Cellphone in Education
(c) 2009 Puja Goyal
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: August 2009
It was considered inconceivable, a few decades ago, to think of a mobile device via which individuals could talk to each other from anywhere. Mobiles have made not only communication readily accessible; they have influenced and changed the way we look at media (downloading music, and films, shooting videos and picture, gaming, socializing, etc).
There are more than one and a half billion cell phones in use around the world; and a large percentage of these reside in the hands of students. Yet somehow these phones have received less than required credit by educators. There has been a hue and cry about how Mobile phones have been misused and distracted young minds; by enabling them to cheat and thereby interrupt lessons etc. Teachers immediately start imagining that a Mobile in the hand of a student would mean constant interruptions with random phone calls even though the devices have switch off buttons and fines can be imposed.
While banning the device is an easy solution to the problem for schools in India, millions of students in China, Japan, Philippines and Germany etc are using the Mobile phone to learn English, Math, health and spelling and access live and archived lectures and study material.
The next step in Mobile technology is “Mobile information”. Initially considered a curse to the whole education system; Mobiles are considered a possibility for accessing, enhancing, influencing and assisting this very educational system.
Recent developments in technology and creative ideas generated by mobile companies are encouraging educators to reconsider their view of mobile technology—and to imagine a pedagogy that embraces its potential. Essentially small computers, cell phones can support language lessons, display animations of medical and chemical processes, be used for polling and testing, serve as the gateway to larger learning resources—and so much more.
Mobile Technology has become the new classroom in which mobile phones are a key learning tool. The challenge today is how effectively we can turn a ban into a boon. With a little bit of an effort and smart thinking Mobile phones can be incorporated into our education system in meaningful ways. The immediate requirement is to acknowledge the reasons why mobile phones were banned in the first place and see how they can be turned into strengths instead of living with their weaknesses.
In a gist a Mobile can work like the most powerful computers in the world. Even the simplest cell phones have microchips and function exactly like computers do. Technological advancements have enhanced and taken a step forward in combining facilities provided by computers and Mobile phones to converge them. Like all computing devices, Mobiles can be used to learn. So instead of fighting the kids, it would be easier to use the opportunity to convert it into a learning device.
Computers are facing a challenge to inculcate facilities provided by Mobiles and vice versa. Clearly, in the end the two are headed in meeting in the middle where a single device will be able to cater to the users requirements. At the moment though, Mobiles will have to make do with being a very personal device, especially amongst youngsters.
LEARNING THROUGH A MOBILE:
If we have to look at the Statistics then there are about 1.5 Billion Mobiles sold around the world every year. Most students carry Mobiles during school hours purely for personal reasons. They use Mobiles for communicating by voice, text, and digital reasons like taking photos and videos. They also have now been using the Mobile for digital signal processing which allows them to play ringtones and mp3’s. It has thus become a necessary evil.
A Japanese Student said, “When you loose your mobile, you loose part of your brain”
This thought process indicates an intuitive understanding of the link between Digital Natives (the present generation growing up and well - versed in the digital world) and technology; considering that a major part of the communication has now shifted from the computer to Mobile phones. Most contacts and information are now stored on in the Mobile. Educators on the other hand view technologies as a huge distraction from the education they are planning on providing.
THE METHOD:
Students can learn anything from their Mobile if we are able to design the right phone for them. Amongst the many processes of learning, the most common, time – tested and effective of these are listening, observing, reproducing, questioning, reflecting, attempting, guesstimating, predicting, “what– if”-ing, and practicing. All these processes of teaching can be dealt with through our Mobiles; which works as a multi- tasking equipment for “Digital Native” learners.
VOICE ONLY: The most basic phones, which are built in with voice only capability are basically radios, which pick up and send signals on pre determined frequencies. Therefore in essence they are just radios and students can make avail of this facility to learn Languages, History, Story- telling, and Poetry, Literature and Public Speaking. Language amongst these is obvious considering the high demand for learning English everywhere. In UK, CTAD has created voice – only mobile phone learning for school dropouts. In Japan individuals can dial up a number for short English lessons; and in China, BBC is providing Mobile English Language training. Language games like crosswords etc are also being added.
“Digital Immigrant” adults will find it difficult to comprehend that a non face-to-face voice communication and relationships for learning is possible and that virtual relationships are a preferred secondary nature to students. Besides, even the blind can benefit from this sort of learning.
SMS: SMS or Short Text Message had taken the world of young adults by storm what with billions of SMS’s is being sent across to each other everyday. The fact that SMS can be written quickly and sent off immediately offers many learning opportunities. At the moment, SMS enables students to be provided with regular “learning” reminders and tips and encouragement for people trying to change their behavior, such as quit smoking and “no drugs”.
