The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Advertisement
  • Apps
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • Lynch Educational Consulting
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Our Brands
  • Page Example
  • Privacy Policy
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • The Edvocate
  • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Pedagogue
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • P-20 Ed Careers

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Pedagogue
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • P-20 Ed Careers
  • Getting a Job as a Teacher in Nevada

  • Understanding Why We Celebrate Black History Month

  • Product Review of Panasonic Prime Smash!

  • Product Review of NameSelector

  • Product Review of MyTalkTools Mobile

  • Product Review of Mystery Science

  • Product Review of MySchoolWorx

  • Product Review of Ten Childcare App

  • Product Review of School Brains

  • Product Review of School Admin

Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
Home›Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech›Using Smartphones in the Classroom

Using Smartphones in the Classroom

By Matthew Lynch
December 25, 2016
33086
2
Spread the love

Today’s students are hard wired with innate abilities to network using technology. By far, their current ‘technology of choice’ is the mobile phone.

According to Cell Phone City Advocacy, “on average, an American receives his/her first cell phone at the age of 12.1 years old, just as he/she is starting middle school. In addition, 73% of teens, roughly 14.3 million, own a smartphone.” A recent study by Young Canadians in a Wired World, reveals that not only do 25% of Grade 4 students have their own mobile phone, but also, more than one-third of teens and pre-teens even sleep with their cellphone.

So how can classrooms take advantage of this ubiquitous affinity with technology and effectively incorporate smartphones into the learning environment? Some Teachers who do so point out that the smartphone ‘s array of functions and apps provides students in the classroom with a handy tool to do research, use as an e-reader alternative, share blogs, keep mobile diaries, and even allows them to track students’ behavior.

One such teacher, John Hardison, a blended learning specialist at East Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, groups the ways he and his students use the smartphone into what he calls “The Five C’s.”

  1. Collaborate, communicate, create and coordinate/curate. He uses smartphones to:
  2. Collaborate by having students peer-assess their classmates’ essays through a Google Form embedded on his teacher page, and allows them to view real-time constructive criticism.
  3. Communicate by having students use FaceTime to add students, both in the classroom as well as others, even those from other schools, during class discussions or learning activities.
  4. Create by writing with apps such as My Writing Spot and Evernote and using dictionary and thesaurus apps.
  5. Coordinate/Curate by having students access their peers’ blogs by sharing a Symbaloo webmix on his teacher page. He even provides a sample.

Looks like this teacher is on to something. So is the use of the smartphone in the classroom warranted? Is doing so a help or hindrance to learning?

TagsEdtechedtechchatelearningSTEAMSTEM
Previous Article

STEM to STEAM: More Than Just a ...

Next Article

Why Virtual Reality has the Potential to ...

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    Before You Buy: Seven Criteria for Educational Software

    June 29, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Reading Horizons Incorporates the Lexile® Framework for Reading in K-3 Literacy Platform

    June 22, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech & InnovationHigher Education

    5 Ways That Technology Can Expand Creativity in Higher Education

    October 20, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    What fewer women in STEM means for their mental health

    June 18, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    Promoting Active Learning with Fitbits

    October 24, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Higher Education EdTech

    Diverse Conversations: The Benefits of an Online Education

    June 28, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch

2 comments

  1. Maria Han 26 December, 2016 at 19:47 Reply

    Mobile penetration has grown tremendously over the years, and almost everyone has a handset. This trend has triggered most debates on how efficient teacher-student communication can be through mobile gadgets. My answer would be 100 percent efficient in communication.

  2. Anthony Nelson 26 December, 2016 at 21:23 Reply

    Thanks, Matthew for the clear and incisive analysis on the use of smartphones. Mobile communication is one of the best ways to interact with students. Teachers can interact well with students stress-free and with less effort as compared to the conventional way of learning. Learning trends can easily be monitored and it also enables the teacher to prepare classes that suit the needs of each and every student.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Product ReviewsSTEM

    Product Review of Britannica LaunchPacks

  • Immersive Learning

    Applications And Drawbacks Of Immersive Learning Tech

  • Cybersecurity

    Cybersecurity In The Connected Classroom

Search

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Getting a Job as a Teacher in Nevada

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 27, 2022
  • Understanding Why We Celebrate Black History Month

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 27, 2022
  • Product Review of Panasonic Prime Smash!

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 26, 2022
  • Product Review of NameSelector

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 26, 2022
  • Product Review of MyTalkTools Mobile

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 26, 2022
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • 7 Roles for Artificial Intelligence in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 5, 2018
  • Digital Literacy is the Most Important Lifelong Learning Tool

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 30, 2017
  • Teaching Early Geometry Concepts – Ask a Tech Teacher
    on
    June 23, 2022

    Teaching Early Geometry Concepts

    […] spend a lot ...
  • Product Review of Counting Bills & Coins – The Tech Edvocate | Gold – Silver – ...
    on
    June 21, 2022

    Product Review of Counting Bills & Coins

    […] Product Review of ...
  • The Edtech Industry Has An Oversaturation Problem - latecareer
    on
    June 20, 2022

    Is the Edtech Industry Flunking Out or Making the Grade?

