Texting+101

TODAY - Choose roles In order to create a well-functioning collaborative group, each group member will assume a role. · Group moderator – (Ashlea) - pose questions, ask for clarification, keep the conversation going and focused · Thematic finder – (Pat)- look for themes in the discussion, publish the themes, refine the themes · Citation guru – (Becca)- seek clarification, ask for proof, decide where citations are needed, help locate sources when necessary · Editor – (Matt) - establish a timeline for completion of the “group artifact”, use themes to develop a writing/creation plan, communicate and execute a direction/vision for the “group artifact” · Publisher – (Matt/Becca) - Use your tech skills to manage the production of the artifact.

BEFORE NEXT CLASS - Every group member should post on this page a resource, an idea, a response.

Dietrich - I found an interesting articles on cnn.com check out http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/20/teens.text.messaging/index.html?iref=allsearch media type="custom" key="8097000" media type="custom" key="8096910"

Becca (1/22): I think the first CNN video, Teachers vs. Texting, was really interesting. While I think that using cell phones in the classroom for polls and other academic things is a great idea (since the students we will encounter in schools as teachers grew up in a more fast passed, technology savvy lifestyle), I also think that allowing students to use their OWN cell phones would cause too much temptation. Students could easily text friends while pretending to text poll answers or do other work. That’s why I thought the idea in the first video was so interesting…having the school buy phones and disable certain features on it for students to use in the classroom. Smart phones can do practically anything these days, and they are far cheaper than buying laptops for every student in the classroom.

I found this article that sites the statistic from the video about 60% of students texting in class. The article says the Pew data was a little higher—64%—but that may just be because it was from a different year. [|Statistics Article]

This USA Today article was also interesting. It just talks about the dangers/distractions of texting:

· "Communications behavior is filling parts of our time that used to be idle or devoted to talking to strangers or  noticing parts of the world that we're not going to notice as much anymore.”   · Students using texting to cheat on tests  [|USA Today Article]

Something cool that we could do for an artifact is make some kind of video about students texting….even here at Millersville. But I don’t know how long that would take and/or if any of use are editing savvy. I just thought it might be interesting. Maybe we could find a video online to show during the presentation? I don’t know, just thinking out loud!

What exactly do we want to focus on in this presentation? Using cell phones (bought by the school or personal) in class as teaching/learning aids, how texting is hindering students because they are distracted/miss certain social cues that are necessary in schools, using texting to cheat on tests, or something else?

Let me know what you all think!

Pat: I agree that we should look at the ways texting can be used in a positive way in the classroom. That is more interesting to me, and I'm sure to much of the class, than the harmful aspects of texting in the classroom. Everyone already has ideas on how texting can be detrimental, but this class was the first time where I was introduced to texting as a positive aspect in the classroom. I think it is interesting and I would like to learn more.

This video looks at one classroom's implementation of that texting poll program we used and the teacher's and students' thoughts about it. Ok here's the link to the video, the widget wouldn't let me embed the video, I'll try again later. []

I think that the video would be interesting, I just don't know anything about making or editing video. Another idea could be to make a project that could be done

using texting or phones in a classroom. Just an idea.

Here is another article that talks about the texting poll program and its implementation in a school in Iowa. It provides more student and teacher feedback on the

program

[]

Becca (1/29):

I definitely think we should go with the positive aspect. As you said Pat: people already know the down sides. This project could be a really cool way of teaching everyone in the class about all the positive aspects of using texting in the classroom and giving them ideas for when they are out teaching! Matt also said he was interested in talking about using texting in the classroom too, if I remember correctly, and he said he had some research on it. Creating a project that utilizes texting/phones in the classroom should be fun...great idea Pat! We should probably all try to get together soon; I just realized that this is due in a week and a half!

On a side note, where is everyone else is our group?

Matt: media type="custom" key="8147384"

The following video helps show how texting can be used in class to get a better conversation out of students who may not otherwise be so forthcoming with their thoughts. Dr. Dietrich used this software in our class and I felt like it created an atmosphere in which you could give more honest responses without fear of sounding incorrect or even corny. Below is an exert from the article which backs up this point.

