Today’s education is constantly being bombarded with media based tools to help improve student learning, to join education to the student social network and to simply ‘keep up with the times.’ It is hard to determine which ones are right to use and which ones are just going to take up more space. The School Technology Action Report discusses ‘mobile learning best practices’ in their September 1, 2011 issue. There are a couple of main points discussed which we will be looking into below.
The first technological advancement this article discusses is the smart phone use of K-nect; a program used for helping students with understanding maths and developing their skills (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). A study was undertaken in one particular school which found that after students started using K-nect they not only improved in their maths but across all subject areas (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). Originally, they had brought in this technology for remedial students but the whole class ended up taking it on board (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011).
In accordance with using applications available in smart phones and iPads, the article goes on to look at the advantages of these devices for different students within the class:
- Intervention: Maths Drills can be used to help students struggling in maths with comprehending the content (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). This application would work for a range of age groups as you can change what you want the student to focus on in completing the maths drills (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011).
- Enrichment: Miss Spell’s Class is the application used to give gifted students a challenge (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). It tests whether or not they can correctly tell if a word is spelt correctly or incorrectly (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). This will also help them with their everyday spelling as well as help them when it comes to proof-reading their assessment tasks as they will be able to pick up their mistakes easier and faster.
- Assistive Technology: iPads can be used as a tool for children on the autistic spectrum in order to break down communication barriers as well as help them to focus on one task for a prolonged length of time (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011).
- Digital Literacy: Although students use mobile technologies in their everyday social lives, it is a worthwhile endeavour to help educate students in using these technologies in a ‘productive manner’ (eSchool Media, Sept 1, 2011). Students will be using technology but if we just teach them how to use other aspects of it without teaching them some of the basics such as safe use, ways of using it to benefit their lives as opposed to just their social status then we have not accomplished anything in bringing in these new technologies.
As teachers, the best practice we can do, involving mobile media is to educate our students on the best uses for these tools, what is available to them in order to help them with life skills and what to watch out for. We need to be doing the research behind the applications available to choose the most appropriate ones for our students.
Compiled by Katrina Gordon
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