What this is an example of I think is a teacher taking advantage of the demographics that are already in the room. I agree, that clickers would be the way to go if a school started to think this was required technology. Clickers are expensive though. This teacher said, hey, my students all have cell phones already with texting packages. Why shouldn't I take advantage of that? I think it's a great idea. The obvious "have nots" argument it brings to the surface is very valid though. But, just because one teacher is doing it, how does that all of a sudden make it a requirement school wide?
Use the tools available to you. If those tools are not available, you might have to re-think how you want to do it. Curtis McKay Network Administrator Belleville Township High School District 201 cmc...@bths201.org -----Original Message----- From: tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org [mailto:tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org] On Behalf Of JimHays Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 9:18 AM To: Tech-Geeks Mailing List Subject: Re: [tech-geeks] Cell Phone Class USE - was What's the coolest activity you've seen a teacher do with..... How is this any different that a set of text enabled "clickers"? I know it used the kids' cell phones but if the goal is to get immediate feedback, clickers work just as well and they don't discriminate against the poorer students. Sullivan, Terence wrote: > > Tom brings up a point I have been struggling with. If a classroom > starts requiring a cell phone and texting capability, is the school > obligated to furnish a cell phone to all students? My district is near > 70% poverty and we have to furnish calculators in any class where it > is required. If we start using cell phones (which I agree is coming) - > then how do we provide a "free and appropriate education" to all > students unless the school purchases a set of phones and a text > package? As you can guess we have no budget for that. > > Side question - how will the SLD - FCC view that for E-rate? > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org > [mailto:tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org] *On Behalf Of *Steele, Thomas C > *Sent:* Monday, September 20, 2010 9:02 AM > *To:* Tech-Geeks Mailing List > *Subject:* Re: [tech-geeks] What's the coolest activity you've seen a > teacher do with..... > > Our HS physics teacher has students use their cell phones to text > responses to questions he puts up on the board and the results are > tallied and displayed in near real-time for the class to see. I > believe he also has an interactive component that allows students to > post questions as well. He actually does have a Promethean board, but > just uses the projector for these activities. > > I should point out that this is not a widespread activity (and > technically violates district policy). It is being done as a pilot and > on a limited basis. Plus, the teacher is a firm believer in mixing up > the technology so the students don't become bored or complacent with it. > > Thomas C. Steele > Technology Director > Manteno CUSD #5 > > *From:* tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org > [mailto:tech-geeks-boun...@tech-geeks.org] *On Behalf Of *Chris McMahon > *Sent:* Monday, September 20, 2010 8:37 AM > *To:* tech-geeks@tech-geeks.org > *Subject:* [tech-geeks] What's the coolest activity you've seen a > teacher do with..... > > a projector and a dry erase board? Not a > Smartboard/Mimio/Starboard/Promethean/etc., just a plain old dry erase > board and projector. > > I'm wanting to gather a few examples for a workshop that I'll be doing > with some staff. > > -- > Chris McMahon > Director of Technology > Belleville Public School District #118 > 105 West A St. > Belleville, IL 62220 > (618) 233-2830 > cmcma...@belleville118.org <mailto:cmcma...@belleville118.org> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > | Subscription info at http://www.tech-geeks.org | | Subscription info at http://www.tech-geeks.org | | Subscription info at http://www.tech-geeks.org |