SMS is now extensively used by television show producers to create informational quizzes and involve viewers to vote for the same; for e.g.: Indian Idol, Boogie Woogie, Dance India Dance etc. in school the same can be used to create quizzes and have interactive educational gaming sessions so they can be made aware of current events. Even Princeton Review is using SMS to deliver SAT and other test preparation questions at user preferred times.
GRAPHIC DISPLAYS: all Mobiles have graphic displays, even if it’s a basic phone. They sport bright color screen that can display beautiful pictures and animation very vividly. A simple Mobile’s graphic would consist of showing signal, battery strength and number or name of person calling, or being called. Most high resolution phones allow large amounts of texts to be displayed either paragraph by paragraph or flashed on screen depending on how the user has set his requirements. Graphic displays also allow texts to be accompanied with pictures and animation etc. this could be an added asset to schools which use computers and hand held devices for displaying animation in subjects like anatomy. Mobiles can be used to replace these devices.
The Japanese have been using this very facility to learn everything from business to cooking to drawing; though an ancient art of drawing called “Manga”. Of course in Asian countries, novels intended to be read on phone screens are already been written. Mobiles can then replace textbooks; the only restraint being the limited size of the Mobile screen. This again can be overcome by re-thinking and innovating layout designs.
PROGRAMS: the latest addition to Mobiles is memory. Mobile phones are built in with higher memory and if not, then more memory can be added to them by inserting memory cards. This has ensured that the user can download programs and install them in their Mobiles. Mobile users can download the same teaching, gaming etc programs that they download on their computers; to use them on their Mobiles. This includes spreadsheets, WordPad, MS Office, Outlook Express etc.
INTERNET FACILITIES: internet Explorer has become the default addition to all Mobiles nowadays. Mobiles without one are not considered acceptable by youngsters nowadays. User- friendly Websites are now being designed specifically for Mobiles. The browser helps the user access dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia etc. it gives students instant access to search engines like Google. Students will find information and reference material highly accessible when they want to work on projects, retrieve information, check email etc.
MEDIA: cameras are the latest addition to Mobiles. There was a big commotion with regards to cameras being used for uncouth activities and taking obscene pictures and videos. On the other hand, cameras can be used for other, more productive things. Once students learn that privacy and discretion is also important, they can enhance the use of cameras and take full advantage of the possibilities it offers. They can use cameras to collect data, and for visual journalism. Allowing students to collect data, evidence and follow through on different projects effectively.
Videos are also very helpful in taking clips which would enhance learning possibilities for students. It will help them understand in basic terms what goes into not only television journalism but also create short films.
GPS: GPS or Global Positioning System is built into many phones along with other facilities, which allow the Mobiles precise position to be determined within a few feet. This will allow user to learn how to navigate and find correct positions; and students can be provided with information with regards to their location, be it in campus, or home. This can be helpful for students studying math, geography, archeology, architecture etc.
Students are far ahead in terms of using the latest technology. The first step in learning is what educators would call “cheating” but the student would define it as, “retrieving information on demand during exams”. Therefore, open book tests could be converted to open phone tests, where all information can be googled while the student is writing his exams. It will encourage the student to innovate in this area and the facility can be used to the advantage of the educator.
AND THEN...:
the advertisement by Idea might not be a clear indication of the steps to be taken to find a way in mobilizing a strong support system for Mobile Education; but it is a step towards it. In the advertisement Abhishek Bachchan, finds a girl student wanting enrolment in a school but unfortunately cannot find a seat; so he takes education to her in the form of a Mobile. The students in villages are then provided education via a Mobile. The advertisement cuts to the idea that mobile could be used to provide education even in the remotest areas.
There is a strong possibility that one day teachers could be handing out phones to their students, with preloaded software’s for class projects and students will be asked to Google research topics on the internet facility provided in their phone. Children and students requiring education but not being able to afford it will one day find Mobiles donated by charitable organizations at their disposal. This would suddenly bridge the gap between individuals and create a whole teaching community where everything is paid for.
Despite complaints from “Digital Immigrant” that Mobiles have limited screen space and button size; “Digital Natives” find this very miniaturization chic. Students have already invented ways to use their phone to interact, learn and explore. The only way to penetrate this digital drive is for the educators to figure out how to deliver their own product in an attractive way. And instead of fighting the changes which are rapidly occurring in the student life, it would be a better idea to work around it so both the educator and student can benefit from it.
