Phones and Tablets as Supplemental Learning Tools
Facts
Here are some current facts about smartphone usage and trending data.
- 37% of all website visits in 2015 were from a mobile browser. Chrome and Safari are the top browsers in the world, by quite a ways, but remember, this is only data that is from a "web browser." Many Android phones that utilize Google Now or other third party applications that may have the option for a web browser within the app may not be a part of this number. When is the last time you, outside of work, used a browser that was not from a mobile device? Think about your students. When was the last time you think some of them, outside of school, used something other than mobile?
- The most popular phone size was still 4 inches. This is kind of surprising, but you can assume this is because of pricing and age of users.
- Ultra HD screens now have over a 10% market share.
- In Q1 of 2015, the average American used 2.5 GB of data
- 18% of Americans use mobile payments
- 87% of Americans always have their smartphone on their person
- The average user checks their phone over 170 times a day
- Adults spend an average of nearly 3 hours on their phone a day, on NON-VOICE ACTIVITY!
- More research is began on mobile devices than on Computers
- 69% of users made at least 1 banking transaction
Source: https://deviceatlas.com/blog/16-mobile-market-statistics-you-should-know-2016
Multitasking and Generations
Constructivism and Smartphones
Educational Constructivists contend that knowledge is gained by reflecting on experience. If we look at how adults are using their smartphones from the information above, would we suggest, as educators, that they are maximizing their usage or using the tool as it could be used? I kept tablets out of the data because there is beginning to be a convergence of tablets and phones, hence the "phablet," that probably would have skewed the data in a way.
An Additional Tool
Our big hangup as educators is that students will NOT be on task if they are using their devices. One of the easiest ways to incorporate that is to get creative. A couple ideas for this:
- Assign work that needs to be completed by the end of class. Remember, it doesn't have to be graded, or a complete assignment! It should just be enough to guarantee work is happening. Yes, they maybe were off task at times during this, but let's be honest, those same students are the one's staring blankly into space the same amount of time. This generation is the procrastination generation because they think they can do things faster (I know, I am one of them).
Allow back channel chatting that is classroom based. Think like a teacher at in-service here. How many of us get our stuff done, follow instructions, but still email colleagues during this time? You could utilize a "no talking" rule. This usually keeps the discussion somewhat relavent to the topic you wanted.
20 Ways to use Today's Meet in the Classroom LINK |
Google Keep is a quick note taking application that can be useful during the instant informational era. It is easy to "multi-task" in our world today because all information is readily available. Keep allows us to remember something, while staying on task. Google's philosophy with Keep is that we would stay on task if we could guarantee we won't forget what it is that we are thinking when we get off-task.
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Portfolio Assessments!
Remember, assessments should be meaningful. You don't have to grade everything that is done, but you still can make sure things are getting done. Have them create a portfolio. For example, if they want to use meme's to express what they learned a day, that is fine, but there should be so many by the end of the week. Or, you could have them annotate their pictures in Google Slides so they can explain what they mean. The point is, don't think that just because the student is working on their device, you have to collect it. Make them multitask meaningfully.
50 Educator Apps for Smartphones and Tablets
Look through the apps and discuss how you can utilize these in your classrooms!
Other thoughts:
- Take your class online!
- Move your location
- Change your lesson plans to allow for openness
- Use site makers such as Weebly and Sites
- Don't try to control. Try to lead in a direction, but know, some will stray.
- Don't work harder than the kids! Have them design work for each other! Make them find other ways to do things. They need a task.
- Keep the SAMR model in mind.
- Teach them how to use them as a tool, but allow them to teach each other and you! There will be shortcuts to learning (in our opinion), but they are now relevant and important. (think citations, photo editing, and more)