The U.S Dept. of Education's National
Technology plan (NET) published November 2010 notes that "technology is at
the core of our daily lives and work, and calls for "leveraging" it
to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences and content" (
Allen, 2011). This means that educators need to explore the benefits of using
mobile devices for educational purposes so that they can engage the learners of
the 21st century in meaningful learning. Two mobile technologies
that can be used in adult education are the ipad and the smartphone.
According to Allen (2011), Smartphones
(iPhone, Droid, Blackberry), motivate students and provide constant access to the
wealth of knowledge, tools and experts on the internet. These devices can be
used in adult education in a variety of ways. ESL students can use the phones
to create videos of role playing activities which they can review later. They
can also record conversations and use the recording to practice speaking the
language. There also a variety of apps such as dictionary apps and translator-apps
that students can use to help them make sense of the language. There also a
variety of learning games that can be downloaded to assist students with their
learning efforts.
The following websites offer useful
information on the use of Smartphones in education:
The
iPad is another mobile device that can be useful in the classroom. There are a
variety of apps that can be purchased for educational purposes. These apps
cover many different topics in a variety of subject areas. Teachers and students
can create professional looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
The
following websites provide more information on how the iPad can be used for educational
purposes:
Reference
Allen, R. (2011). Can mobile devices transform
education? Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/feb11/vol53/num02/Can-Mobile-Devices-Transform-Education%C2%A2.aspx
Hardison, J. (2013). Part 1: 44 smart ways to use smartphones
in class. Retrieved from http://gettingsmart.com/2013/01/part-1-44-smart-ways-to-use-smartphones-in-class/
Herrington, A. ( 2008). Adult educator's use of
smartphones to create digital teaching resources. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/melbourne08/procs/herrington-a.pdf.
LiveBinder.(n.d) iPads in adult education. Retrieved
from http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=258242
Shah,A. (2012). 10 incredible iPad apps for
education. Retrieved from http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/07/07/10-incredible-ipad-apps-for-education/
I downloaded a recording app as a lark and actually found it quite useful in helping my grandson with his reading. He was being stubborn and didn't want to read outloud but when I showed him how to do it he got interested in a hurry. We took turns, each reading from their own textbook and we really enjoyed the interaction.
ReplyDeleteWe recently opened a Magnet School in our town and they did not give out books. All of the classes are using Ipads starting with first grade. I really like that idea, because they are able to learn different languages from various teachers around the world. I do believe they are a great asset in the classroom. Not sure if smartphones are the answer, because it allows students to login to social networks and be distracted during class.
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