    […] Lynch at The ...
  • The Edtech Industry Has An Oversaturation Problem - News Badshah
    on
    June 19, 2022

    Is the Edtech Industry Flunking Out or Making the Grade?

    […] Lynch at The ...
  • The Edtech Trade Has An Oversaturation Downside - tudoquevocequeria
    on
    June 16, 2022

    Is the Edtech Industry Flunking Out or Making the Grade?

    […] Lynch at The ...

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • Adaptive LearningCurriculum & InstructionDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital Age TeachersEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformInstructional Technology

    Exploring New Ideas: Student-Driven Remote Learning

    Spread the loveRemote learning is taking its toll on our students. They miss the social side of school. Not seeing their classmates or teachers is leading to nervousness, anxiety, and ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & Reform

    Implementing Education Technology by Pursuing Technology Education

    Spread the loveTechnology is used for many great things in our world. It’s a powerful tool when used correctly. As such, this powerful tool can be used to transform learning.  ...
  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    How Much Bias Is Okay in Your School?

    Spread the loveThe algorithm has proven itself to be a handy tool when it comes to solving education problems. It’s also not without bias.  You may be wondering how some ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How to Teach Kids to Communicate in This Digital Age

    Spread the loveWhen even the youngest children are spending the equivalent of a full work day looking at screens, it is perhaps no surprise that parents are wondering how to ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Edtech Companies Can Learn What Not to Do From Delta Airlines

    Spread the loveIt seems that edtech companies still have a lot to learn about their business models and practices. With that being said, there is a lot they can learn ...
  • Digital LeadershipEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Collegix

    Spread the love This is a comprehensive ERP solution for colleges and universities that provides modular, totally integrated learners services, finance, HR, and advancement. Collegix provides online and offline workarounds ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Discovery Education

    Spread the love Discovery Education is a big player in EdTech. The company has established itself as the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for ...
  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of AptaFund

    Spread the loveAptaFund is a business management software that provides essential functions to educational institutions, such as web access to educators, parents, and learners. It allows elementary schools and other educational ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Understanding the Fundamentals of a Sales Script in Your Customer Interaction Journey

    Spread the loveSales scripts are crucial to any business and can be the main difference in achieving the set targets. A well-written sales script that factors in customers from different ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityDigital Literacy

    Teaching Learners Digital Content Creation Skills

    Spread the loveContent curation is nothing new and has always been a coveted skill. It has been this way for hundreds of years — think of art galleries, museums, or ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityEdTech & Innovation

    Promoting Online Access With Hotspots, Laptops, and Planning

    Spread the loveWhen becoming a leader in the field of education, it is important to consider equity. Some students may not have access to devices or the internet from their ...
  • Digital EquityDigital Leadership

    How Can You Assess the Tech Needs of Your Students Outside of School?

    Spread the loveToday, I received an email from the middle school principal in Los Angeles. She explained to me that the school that she ran was in one of the ...
  • Digital Equity

    It Is Time for the Edtech Industry to Stop Denying Its Equity and Race Problem

    Spread the loveThe EdTech industry is dominated by white employees, white leaders, and white entrepreneurs. If you doubt this statement, just attend an Edtech conference. Admittedly, educators and others don’t ...
  • Digital Equity

    How OER Can Help Overcome the Higher Education Equity Barrier

    Spread the loveThe cornerstone of the American dream is the ability to succeed in life regardless of one’s family of origin. And, for most people, that requires a college education. ...

EdTech Futures

  • Adaptive LearningAssistive TechnologyEdTech FuturesInstructional TechnologyTeachers

    Will AI Replace Teachers?

    Spread the loveThrough the years, robots have taken over many jobs. First, they replaced horses and wagons and horses and plows, then they started to replace people. A few examples ...
  • EdTech FuturesHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechUncategorized

    The Future of Higher Education Must Avoid Returning to the Past

    Spread the loveColleges and universities can make higher education safer, smarter, and more accessible through automation and collaboration technologies – if they commit to it. Author: John Hulen, Director of ...
  • EdTech FuturesOnline Learning & eLearning

    IT Trends To Watch As Higher Education Moves Into a New Decade

    Spread the loveEdtech couldn’t have hoped for a better launch into the new decade than the push the industry received from COVID-19. Even the most tech-resistant institutions and individuals have ...
  • EdTech Futures

    4 Emerging EdTech Trends in 2022

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has not only changed education as we know it, but it has forced education technology (EdTech) to up its game. EdTech has been crucial since the start of this ...
  • Adult EducationEdTech & InnovationEdTech FuturesEducation LeadershipEducational LeadershipHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechThe Future of Education

    Education Technology and the Future of Higher Ed Leadership

    Spread the loveEducation Technology (EdTech) has had a more significant impact on education than anyone expected. Now its effects are reaching into the field of higher education. In this article, ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright © 2022 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.