JOurnel #4

From Toys to Tools by Liz Kolb

Cell phones in the class room have always been somewhat of an annoyance to teachers. Its too easy to cheat, too easy to send messages to classmates, and their distraction level is really hi. not to mention the stupid ring tones that go off when your trying to have a lesson. Liz has come up with a way to use the cell phone as a teaching tool. its called Audio blogging, and can be a great tool! Manny students have cell phones and has become a way for students to communicate with their piers. Cell phones Liz argues is a way to teach students about their phone. Many students don't have phones or don't know their limitations. (charges) Students are encouraged to use their phones in interviews, their parents, classmates or just tape sounds. then after they record using their phones they then send them to their autioblog. although this usage of phones in the classroom is unique Liz still believes that phones inside the class should still be monitored. Ie no phones unless its for the activity.

Question #1 what are some of the limitations of phone homework?

The answer to limitations are relevant, all students wont have cell phones, certain plans may charge for the service of audio blogging, and their always a privacy issue. to answer worry about all students not having cell phones, one could possibly get cell phones just for the class room, with a little ingenuity you could have the phones donated to the class if you worded it right the the cell phone companies. Students that have cell phones can do a homework assignment about their phone, limitations and services that they get. They could even do a research about what phone would be best for the class. Third is privacy, Privacy is always an issue especially with kids. If you you a blogger for your audio home work your blogs are open to the public. You will have to teach your students not to give any names on they audioblogs, as well as copy rite laws, this is another teaching experience. Although there are several aspects of audio blogging that you might be questioning the only way for you to find out if it is right for you is to do it yourself. Experiment and have fun.

Question 2. Besides simple audioblogs what other things could you do to teach using phones?

Phone have the ability to take pictures and some record short movies. your students can post a blog, put their audio with it and even a picture or two of the thing there doing. You are now encompassing allot of technology in your class just from a little phone. Group cell phone projects are a great way to enhance presentations. Also with every new assignment add a cell phone option. continually using phone in all courses of work will cause the students to be more aware of there cell phone usage. Now lets look at lessons where phones could be used. students writing about their neighborhood could tape sounds on their street, for reports on anythings students could tape interviewees. In history students could go tape themselves pretending to be their in that time frame. IN Math students could figure out the difference between cell phones and personally rate them, or could figure out how much it cost them a day to have a phone. With everything creativity is the key, the more creative you are with your lesions the more the students will have fun with it. If they are having fun and learning at the same time, the better they'll remember the lessons.