The Use of Cell Phones in the Classroom Terri Harkey Puster Elementary Lovejoy ISD Discovery Education October 24, 2009

Polling students via cell phone provides a free polling service for 30 and under audience size – results are updated live in your web browser or PowerPoint – could be used for quick assessments like CPS units, voting on class elections or collecting data

Google Text message your search question and Google will answer Weather: enter w plus zip code Enter a fact based question and receive your answer (example Abe Lincoln’s birthday) Definitions: enter d plus the word Driving directions: your address “to” destination address Product prices: enter price followed by product name Translations: t followed by word followed by language Time: enter “time” followed by city (compare times around the world) Calculator: text math questions or conversions (example 80F in C, half cup in a pint

Photo Ideas  Scavenger Hunt  Oral History Project  Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt (alphabet book)  Geometry Digital Story Book  Local Landmarks Story Book  Vacation Postcards  Field Trips

YODIO Free service to create an audio postcard or narrated photo album Grab some photos – call to record the story and share with friends by or on the Web Create a Yodiocard, Yodiocast or Yodiotour Yodio = your audio

Text a Novel Students can individually or collaboratively write a novel using text. Textnovel.com allows you to write your own book. The text message gets sent to the web site where your story is logged. The composition can be set to either public or private. It provides an anytime, anywhere writing forum for the students.

Mapping Directions Take one class outside with a phone and leave one class inside with a phone. Outside class calls or texts inside with their location. Inside class has to use North/South/East/West directions to guide the outside class back to their room. Once inside switch places and try again.

Geocaching Many cell phones now have GPS units available. Geocaching.com provides searches for a high-tech treasure hunting game. Just put in your zip code, push “go” and explore geocaching near you.

CHACHA Text or call ChaCha Leave a voice mail or text a question and you will receive a text answer

Nutrition on the Go Text Send a text with the name of the restaurant and the item and you receive a message that includes nutritional information such as calories, carbohydrates, and fat content.

K7.net – Unified Messaging The world's leading web-based unified messaging system that channels your free voic and fax messages directly to your . K7 Unified Messaging provides you with a free phone number. This number enables you to have your voic messages and faxes delivered directly to your computer. You also have the option to view and listen to your messages right here on the K7 Web site.

Classroom Games Divide into teams – Post question – first to text correct answer wins Phone a friend – students can text or phone a friend to get help with an answer Daily Vocabulary Text Text your exit from class

Cell Phones in the Classroom 21 st Century Learners Cell phones are everywhere and kids know how to use them. Let’s leverage the technology and find ways to make our teaching and learning more effective, efficient and exciting!