Mobile Phone's as an ICT Tool

Through investigations into using mobile phone's as an ICT tool within the classroom, I have discovered a very valuable and promising tool.  Mobile phones have great potential and developing rapidly everyday with the amount of applications and features available on them. 

Strengths:

• Internet available
• Everyone has them
• Cheap
• Easy to use
• Learners want to use them (engaging)
• Take pictures / video’s / voice recordings

Weaknesses:

·         Can send inappropriate pictures and messages

·         Lots of off task applications for students to get distracted with

·         Some mobile phone’s do not have all the applications

·         Most schools in-force a non-mobile phone policy in classrooms

Interesting:

• Internet is free on most mobile phones
• Various applications (face book, you tube, weight measurer, leveller, games, GPS and even more)
• They have writing tools

Mobile Phones can be seen from different persectives by the Debono's six thinking hats Wiki space we as a group created in our lecture for Managing E-Learning.  Please access this Wiki space as it shows in depth the six persective of using mobile phones as an ICT tool!

 

Mobile phones are essential in everyday life to stay in communication with the world and also to let your family know you are safe.  By incorporating mobile’s into the classroom as an ICT tool, students can learn how to use them to better their ICT skills and how to use them in a safe and appropriate manner.  They can learn about the safety aspect and how anything posted on the internet is there forever.  As a teacher, it’s about teaching learners essential skills and knowledge for the future.  Mobile phones are a massive part of society and employers use them to get into contact with employees and also clients ECT.  By incorporating this tool into the classroom and teaching the students about the safety side, the children of today can be ready for the workplace tomorrow!   

My Teaching Context:

I believe using mobile phones in a classroom setting can be beneficial for leaning if the learners do not have access to computers or internet.  Although there are a few risks with off task and inappropriate messages being sent around, the students can learn a lot using technology.  I think that if classrooms do not have computer and internet access, mobile phones are the next best thing.  I’ve seen people use their I phones to find and access information fast and effectively!  This is a great thing when learning.  As well as teaching them about the topic or information, it is teaching them researching skills.  This information is needed for their future and as teachers we should embrace that and use mobile phones as an ICT tool within a classroom setting.