Student response systems such as the promethean have become all the rage in many educational technology circles. I have spent many nights dreaming about the difference I could make in the classroom if I had all of the systems that have been modeled to me in my years of teaching only to wake up to the reality that I have two computers in my classroom without internet access. Never being one to become discouraged, I often try to figure out ways in which I can implement state of the art classroom technology in a way that is free or at a fraction of the price of the actual hardware being marketed.
About two years ago a Promethean sales representative came to our school and modeled their instant response system to a few teachers and our administration. Knowing that my administration did not have the money for the system I came up with an idea for a student response system of my own.
As a high school teacher I spend a lot of time enforcing the no cell phone policy at my school. I figured that this was a losing battle and tried to figure out a way to implement cell phone use as a positive force in the classroom. So I decided to ignore the school cell phone policy of my school (much to the dismay of my administration) and began allowing students to use them in my class. For example, you need to send or receive a text just raise your hand and ask. I have found that this policy has actually reduced the cell phone use in my class.
Recently I have had students using their phones as an instant response system in my class. All I did was set up a gmail account and gave all of the students the address. Next I added multiple choice questions and short answer sections to my presentations. Now when one of these slides with questions comes up, students send a text to the email and it is projected on a split screen for the whole class to see. I initially gave a participation grade for correct answers, but have recently began giving quizzes in the same manner.
I have found that implementing this student response system has dramatically increased student attention (because students never know when a quiz question will pop up) and interest in my lessons.
The best part of this whole idea is that it did not cost me or the school one dollar, which now has my school rethinking their cell phone policy.
image courtesy of http://blog.interactiveachievement.com
Check out the link for a wiki on how to set up your own student response system
student response system link
Check out the link for a wiki on how to set up your own student response system
student response system link
Erik,
ReplyDeleteI love this topic! Cell phone use in schools is so strict these days, yet they are a great way to infuse technology into our curriculum, engaging students. I am strict on mis-using cell phones in my class (texting, gaming), yet will allow them to take pictures in class while doing experiments. Students are reluctant to take out their phones, thinking it's wrong, and that it's cool to use their cell phones for education (must not happen a lot in other classrooms at my school).
As for response tools for students to use, I am lucky to have SMART Senteos Response Clickers in my classroom! These tools include a set of 24 clickers with a router that connects to your computer via USB. I love using these in my classroom because I know that students cannot surf the web or text each other if they used cell phones as response devices.
As a cheap option, using cell phones as a response system is a great idea; however, may pose few downfalls. Some of these issues may involve student data packages on their cell phones or student mis-use of the phones while clicking in responses. No matter what decision teachers choose, there will always be downfalls to combat against. I still feel the benefits in this situation outweight the downfalls.
Brian
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ReplyDeleteGlasbybr,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post I appreciate it. I agree with your statement “ I still feel the benefits in the situation outweigh the down falls”. If I had a set of Smart Senteos in my class I do not know if I would have rethought my classroom cell phone policy. Like they say necessity is the mother of all inventions and innovations. I often worry that one of my students will do something wrong while I am letting them use their phones in class and it would be traced back to me, but I refuse to let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Although my principal knows I let students use their phones in class, I am sure if something harmful happened as a result of that use that my career would most certainly be affected in a negative way. I figure I will cross that bridge when I come to it and until that day keep pushing as hard as I can to provide engaging lessons for my students.
Nathanael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post. You should know that my allowing students to use their cell phones in class was completely shot down when I taught at public school. Public school is also where I learned that if I wanted to provide a great education for my students I would have to do it myself without any help from the administration.
Now that I teach at a private school ( I have to teach and am also the network administrator to make the same money) my principal fully supports my many of my ideas, but is still a little reluctant to embrace the use of cell phones in class.
One has to keep in mind that every principal is a technological immigrant and few understand the value of technology let alone the use of controversial technology. The administration at my public school stated that youtube was blocked because it had zero educational value.
Although my new principal does not know much about technology, she does have an open mind and is receptive to new ideas. As an educator that is all I can ask for.
Your idea of having students ask questions through text is interesting because that aspect of cell phone use evolved organically without any prompting from me.
WOW! Great Idea! I plan to use this in my classroom. I like how you are very creative with your ideas. I think that this is something that is gifted about you. Also, I agree that the cell phone use in school is a never ending battle. I teach fourth grade and 6 of my students has cell phones. Parents call and text them throughout the day. I do give my students the opportunity to reply. The thought of using cell phones interactively in the classroom is a great idea. I think (as always) you have done a great job with this weeks post. I look forward to reading more. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis really a smart move. We - as teachers- cannot swim against the current of the new generation. I believe that by allowing the use of cell phones in class, we don't only give students the opportunity to implement the technology in class rooms but also to fully benefit from that technology. By implementing your idea of using cell phones in class rooms, student will not be thinking about what time to get out of class to use their cell phones. They can do that in class along with the benefit of participating in the class activities.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI have changed the cellphone policy in my class to: if you need to use your phone raise your hand and ask then I will let you use it. If you do not ask and try to be sneaky I will take your phone for the rest of the quarter ( I can do this because I teach at a private school).
I found that whenever I treat my students as adults they rarely disappointing me and the cellphone rule is no exception.
Sherihan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I have to agree that if we as educators do not change with the times then we will cease to be relevant. On the other hand we have to make sure that the students are not taking advantage of the freedoms we are giving them. Many teachers look at some of my policies and think I am letting the students do what they want, but they can not argue with the results I get.
I have found that the more freedom I give my students the harder I have to work because I am always creating new content to keep the students interested.
I have to admit it makes me a little mad when a teacher has not changed their lesson plans in twenty years and attempts to criticize my teaching methods.