I’m thinking that many of you are familiar with me because you have visited my website DailyTeachingTools. One of my page topics there focuses on using technology in the classroom.
I mentioned in the conclusion of that page that as much as kids are fixated on technology these days, it just makes sense for the teacher to use technology with THEM as much as possible.
If I could just think of a way to harness the power of the text message and exploit it in the classroom, I would be quite the sensation. Obviously, you can’t require students to bring their cell phones with them to class every day.
Can you imagine the chaos and off-task behavior? What about the kids who don’t have a cell phone? I think there’s at least one or two in any class who don’t.
What about Facebook?
Is there some way to tap into that interest? Should you require students to start Facebook groups for the purpose of studying and discussing your subject?
I’m thinking not. After all, the kids are on Facebook to socialize, not to study.
John Jordi, an Advanced Placement World History teacher here in Jacksonville, Florida, has an intriguing idea.
He started using Twitter in his classes this year. His tweets are private, so the general public doesn’t join the conversation.
In addition to asking students questions to consider before class, he passes around an iPad and iPod Touch during his lessons. Students are allowed to ask and answer questions while he’s giving lectures. Their tweets pop up on a screen in the classroom while Mr. Jordi is giving a lecture.
He says that this approach gets their minds constantly engaged throughout the class period. He says that it keeps them on their toes.
Because Twitter will only allow each tweet to have up to 140 characters, Mr. Jordi’s students are learning to get to the point in their responses.
I’m not sure that passing around an expensive iPad to a bunch of kids in a classroom is the wisest of choices, but certainly it is an intriguing one.
It would definitely be motivational.
I would imagine an iPod Touch is much less expensive. I like Mr. Jordi’s approach enough that I would consider purchasing a few of them to use in class.
Where are YOUR thoughts on this?
Coming Friday: Online Writing Collaboration via Writeboard.
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