A recent survey put out by free texting app textPlus shows 43% of teens 13-17 text during class, with 17% doing so constantly. Wiregrass Ranch High School Senior Zac Serota admitted he texts, "pretty much all times of the day."

Mrs. Lloyd got started on her texting in class experiment by downloaded a free program from polleverywhere.com. She poses questions to her students from the front of the class. A live discussion feed is generated behind Mrs. Lloyd on a projector screen, using text messages sent by students in the class.

Mrs. Lloyd is still in the early stages of testing the method, but she already feels it's working.

"I think it has helped. We've been able to get a more open discussion," she said.

Meanwhile, students like Zac Serota think it is an enjoyable way to learn.

"If I read something in a text book I might think about it for a minute, but if I am forced to type it out and think about it, then it helps me respond and form an opinion," Serota said. "It gets the whole class to participate. Instead of getting one kid to raise their hand and give an answer you get everyone's opinion. That way you can learn a lot from everyone." Cell phone use is banned in Pasco County classroom unless authorized by a teacher. School leaders say 90% of Wiregrass Ranch High Schools have cell phones. If a child does not have a phone in Mrs. Lloyd's classroom, they simply share with a neighbor during lessons incorporating texting. Mrs. Lloyd said she plans to expand her texting lessons beyond her science classes throughout the school year.

The entire article is located at http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/wesley_chapel/teacher-welcomes-texting-in-class

I think that the CNN video is very interesting and has a good message behind it: we will need to control the new technology so that it does not control us. This is something that won't go away, so it would be best to embrace it and find a useful way to introduce it into the class. I think that if students are given clear guidelines, they will follow them due to their desire to use their phones a bit. The article that I found, which is above, helps reinforce these ideas.

Ashlea:

I think it is a great idea to try to highlight the positive aspects of utilizing cell phones in the classroom as this truly presents a challenge for educators who have a tendency to decline or fear change.Thus far, I think everyone has extremely valid points as you've discussed the statistics and frequency of student's cell phone use (in particular, texting), examined possible rules or regulations for cell phone use in the classroom, and useful resources for the classroom use cell phones (such as polleverywhere).

I have to say that while I typically take the position that cell phones in the classroom should be prohibited. The first video, Teachers vs. Texting, changed my mind when they specified that they had taken texting and calling off of the cell phones and utilized the cell phones for their internet capabilities. I think this is a wise idea as it does keep the students engaged in the classroom. In addition, they are so preoccupied with the internet on the phone that the school gave to them that they are less likely to be texting on their personal cell phones during class time. I was amazed when the video stated 60% of student text in class, even if they are not permitted to use cellphones at school.

The second video, Teenage Texters Miss Out On Social Cues, speaks of many of our worries of cellphones dominating students lives. They reported students who were interviewed spent two and a half more hours with media per day than they actually thought. I would definitely say this is a societal concern when people don't even realize how much of their time they spend on cellphones and disconnected from social interaction.

Both of the videos mention the research done by the Pew Research Center and here is a link to this research center and a summation of their findings: Pew Research Findings. One of the more interesting findings is "41% of teens from households earning less than $30,000 annually say they go online with their cell phone. Only 70% of teens in this income category have a computer in the home, compared with 92% of families from households that earn more". Therefore, one could possibly say that cell phones are helping to level the playing field when it comes to the different socio-economic backgrounds of our students.

One idea for our presentation would be to discuss how one can text Google to obtain information. I found this information here: [|Google SMS on your mobile phone]. This is the site is interesting as you could use this even on a cell phone that is not equipped with the internet but just equipped with texting. This is like a quick answer tool where you text Google and they send you a reply. For example: I want to know the definition of the word "Despot" so I state in my text "Define Despot" and send it to "466453" and google sends me a reply with the definition of the word and what resource they obtained this information from.
 * Pro: It can help students with quick answers to vocabulary questions or homework inquires when they do not have a computer at home.


 * Con: Students could easily utilize this tool to cheat ... or use it as an excuse for texting in class when they are actually texting a friend instead.

Here is one last resources: [|Five Ways to Use Texting in the Classroom] This primarily discusses how we can utilize cell phones as an aid rather than look upon them negatively. They also speak of how text messages can be helpful for keeping parents connected to what is happening in the classroom.