Utilizing Technology
I teach Automotive Technology and have found that students utilizing smart phone have a definite advantage. Some look up specific vehicle specifications, while others take pictures of components before disassembly to aid them in reassembly.
I think that is a great use of technology.It will help the students remember where to reassemble the parts. I use it in the class to have my students critique websites. I also have them Google to make sure slogans that are creating for their marketing projects are not already in use.
Raina, It sounds like you have struck a good balance between leveraging technology in the classroom for learning while at the same time not letting it distract. It's a tough balance and something most instructors have to monitor carefully throughout the semester.
Dr. Melissa Read
I do see the usage for phne in the classroom, however I do have a mostly no phone policy. I find my students will eaisly get distracted by them when someone texts them ext. I do however tell them when it is ook to use their phones, to look things up ext.
Helen, Technology gives us great power and we've got to be responsible with it. We can use it for productive purposes to your points here, and students can also use it counterproductively. It's often about focus and expectation setting at the start of each semester, and sometimes at the start of each class too.
Dr. Melissa Read
Our school has a policy that students are not to use their cell phones in the classrooms. But I like to do it because of the reasons you listed. The school has let us use Poll Everywhere. It is a great tool to use in the classroom. You can make any type of question that you want and then the students text their responses to a number they provide. It is a great way to get a feel for where your class is at. Sometimes students are too shy to ask something outloud or never want to be called on and they respond to this type of questioning much better. I also read an article recently that talked about posting articles etc. to Pinterest where the students can look at it at a time that is convenient to them.
