Smart+Phones-There's+an+App+for+that

Smart Phones/tablets: There's an app for that

Hey guys! So I am not sure where we want to go with this topic, if we are just talking about the use of Smart Phones/tablets in the classroom and classroom appropriate apps, or what, so I put a bunch of links about the use of smart phones in the classroom and a list of apps that teachers find useful! Let me know what you think! -Amanda

Here is a link about 10 schools who are using Smart Phones in the classroom: []

Cell Phone Positives:
 * As a student agenda
 * to contact parents
 * to contact team/club members
 * as a dictionary
 * as an internet search tool
 * as a voting device (polleverywhere)
 * as a camera

Cell Phone Negatives:
 * texting during lessons
 * inappropriate pictures being taken
 * theft
 * plagiarism
 * text messaging from parents during class
 * distraction
 * inequity for those without smartphones
 * cost of texting/internet
 * radiation from wi-fi
 * consistency of policy implemention from one class to the next (no common expectations)
 * the need for a class/learning objectives to teach students appropriate use of smartphones in class

according to this article: []

Good Apps for the classroom: A list of 50 apps for the classroom--[] An online forum with teachers talking about their favorite apps--[]

Hey guys! Here's an interesting article I found about the use of SmartPhones in the classroom. Bill Allows Smartphones In Classroom

Basically the article is talking about how in Georgia a Bill has been introduced that allows school districts the choice of whether or not students can use their cell/ smartphones in the classroom. This could be the first step in school districts slowly releasing their death-grip hold on technology in the schools.

-Lindsey

Hey guys! I've been working at Radioshack for the past 5 years and I have seen how much smartphones have developed in just that short of a time. I have some ideas as to how smartphones can be implemented in the classroom.

I'm sure most people have noticed at least in higher education more students are using E-Readers instead of using textbooks. Well there are Apps that support these E-Readers, like the Amazon Kindle App, there is also one from Barnes and Noble. As a matter of fact, when I open the Android Market on my smartphone there is a list that shows: Apps, Games, Books, and Movies. When I click on the books link it gives me a large selection of books straight from Google E Books without having to even download any additional apps. Although it may be cumbersome to read an entire book on a cell phone becaue the screen are so small, it is possible.

There are apps like the Dictionary and Thesaurus which are handy tools that every student should use all the time. I also noticed that in the Android market in the Apps tab there are different categories and there is an Education category that offer a plethora of different apps. Such as: graphing calculator, sign language, foreign language, etc.

My only concern with using smartphones in class are resources. I think about how there still may be many students that don't have a smartphone yet and some families cant afford the high monthly costs. The solution for that can be Prepaid phones, and all the options of smartphones that are now becoming available. Granted the quality of the phones and data speeds don't compare to an iPhone or Galaxy S androids but you can still get the job done. A great thing about the prepaid phones is that even when a person runs out of service, their smartphones can still access wifi and have the opportunity to still download all the apps they need.

--- Carlos