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: August 2009
It was considered inconceivable, a few decades ago, to think of a mobile device via which individuals could talk to each other from anywhere. Mobiles have made not only communication readily accessible; they have influenced and changed the way we look at media (downloading music, and films, shooting videos and picture, gaming, socializing, etc).
There are more than one and a half billion cell phones in use around the world; and a large percentage of these reside in the hands of students. Yet somehow these phones have received less than required credit by educators. There has been a hue and cry about how Mobile phones have been misused and distracted young minds; by enabling them to cheat and thereby interrupt lessons etc. Teachers immediately start imagining that a Mobile in the hand of a student would mean constant interruptions with random phone calls even though the devices have switch off buttons and fines can be imposed.
While banning the device is an easy solution to the problem for schools in India, millions of students in China, Japan, Philippines and Germany etc are using the Mobile phone to learn English, Math, health and spelling and access live and archived lectures and study material.
The next step in Mobile technology is “Mobile information”. Initially considered a curse to the whole education system; Mobiles are considered a possibility for accessing, enhancing, influencing and assisting this very educational system.
Recent developments in technology and creative ideas generated by mobile companies are encouraging educators to reconsider their view of mobile technology—and to imagine a pedagogy that embraces its potential. Essentially small computers, cell phones can support language lessons, display animations of medical and chemical processes, be used for polling and testing, serve as the gateway to larger learning resources—and so much more.
Mobile Technology has become the new classroom in which mobile phones are a key learning tool. The challenge today is how effectively we can turn a ban into a boon. With a little bit of an effort and smart thinking Mobile phones can be incorporated into our education system in meaningful ways. The immediate requirement is to acknowledge the reasons why mobile phones were banned in the first place and see how they can be turned into strengths instead of living with their weaknesses.
In a gist a Mobile can work like the most powerful computers in the world. Even the simplest cell phones have microchips and function exactly like computers do. Technological advancements have enhanced and taken a step forward in combining facilities provided by computers and Mobile phones to converge them. Like all computing devices, Mobiles can be used to learn. So instead of fighting the kids, it would be easier to use the opportunity to convert it into a learning device.
Computers are facing a challenge to inculcate facilities provided by Mobiles and vice versa. Clearly, in the end the two are headed in meeting in the middle where a single device will be able to cater to the users requirements. At the moment though, Mobiles will have to make do with being a very personal device, especially amongst youngsters.
LEARNING THROUGH A MOBILE:
If we have to look at the Statistics then there are about 1.5 Billion Mobiles sold around the world every year. Most students carry Mobiles during school hours purely for personal reasons. They use Mobiles for communicating by voice, text, and digital reasons like taking photos and videos. They also have now been using the Mobile for digital signal processing which allows them to play ringtones and mp3’s. It has thus become a necessary evil.
A Japanese Student said, “When you loose your mobile, you loose part of your brain”
This thought process indicates an intuitive understanding of the link between Digital Natives (the present generation growing up and well - versed in the digital world) and technology; considering that a major part of the communication has now shifted from the computer to Mobile phones. Most contacts and information are now stored on in the Mobile. Educators on the other hand view technologies as a huge distraction from the education they are planning on providing.
THE METHOD:
Students can learn anything from their Mobile if we are able to design the right phone for them. Amongst the many processes of learning, the most common, time – tested and effective of these are listening, observing, reproducing, questioning, reflecting, attempting, guesstimating, predicting, “what– if”-ing, and practicing. All these processes of teaching can be dealt with through our Mobiles; which works as a multi- tasking equipment for “Digital Native” learners.
VOICE ONLY: The most basic phones, which are built in with voice only capability are basically radios, which pick up and send signals on pre determined frequencies. Therefore in essence they are just radios and students can make avail of this facility to learn Languages, History, Story- telling, and Poetry, Literature and Public Speaking. Language amongst these is obvious considering the high demand for learning English everywhere. In UK, CTAD has created voice – only mobile phone learning for school dropouts. In Japan individuals can dial up a number for short English lessons; and in China, BBC is providing Mobile English Language training. Language games like crosswords etc are also being added.
“Digital Immigrant” adults will find it difficult to comprehend that a non face-to-face voice communication and relationships for learning is possible and that virtual relationships are a preferred secondary nature to students. Besides, even the blind can benefit from this sort of learning.
SMS: SMS or Short Text Message had taken the world of young adults by storm what with billions of SMS’s is being sent across to each other everyday. The fact that SMS can be written quickly and sent off immediately offers many learning opportunities. At the moment, SMS enables students to be provided with regular “learning” reminders and tips and encouragement for people trying to change their behavior, such as quit smoking and “no drugs”.
