Schools across the country, from the public system in New York City to the FOCUS Learning Academy in Texas, are turning to mobile learning and other innovative technological devices to support the effectiveness of student learning.
Technology plays a huge part in our lives, especially for younger generations. Statistics from the Pew Research Center show that 78 percent of teens have a cell phone, and 47 percent of them own smartphones. One in four teens also has a tablet computer, a level similar to the general adult populations.
At home, 93 percent of teens have a computer or have access to one. For those with home computer access, 73 percent share the device with other family members. Students also have wide access totechnology in the classroom. Of the teachers surveyed by PBS in 2013, 90 percent had a laptop or computer in the classroom. Six of every 10 had access to an interactive whiteboard, and 33 percent had tablets or e-readers. Moreover, they agreed that apps are beneficial for teaching, and 64 percent reported using tablets for accessing educational websites.
Of the teachers surveyed, 65 percent say that technology helps them demonstrate things to students that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to show. Three in four teachers also say that technology allows them to reinforce and expand content, motivate students, and accommodate multiple learning styles.
Moreover, as FOCUS Learning Academy explains, mobile technology is significantly shaping how students are taught. As a spokesman for the charter school states, “Technology should be used in classrooms. We think that the more information a student has at their disposal, the better. Providing these students with an iPad is the perfect way for them to get exactly what they need.”
The school is statistically rare in its commitment to provide 1:1 iPads for students in grades 2-12, but its commitment to technology is part of a growing trend. In 2011, the New York City School district opted to increase its technology spending despite having to make teacher layoffs. According to the New York Times, the district approved a $500 million spend in order to “move toward more online learning and computer-based standardization tests.”
In an article for ZDNet, Charlie Osborne writes about six technologies that are heavyweight contenders when it comes tochanging classroom learning, including game-based learning, gesture-based computing, and network implementation.
Osborne notes that tablets and mobile apps are expected to be a big part of the classroom in the next few years. He adds that tablets have become a branch of mobile devices in their own right by blending the features of laptops and smartphones, applications, and Internet access. Students are already incorporating tablets in some schools and colleges, and the trend will almost certainly continue as books become digital, students are issued devices from the school, and presentations are created and presented on tablets.
These devices also have mobile apps, which are a significant part of the lives of students and adults alike. Osborne writes that mobile applications can be used for things like note-taking, learning a new language, checking a timetable, or sharing a file. Resources are also readily available for students and academic institutions like Apple’s iTunes U.
Along with tablets and apps, Osborne writes that game-based learning is also becoming popular. While video games are often viewed as a time-wasting activity, they actually have the potential to be interactive activities that promote a core of a lesson. According to Osborne, we will likely see more integration of a technology like this that is known to keep students occupied. Developers are working toward using game environments to promote goal-oriented learning that promotes social skills, team work, and collaborative problem solving.
Osborne also predicts that multi-touch surfaces will become more popular in the classroom setting. Companies like Microsoft have been working on this technology for several years, according to a 2012 article on eduTopia. While they have been able to accomplish amazing things, it has only been since Apple’s massive success with the iPhone that multi-touch has taken off and become mainstream. As touch surfaces become more advanced and less expensive, massive multi-touch surfaces will become more popular and more useful in the classroom. Devices like the EXOdesk can help students collaborate with peers in the same room and around the world by manipulating digital objects right in front of them. Students can also see videos, use virtual tools, and access online resources straight from the surface of their desk.
While devices like the EXOdesk may not be seen in the majority of classrooms for a few years, experts believe that tablets, smartphones, and interactive white boards are an excellent start for integrating technology into classroom learning. Students are able to experience a more interactive classroom and become proficient in technology they will use in the future. Schools across the nation, like FOCUS Learning Academy, are pushing to implement more technology like this into their everyday activities.
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