Bring the Students' World Into the Classroom
Through Mobile Learning Pictures
Pupils can use mobile devices to enhance learning in all subject areas. For example, World Language students can take pictures of their home to talk about in the modern language. Instead of talking about some random picture in their textbook, they talk about their own home. Also, Science students can take pictures of environmentally helpful things that their families do. They might show a clock next to a shower to remind others of how their family takes short showers. Furthermore, English students can produce a series of phone pictures to tell a story. In class, they or others write out the story such as getting ready for a party and some problems that emerge. In addition, Math students can take pictures of the math concept used in their home such as picture of the family, three eight ounce glasses of chocolate milk, and a picture of empty gallon container. As they show their pictures to their partner, the partner has to figure out how many gallons of milk the family will need if each family member drinks three glasses per day. In addition, Social Studies students can take pictures of the cultural values in their neighborhood, such as a hybrid car or a large fence. Equally important, Art students can take cell pictures of things that they would like to draw such as a flower growing out of cement blocks or a clash of colors on various buildings. Likewise, Music students can take pictures of some local scene and then, in class, come up with songs or musical styles that would match the picture. For example, they would use different music for a picture of seniors sitting on a park bench than for teenagers playing basketball. Additionally, Health students can capture healthy choices of their family to use in the class. As an illustration, a student takes a picture of her mother serving water instead of soda for supper.
Students are eager to talk about their world outside of school. Teachers can use that enthusiasm to use the students' outside world in the classroom. When students use mobile learning, they engage more and learn more deeply.
Dr. Harry Grover Tuttle
Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY
blog: http://eduwithtechn.wordpress.com
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Students see their life outside of school and their life inside of school as two separate things. With mobile technology, they can bring their world into the classroom. As they bring the outside world into the classroom, they relate more personally to the learning and they see a reason for their learning. Students use their cell phone or smartphone to bring the outside world in. Since students have their phone with them at all times, they can easily capture their world. Usually, once they have decided what to take a pictures of, they simply click on the camera button. Once in a while they might want to stage a scene such as showing a family member putting a can in the recycling bin. To allow time for any staging, teachers will allow a week for such photo taking assignments.
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