illustrations and want to learn to Scotten, English teacher more, they hold their smartOlivia Conn's students are phones up to the QR code Suzanne Scotten engaged in silent sustained posted alongside, which takes reading (SSR). Some read them to essays of classmates books downloaded onto their cellphones, posted on the class website. because it's cheaper than buying hard copA QR or Quick Response Code is the ies. Conn's cellphone sounds an alarm when trademark for a type of matrix barcode conreading time comes to an end. sisting of square dots arranged in a square 24 California Educator March 2013 Clockwise from top left: Students work with cellphones in class. Nicole Naditz notes that selecting the appropriate tool for the right purpose at the right time increases engagement. Students were surprised they could get information on their phones even if it wasn't a smartphone, says Daniel Moon.