Mobile technology provides new prospects which can improve
and expand education. It allows us to move technology around as it’s portable
and it connects immediately to various sources. Examples of mobile technology
include tablets, mobile phones, or laptops. Mobile technology allows pupils to
take their learning out of the classrooms and away from the desks, it grants
them flexibility and is convenient (Reychav, 2015).
One of the main benefits of mobile technology is the
improved access to collaboration within group work. This brings technology out
of the classroom. Group work is often being used within schools in order to
broaden children’s ideas, thoughts and opinions through sharing. Technology
changes this dynamic of this as it allows children to share information more
easily as well as work together on projects (Druin, 2009; Beauchamp, 2013). For example, if they
are producing a presentation, they are able to plan it by messaging each other
via text or social media. They also have the option to use resources such as
google slides on their tablets to all work together on the presentation at the
same time while being different places. In addition to this, skype could be
used on the pupils’ laptops to have more of a discussion.
Skype can also be used to build children’s relationships
with those in other countries as well as connecting to those who they would not
have a chance to otherwise. For example, Morgan (2013) discusses how a class in
America were given a task to skype a student they had been paired with in Tokyo
and find out information about them. In addition to this, authors are now
skyping children in various parts of the world to motivate them to read and get
involved in literature (Messner, 2010).
Beauchamp, G. (2013) ICT
in the Primary School From Pedagogy to Practice. Hoboken: Taylor and
Francis.
Druin, A. (2009) Mobile
technology for children : Designing for interaction and learning. Oxford:
Elsevier Science.
Messner, K. (2010) ‘An Author in Every Classroom: Kids
Connecting with Authors via Skype. It's the next Best Thing to Being There’, School Library Journal, 56(9), pp. 42-44.
Morgan, H. (2013) ‘Technology in the Classroom: Using Skype
for Exciting Projects’, Childhood
Education, 89(3), pp. 197-199.
Reychav, I. et al. (2015) ‘Understanding mobile
technology-fit behaviours outside the classroom’, Computers & Education, 87, pp. 142-150.
I firmly believe that mobile technology should be incorporated into schools to benefit learning and aid, rather than replace, teachers. As you mentioned, mobile technology means that pupils can continue to learn after they leave the school gates and this is becoming the norm for most students as the entire world becomes more technologically aware (Ally and Samaka, 2013).
ReplyDeleteA possible problem, suggested by Rau, Gao and Wu (2008), to mobile technology becoming so important is that it can place pressure on students who are not able to keep up with their peers in terms of technology.
Additionally, Ononogbu et al. (2014) found that children with higher technology usage achieved poorer sleep levels, which they then go on to state is worrying because of the importance of good sleep at these young ages. This makes myself question just how much technology children should be encouraged to use outside of school if it may impact them negatively.
References
Ally, M., & Samaka, M. (2013) ‘Open Education Resources and Mobile Technology to Narrow the Learning Divide’, International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 14(2), pp. 14-27.
Ononogbu, S., Wallenius, M., Punamäki, R., Saarni, L., Lindholm, H., and Nygård, C. (2014) ‘Association between Information and Communication Technology Usage and the Quality of Sleep among School-Aged Children during a School Week’, Sleep Disorders, 2014, pp. 1-7.
Rau, P.L.P., Gao, Q., & Wu. L.M. (2008) ‘Using mobile communication technology in high school education: Motivation, pressure, and learning performance’, Computers & Education, 50(1), pp. 1-22.
Although Ononogbu et al's (2014) comments must be considered. Williams and Lee (2016) believe it is the role of the parents to guide children in using mobile technology correctly. This means that children will learn to be resourceful because of the diverse range of learning tools they have access to.
ReplyDeleteWilliams, K.C, Lee, S.L. (2016) 'Focus on Family: Tablets and Laptops and Skype,
Oh My! How Do Families and Early Childhood
Educators Make Technology Decisions?', Childhood Education, 92(3), pp. 257-259.