BYOTech: Using Game Systems, Cell Phones, iPods and Facebook in Education

Friday, March 19th 2010 by Liz KolbcloseAuthor: Liz Kolb Name: Liz Kolb
Email: elikeren@umich.edu
Site: http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/
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I recently read an article about a school in Georgia that has been struggling with their school budget. In order to counteract the expense of education technology, they began a policy a few years ago called Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT). The idea being that students have a lot of technology skills, knowledge, and devices that they use everyday outside of school, therefore, instead of school’s spending money on new technology and repairs, students could bring in their own technology tools such as iPods, Nintendo DS’s and Wii’s, cell phones, and social networking knowledge into the school to use for learning.

While many teachers wonder, what can a school do with each of these devices? My answer is A LOT! I will describe a few examples of teachers I know or have read about whom are already successfully using students’ everyday technology tools and knowledge in their classroom instruction.

Nintendo DS
Teachers all over the world are using the Nintendo DS. One reason is because there is very little training needed for the students to use the device (most already know how), the DS can instantly connect with the classroom network, it allows for differentiation in learning, and teachers can tutor students remotely (via the network) so that other students are not aware of who needs extra help during class. In 2009, the Sacred Heart Senior National School in Ireland decided to use Nintendo DS gaming devices as an aid to teaching math. Students in grades 4 through 6 used DS games such as Professor Kageyama’s Maths Training, and Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training. Overall the students math test scores improved anywhere from an average of 6 percentile points to 10 percentile points.

Nintendo Wii
By far the most popular way to use the Wii in education seems to be with the Wii Fit, where students in physical education courses can be active while playing the game. Yet, there are teachers in core subject areas who have found a fit for the Wii in their curricula. Michael A. Breslow who is a New Jersey Middle School Physics Teacher has been using the Nintendo Wii Tennis and Cow Race Games in order to help his student’s learn about the relationship between velocity, distance, and time. As part of their project, the students get to play the Wii, and use examples from their play in their physics problems that they write on velocity and distance. There are many applications that are free to download that teachers can use on the Wii.

Cell Phones
Over the past few years some teachers have started using student cell phones in their classrooms to engage learners. Teachers are using them as classroom response systems for polling and text message brainstorming to interactive boards online, as text message alert systems, as a way to create iReports by sending mobile pictures, videos, and reports to web blogs, as tools for recording podcasts and interviews, to take oral quizzes, and even to create scavenger hunt activities. All of these activities are completed with the basic features of cell phones. For example Allison Riccardi, a Spanish student teacher in Michigan decided to use cell phones for her students to practice writing in Spanish by having them text message to an online interactive text messaging board. The students were then able to critique each other’s Spanish on the interactive board anonymously. See more examples of teachers using student cell phones.

Social Networking Sites
At Bullis High School, the A.P. U.S. history teacher is using Facebook Fanpages with her students to do personal biographies. The students each select a historical figure, and develop a Facebook site around the figure, including posts and discussions based on that figure’s perspective. They also had a virtual salon where all the students were on Facebook at the same time to debate and discuss issues from their character’s perspective.

There are many applications on Facebook that are useful in teaching, such as polling, connecting with native speakers in languages or language exchange with world language students, managing books that students read, creating flash cards, citation helpers, organize class work, learn about Middle Ages with Knighthood, math challenge gaming, conducting online courses, creating homework help groups, calendars, recording class lectures, making a quiz.

iPods
iPod Touch’s and iPod Nanos are being used by teachings for activities such as note taking, recording oral activities, audio books, downloading and reviewing PowerPoints, keeping individual agendas, translation for world languages, downloading and using free educational applications, and accessing research through the Internet. Learn more about how teachers are using iPods in the classroom.

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