Statistics About Technology in the Classroom Got Me Thinking...

When looking at Jeff Dunn’s article 20 Must-See Facts About the 21^st Century Classroom I am glad to see a picture from Open Colleges sharing these facts. The picture is rather difficult for me to look at because it is so scattered.  Moving on…some of the facts are interested like the study that shows that games raised test scores.  So now there is actual proof that learning games can be useful.  The graphic also gives “Top 3 Reasons for Teaching Technology in the Classroom”, which are

• ·         “Adapt to diverse learning styles”
• ·         “Boost student motivation”
• ·         “Enhance the material being taught”

When I looked at this picture, one thing stuck out.  “1 in 5 students have used a mobile app to keep their coursework organized”.  I looked at this and thought this number should be a lot higher.  Teachers should push to integrate this into helping students learn.

There are some teachers , now I’m talking about our upper elementary and middle school, that require their students to fill out their agendas.  Students have to fill it out and turn it in to collect points.  Have you ever seen a teenager’s room/backpack/desk?  Some of them are just plain filthy.  Teachers are asking students to be responsible enough to write their homework in their agenda and keep their agenda with them at all times (it doubles as a hall pass at one of our schools).  

*Surprise* 

Students, usually the ones that struggle academically, lose them and have to pay for another or they don’t get to go to the bathroom.  Here is my thought, have students use an app to organize their work.  I can’t remember the last time I heard of a teenager losing their phone, it is always with them. 

Picture little Timmy out past his curfew up to no good.  Suddenly, a ding from his phone breaks the silence as he is putting graffiti on the side of a building. “Oh shoot!” exclaims Timmy. “I better go home and finish my history paper.”  Thanks homework organizer app. 

OK, lame scenario and I know not every student has a cell phone.  I think this could be beneficial for some students that struggle with organization, but manage to keep their phones.  Just something to think about...