I know this article on bbc has already been blogged about by Ewan and Doug Dickinson, but just felt the need to add my 2 penn'orth.
Children often bring the fascinating gadgets they were
bought as Christmas presents into class, but these can cause disruption
and hamper learning.
I wonder if Kevin Brennan has been into a classroom where this disruptive technology has been harnessed to fantastic educational effect. Let me think off hand who do I know from the blogosphere in MFL teaching has successfully disturbed a lesson with great educational output. Lynne Horn, Sharon Tonner, Me, Ewan, etc.
Yes these "toys" can be disruptive IF the purpose of using them is not explained and the penalties for misuse calmly pointed out. My classes erupt with joy when I say get out you phones and turn on Bluetooth, but this is always accompanied with a proviso that if a student uses their phone in class for something other than waht they have been tasked to do it will be confiscated...thus far no probs. Don't worry I have heard all the arguments about losing things and damaging things as well and these are real arguments, but they should not be excuses for trying.
When oh when oh when are politicians going to shut up about education and leave it to those who really care or alternatively see what can happen in classrooms before reacting to
Technorati Tags: education, teaching, web2.0, technology, "kevin brennan", gadgets, mp3, ipod
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