Using the Students’ Technology Inside The Classroom

Elliot: Cathie, you do know that sometimes I make up these conversations.
Cathie: I figured as much. Like, I would ever say “I figured as much”???
Elliot: But most of the conversations really did happen.
Cathie: What does “most” mean to you?
Elliot: How about an easier question for a lesser value?
Cathie: We’re not on Jeopardy; just tell us the conversation, please.
Elliot: Deal… So, the other day I was talking with our friend Berj Akian, CEO of Classlink, about why you and I think that mobile devices are really valuable for learning in K-12 and the following snippet of conversation occurred (folks, really, it did!):
Elliot: Cathie and I feel that THIS time the technology will really have an impact on the classroom. Adults brought laptops into the classroom. Adults brought electronic whiteboards and clickers into the classroom. Yawn. But, the kids are bringing the cellphones into the classroom.
Berj: Yes, absolutely: the kids are using THEIR toolbox for teaching and learning.
Elliot: YES YES YES. That’s it!
Berj: Like a carpenter who builds better using his own tools, the kids may learn better using their own tools. That's all the cellphones are really, their tools which we largely haven't figured out how to use in the classroom, yet.
Elliot: Berj, ahh, do you mind if I borrow your line and use it? It really succinctly summarizes the core idea of why mobile technology is different than laptop technology.
Berj: By all means, Elliot my friend.
Elliot: So, fast forward, folks, about 2 hours. I was talking with another friend…
Cathie: …You have two friends, Elliot?
Elliot: Ha ha ha…
Cathie: It was too easy; sorry for interrupting.
Elliot: Now I lost my train of thought! Oh Oh Oh!
Cathie: Well, you were talking with Billie Baumann, Director of Curriculum in the Watkins Glen School District (NY) earlier today.  Does that help?
Elliot: AAAAh yes … I was talking with Billie about the rollout of cellphone computers in her 5th and 7th grade classrooms earlier that week.  And Billie related a conversation she had with a colleague; it went something like this:
Billie: The rollout is going well; the students are really taking to using the cellphone computers like ducks to water. We are talking their language.
Billie’s Friend: No, we’re in their world!
Cathie: Those observations are just like Berj’s observation! School is finally reaching out and meeting the students where they are.
Elliot: That is truly a profound change. A change brought about by the students themselves.
Cathie: And now, we’ll need to change the curriculum – how we teach and what we teach – in order to truly leverage the students’ use of 21st century tools.
Elliot: Please slow down; that is the subject of our next blog posting; we can’t talk about something we have written yet.
Cathie: Uh, excuse me?
Elliot: You’re excused. What’s the problem?
Cathie: Say good bye, Elliot.
Elliot: Good bye, Elliot.