SMS is now extensively used by television show producers to create informational quizzes and involve viewers to vote for the same; for e.g.: Indian Idol, Boogie Woogie, Dance India Dance etc. in school the same can be used to create quizzes and have interactive educational gaming sessions so they can be made aware of current events. Even Princeton Review is using SMS to deliver SAT and other test preparation questions at user preferred times.
GRAPHIC DISPLAYS: all Mobiles have graphic displays, even if it’s a basic phone. They sport bright color screen that can display beautiful pictures and animation very vividly. A simple Mobile’s graphic would consist of showing signal, battery strength and number or name of person calling, or being called. Most high resolution phones allow large amounts of texts to be displayed either paragraph by paragraph or flashed on screen depending on how the user has set his requirements. Graphic displays also allow texts to be accompanied with pictures and animation etc. this could be an added asset to schools which use computers and hand held devices for displaying animation in subjects like anatomy. Mobiles can be used to replace these devices.
The Japanese have been using this very facility to learn everything from business to cooking to drawing; though an ancient art of drawing called “Manga”. Of course in Asian countries, novels intended to be read on phone screens are already been written. Mobiles can then replace textbooks; the only restraint being the limited size of the Mobile screen. This again can be overcome by re-thinking and innovating layout designs.
PROGRAMS: the latest addition to Mobiles is memory. Mobile phones are built in with higher memory and if not, then more memory can be added to them by inserting memory cards. This has ensured that the user can download programs and install them in their Mobiles. Mobile users can download the same teaching, gaming etc programs that they download on their computers; to use them on their Mobiles. This includes spreadsheets, WordPad, MS Office, Outlook Express etc.
INTERNET FACILITIES: internet Explorer has become the default addition to all Mobiles nowadays. Mobiles without one are not considered acceptable by youngsters nowadays. User- friendly Websites are now being designed specifically for Mobiles. The browser helps the user access dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia etc. it gives students instant access to search engines like Google. Students will find information and reference material highly accessible when they want to work on projects, retrieve information, check email etc.
MEDIA: cameras are the latest addition to Mobiles. There was a big commotion with regards to cameras being used for uncouth activities and taking obscene pictures and videos. On the other hand, cameras can be used for other, more productive things. Once students learn that privacy and discretion is also important, they can enhance the use of cameras and take full advantage of the possibilities it offers. They can use cameras to collect data, and for visual journalism. Allowing students to collect data, evidence and follow through on different projects effectively.
Videos are also very helpful in taking clips which would enhance learning possibilities for students. It will help them understand in basic terms what goes into not only television journalism but also create short films.
GPS: GPS or Global Positioning System is built into many phones along with other facilities, which allow the Mobiles precise position to be determined within a few feet. This will allow user to learn how to navigate and find correct positions; and students can be provided with information with regards to their location, be it in campus, or home. This can be helpful for students studying math, geography, archeology, architecture etc.
Students are far ahead in terms of using the latest technology. The first step in learning is what educators would call “cheating” but the student would define it as, “retrieving information on demand during exams”. Therefore, open book tests could be converted to open phone tests, where all information can be googled while the student is writing his exams. It will encourage the student to innovate in this area and the facility can be used to the advantage of the educator.
AND THEN...:
the advertisement by Idea might not be a clear indication of the steps to be taken to find a way in mobilizing a strong support system for Mobile Education; but it is a step towards it. In the advertisement Abhishek Bachchan, finds a girl student wanting enrolment in a school but unfortunately cannot find a seat; so he takes education to her in the form of a Mobile. The students in villages are then provided education via a Mobile. The advertisement cuts to the idea that mobile could be used to provide education even in the remotest areas.
There is a strong possibility that one day teachers could be handing out phones to their students, with preloaded software’s for class projects and students will be asked to Google research topics on the internet facility provided in their phone. Children and students requiring education but not being able to afford it will one day find Mobiles donated by charitable organizations at their disposal. This would suddenly bridge the gap between individuals and create a whole teaching community where everything is paid for.
Despite complaints from “Digital Immigrant” that Mobiles have limited screen space and button size; “Digital Natives” find this very miniaturization chic. Students have already invented ways to use their phone to interact, learn and explore. The only way to penetrate this digital drive is for the educators to figure out how to deliver their own product in an attractive way. And instead of fighting the changes which are rapidly occurring in the student life, it would be a better idea to work around it so both the educator and student can benefit from it.
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