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Industry Pitching Cellphones as a Teaching Tool - NYTimes.com

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Saved by 19 people (0 private), first by anonymouse user on 2009-02-16


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Some critics already are denouncing the effort as a blatantly self-serving maneuver to break into the big educational market. But proponents of selling cellphones to schools counter that they are simply making the same kind of pitch that the computer industry has been profitably making to educators since the 1980s.

Highlighted by raw360

At a conference this week in Washington called Mobile Learning 09, CTIA, a wireless industry trade group, plans to start making its case for the educational value of cellphones.

Highlighted by anderscj

on 2009-02-16 by anderscj

This would be much stronger if it did not come from the cell phone industry. Sure, the cell phone industry can support this research but if the company is the one doing the research this is going to be seen as just profiteering and not sway any naysayers.

The only difference now between smartphones and laptops, they say, is that cellphones are smaller, cheaper and more coveted by students.

Highlighted by anderscj

on 2009-02-16 by anderscj

As one commenter on this article points out, the service plan alone negates the cost effectiveness of cell phones in the classroom. A better option would be devices like the iPod Touch that are wifi enabled but do not requre a service plan.

The study found that students with the phones performed 25 percent better on the end-of-the-year algebra exam than did students without the devices in similar classes.

Highlighted by joanvinallcox

“Cellphones so far haven’t been an educational tool. They’ve been a distraction.”

Highlighted by mmkrill

on 2009-02-16 by mmkrill

Could this be because teachers don't know how to use them in an educational setting?

on 2009-02-16 by anderscj

I think that the comment stream associated with this article is evidence of that.

on 2009-02-17 by hanserd

This comment totally misses the point that cell phones will NOT be going away. They will only be increasing their presence. Besides in our classrooms we are using them with GREAT success.

“You have to be willing to put in the time and be very patient with the technology,” she said.

Highlighted by mmkrill

on 2009-02-16 by mmkrill

This statement is true of any new technology that enters the ed setting, in my opinion.