Cell Phones In The Classroom

Front 1

Cell phones have become mini-computers; no longer simply classroom distractions,
they are now powerful classroom tools. Your students can use their cell phones to
document science labs, record oral exams, and research information. You can use
your cell phone to poll your students, communicate with parents, and update your
class blog. In Cell Phones in the Classroom, you’ll get great ideas from educators
around the world and from the many lesson plans and tutorials.

Back 1

This excerpt gives you just a taste of the examples in the book by highlighting two
case studies and one lesson plan. Learn how Judy Pederson, a language arts teacher
from California, uses Web 2.0 tools in conjunction with student cell phones, and
how Jarrod Robinson of Victoria, Australia, incorporates student cell phones into his
physical education classes. You can also try out a sample lesson plan and start a live
student radio station.

Front 2

SCHOOL DEMOCRACY
Cell Phone Culture
The following describes the cell phone demographics in Pederson’s classes.
60–70% of the students had cell phones
Of the students who had cell phones:
80–90% could send text messages
90–95% could take and send photos
30–40% had mobile Internet

Back 2

This excerpt gives you just a taste of the examples in the book by highlighting two
case studies and one lesson plan. Learn how Judy Pederson, a language arts teacher
from California, uses Web 2.0 tools in conjunction with student cell phones, and
how Jarrod Robinson of Victoria, Australia, incorporates student cell phones into his
physical education classes. You can also try out a sample lesson plan and start a live
student radio station.

Front 3

SOCIAL ECONOMIC STUDY
3,067 students were enrolled in middle and high school
54% of students pass the statewide reading proficiency
59% of students pass the statewide math proficiency
16% of adults in the district have at least a bachelor’s degree
53% of adults in the district have at least a high school diploma

Back 3

Pederson also allowed her students to use ChaCha (a free text messaging service
where one can ask a question, and the answer will be sent to the student’s cell
phone; http://chacha.com). During collaborative group work, students were
allowed to use ChaCha to gather additional information. The students had to
write their own questions based on the lesson.

Front 4

Future Plans
Peterson definitely plans on using cell phones in her future teaching. “Absolutely.
I have a new principal who is very supportive of 21st-century learning. When the
faculty wanted to ban cell phones, I went in to tell her about my projects. On her
desk was a copy of Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education
(author Liz Kolb’s first ISTE book). Happily, we will not be banning cell phones.
As more students have cell phones and as more cell phones have better and better
apps, I intend to use this mini-computer more often.”

Back 4

School Policies
Robinson explains that currently, “Our school policy is supportive of mobile
phones. Up until my introduction of mobile phones in the classroom, they were
very much blacklisted. However, after staff training and pressure from the
students, we are now supportive of their use within the classroom as long as it is
under teacher direction and appropriate to the task at hand.