A large majority of students use mobile devices on a daily basis. Whether for communicating with friends or help on their homework, mobile devices are heavily integrated into today’s students lives. Fifty-three percent of students even say they would rather give up their sense of smell that their mobile device.
However, most students are still banned from using these devices in the classroom – an affront they perceive as akin to losing one of their senses. As more and more students reject the notion that their mobile devices can’t help them in the classroom, schools will be forced to make a change in their policies to allow mobile devices to be used by students. Once this happens, a revolution will occur.
Less Disciplinary Disruptions
When students are encouraged to use their mobile devices in class, they will no longer have to sneak around to do so. And let’s face it; students using banned devices in class are currently a huge problem. Even if time is not taken out of class to publicly reprimand students who think they are being sneaky by texting their friends under their desk, the student who is sneakily trying to use their device is no longer paying attention to what is being said in class.
Once these devices come out of pockets and are placed on top of desks, students will be more engaged in the lesson. They will feel like they are finally being shown respect and trust and will return the favor by using their devices in appropriate ways. And if they happen to send a text message in class? Is it really any more of an issue than students chatting to one another during group work?
Increased Interest in STEM subjects
Increasing the number of students who pursue a degree in a STEM subject is a hot topic right now. Everyone knows these fields are growing faster than we can find qualified people to fill the need. Lucky for us, a recent study found an easy way to increase student interest in these subjects – let them use mobile devices in class.
The study, conducted by MIT and the Verizon Foundation found that “students who told interviewers they used smartphones, tablets, or laptops in the classroom were more likely to report a strong interest in STEM subjects. They were also more likely to say they felt smart, happy, or excited about STEM subjects.” Additionally, the students told researchers that mobile devices help them learn math and science better.
Finding a way to personalize lessons has long been a pursuit of educators. Traditionally, this has meant separating students into groups based on skill level and teaching each group at their level. Even with this method, students who quickly grasp a concept are left bored while those who struggle are left behind once it is time to move on. Additionally, teachers are forced to come up with multiple lessons in order to cover the skills of each group.
With mobile devices, students are able to move through a lesson at their own pace. Those who typically get bored are able to advance as they are ready and those who struggle can take their time without worrying about slowing anyone else down.
The easiest way to accomplish this is to create video lessons. In this way, students are able to access the lesson on their device, pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding as need be. They are also able to replay a lesson when they find themselves struggling with an assignment.
With each student working at his or her own pace, the teacher is free to walk around the classroom and work with students on a one-on-one basis more often.
Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Students take their mobile devices with them everywhere they go. They rarely leave home without them. By allowing students to use these devices in class, we are able to open their eyes to the educational power of the device they carry around with them.
While some students may have never looked at their device as something that can be used for learning, once they start using them in class, they’ll never look at their device the same again.
Using mobile devices in the classroom tends to mean a shift towards digital content. Once content is available in a digital format, students can access it from wherever they are, whenever they desire. This means that student absences no longer have to be an issue. If a student misses class due to illness, a sporting event or any other reason, they can easily catch up before the next lesson.
If etextbooks are used, students can take advantage of down time while sitting in the car or waiting for their next class to catch up on some reading. They will always have their textbooks with them and will be prepared for anything that comes their way.
As students realize they are able to learn wherever they are, they will begin to understand the power of education lies not within the classroom but in their desire to learn. The gap between formal and informal learning will begin to close and learning will simply become a part of life. As this happens, students will seek out learning opportunities wherever they are.
Learning will become a social process and students will begin turning to one another for information.
Most importantly, classroom education will begin to resemble the type of self-education they will participate in all their lives. There will no longer be a divide between the tools that are used in the classroom and the tools that will be used in the workplace. Students will leave school with the knowledge base to start their career and the ability to learn how to adapt to whatever situation they find themselves facing.
Students will know how to learn
Instead of being passive learners who are fed the information they are required to know, mobile learning empowers students to find the information on their own. With the entire world’s knowledge at their fingertips, students will be able to quickly find whatever information they are looking for. This means that instead of focusing on memorization of facts, school can be about creating a deeper understanding of subject material. Through mobile learning, students will learn how to find the information they are looking for – a valuable skill that they will benefit for the rest of their lives.