Calling all Educators!

Upcoming Webinar: Cellphones as Instructional Tools
Thursday, July 23, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsored by: Sprint
Cellphones have been called “the new paper and pencil” or “the new laptop,” and they could be in the hands of as many as 10 million to 15 million schoolchildren in the next few years. For their instructional potential and ability to connect students to the Internet, mobile devices are quietly making their way into schools in the United States and abroad. Guests will discuss policy and implementation issues and offer practical curriculum ideas for every subject.

Take-out Education

The majority of schools I work with have strict policies prohibiting the use of cell phones. The majority of students I work with are more likely to come to school without pants than their phone.

Want affordable, mobile, computing power for all students? Cell phones may be the answer.

Elliot Soloway, a professor at the University of Michigan makes the following points about mobile learning:

1. Big: By combining the main functions of a PC with the resources of the internet in an ultra-portable device, smart phones and other mobile devices truly give students the ability to practice "anytime, anywhere" learning

2. Sustainable: Because most students will already have a cell phone or mobile device, parents can buy the technology for their kids, and schools can purchase only the software. Also, students prefer handheld technology to laptops because it's more portable. At the same time, handheld devices, software companies, and educators are creating programs to help implement mobile devices into the curriculum.

3. Able to provide unique opportunities, especially for interaction through blogs and academic-related text messaging.

A good manager knows you should never make a rule you can't enforce. Instead of making rules to prohibit cell phones why not put this free computing power to work for education?

Who's Cheating Who?

My favorite professor of all time turned me on to Statistics back in the 80's with the simple words; "All of your exams will be open book and open note". He went on to say "In the real world, if you need an answer, not only will you be allowed to use reference materials but you would be foolish not to!"

Twenty years later, Diedre Coleman at the Presbyterian Ladies College in Australia has applied the same principles with a 21st Century twist. Her 9th grade English students are encouraged to use i-pods, cellular phones, MP-3s, and the internet to formulate answers and support arguments.

Talk about a spicy recipe for educational discourse!
1. A pinch of academic dishonesty
2. Add a splash of cellular technology
3. And mix liberally with the World Wide Web

Many educators will lament the use of technology is cheating.

I would suggest the failure to integrate technological tools as part of the curriculum and authentic assessment is cheating...the students.

To view the full article from the The Sydney Morning Herald, click here.

Cellular Mitosis

Cell Mitosis is the process by which a single parent cell divides to produce two daughter cells.

Google has just created a revolutionary parent cell(phone)...The Android.

What is unique about this cellular technology is that it is based on an Open-Source platform allowing amateur and professional programmers alike to fuel the engine of innovation.

To visit the Android website, click here.