At T+L conference last year they were talking about a school unit that took this to the next step. They went to a vendor (Verizon I believe) and said we want a cell phone with texting and other smart capabilities. Make the phone so it can only text to teachers and other approved destinations. They also had the email set up that way and of course mobile internet that was filtered / controlled. They had the company provide the phones AND service the phones. The basic service was "If it is broke we give you a new one.." Supposedly the phone was used for the greatest portion of the student's responses and document creation etc.
I am wondering how they are doing in "year 2" of the project. -----Original Message----- 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 9:42 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..... It really isn't much different than using the text-based clickers (Promethean has two technologies that we use in the district - ActiVote and ActivExpression). However, those technologies tend to be expensive - especially when you consider equipping each classroom with a set. Also, you have to consider the engagement factor - to a student who is already accustomed to texting, being able to txt responses in class is "way cooler" than using a nerdy school provided clicker. I agree with the equity issue but I don't know how big of an issue it really is. I have not done any kind of formal survey or poll, but from informal observation, it seems the students that qualify for free/reduced lunch are about as likely to have unlimited texting on their cell phone as those who do not qualify. The opposite can also be found to be true - a lot of "wealthier" families will not spring for phones, let alone texting for their kids. Another issue is that the cost of unlimited texting for students is coming way down. Within the past month Walmart has come out with their own relatively inexpensive "Family Plan". I also saw an ad for T-Mobile yesterday advertising "Kids are free" where kids phones/service are free until 2012 with the purchase of a T-Mobile family plan. I am not a proponent of this (though it certainly has possibilities), but in answer to Chris' original question, it has to be one of the coolest things I have seen a teacher use their LCD projector for, especially watching how engaged the students were with the activity. Thomas C. Steele Technology Director Manteno CUSD #5 -----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 | | Subscription info at http://www.tech-geeks.org |
