How to Use Mobiles Effectively as a Learning Tool

Most educational institutions, especially junior and high schools don’t allow students to bring cell phones at school. But does that really stop students from bringing the same? The reality is, students do bring in cell phones in their trouser pockets and school bags. When we can’t deny the reality, why can’t we think of ways by which we can utilize cell phones to educate them.

We all know how easily children gets acquainted with gadgets nowadays and how fast they learn to operate cell phone technologies. So, definitely teaching them how to use the technology for learning won’t be a difficult task. Read this article to know some easy ways by which you can utilize mobile phone technology as a learning tool.

• There are various types of mobile apps that facilitates the use of cellphones in learning. There are some wonderful teacher apps like Evernote and Dropbox that helps teachers and students share notes, write-ups and photos so easily over the phone. Evernote allows you to take down text notes, share photos and even clip a web page. While Dropbox, also a cellphone app, lets you share documents, photos, etc with others by just putting them in the Dropbox.
• Another smarter way to use the mobile phone in classroom is by teachers who can record their lectures, be it an audio or a video and let students utilize them at their convenience. Save a lot of classroom time and let students utilise Youtube in the most appropriate way.
• One of the easiest and fastest ways for teachers to communicate with your students out of classroom is by a phone call. Its upto the teachers to find clever ways to get students start using cellphones more effectively for learning. Exchanging messages on homework and assignments can be made smooth using mobile phones.
• Teachers and students can make use of different learning platforms available like the School Town and communicate with each other through chats and sharing learning fundamentals. This kind of platforms allows sharing materials from teachers to students.

Use of mobile phones in learning: The problems

Every student can’t be expected to possess a mobile phone; but this problem can be met with a solution. Forming students group with a single cell phone can work out and can help in reporting out and delivering in any message to teachers. Besides, there might be connectivity problem, particularly when students go out of wireless network area. Most schools don’t offer wireless connection in school premises and most students tend not to use providers signal. In this case too, teachers can rely on group works where one student with proper connectivity can communicate with teachers on behalf of his group.

Above all, the main task of teachers is to teach students how to make the right use of cell phones for learning. It is the responsibility of the teacher to guide students to proper usage of mobile technology without being victims of sexting, cyberbullying and other cyber crimes.