1. Smartphones in Education
By Joel Bryant

2. What defines a Smartphone?
No official definition
But widely known for:
Advanced computing ability and connectivity
Portable media players
Camera functions
High-resolution touch screens
Web browsers that can access and properly display standard web pages  
Wi-Fi capabilities and mobile broadband access
Access to software applications with a multitude of uses

3. Mobile Learning

4. So Why Smartphones? They are already here Student motivation
Student understanding
They combine the functions of many different technologies into one
Extend the learning process outside of the classroom

5. They’re Here!
Depending on the grade level, many students already have access to Smartphones.
According to MobiThinking.com there are over 5.3 billion mobile subscribers (77 percent of the world’s population)
Although the majority of these are “feature phones” and not “Smartphones”
According to NPD.com, in the USA, sales of Smartphones overtook feature phones in 2011, (54% -46%)
Granted, most student users would be in the higher grades

6. They’re Here! Benefits for Education
Although not all students have access to Smartphones, many will, and as numbers project, the amount of students with access will continue to increase.
As a result, it is a cheaper technology to implement
Not every student must be provided with one by the school

7. Student Understanding and Motivation
Most students today have grown up as part of the “digital generation”
They have been exposed to advanced computing technology since birth.
Anya Kamenetz writes about a pair of twin girls who have been using an iPhone since they were 6 months old, and are starting to read at 18 months thanks to an app called “First Words”
Students’ understanding of technology is largely inherent

8. Student Understanding and Motivation
Kamenetz explains that children nowadays ”don't have that barrier that technology is hard or that they can't figure it out.” (Kamenetz, 2010)
Due to the interactivity of mobile devices, even students without mobile access often have an understanding of how to use the technology by learning from peers or parents.
Bonus: Students love to use their phones.

9. Student Understanding and Motivation
Benefits for Education
Many students already know how to use the technology
Less instruction time wasted
Students can teach each other how to use it
Independent learning
Students like using their phones
Utilize as a positive learning tool, instead of a distraction

10. Multiple Functions Smartphones can combine the functions of: Cameras
Video Cameras
Telephones
Calculators
PCs/Laptops
GPS’
Audio recorders
Many, many more

11. Multiple Functions Benefits to Education
Instead of buying Flip cameras, video cameras, laptops, calculators and various other technologies, Schools can consolidate these technologies into one:
Smartphones
In a world of increasing cutbacks for education, it is smart to conserve money where we can

12. Learning Outside the Classroom
Smartphones allow students to take their school work anywhere with them and complete it at any time.
Students have busy lives!
With sports, dance, clubs, lessons and a multitude of other responsibilities, students’ lives are hectic.
Smartphones give students the ability to do school work on the way to the rink, or in the waiting room at the dentist.

13. Learning Outside the Classroom
With cloud computing technology, students can store their work online in the “cloud”
They can text, skype, call, or eachother
This allows increased collaboration, and eases pressure of meeting outside of class for group projects.

14. Learning Outside the Classroom
Benefits for Education
Work can be done anywhere at anytime
Lifts restraints of limited class time
Instruction can be given in podcast or video form to be accessed anywhere.
Creates accountability for absent students as well as those who attend regularly.
Students can work together with more ease
Better collaboration and social behaviour
Parents can monitor students grades and homework
Students can track school events, deadlines and other important dates

15. Challenges Funding Teacher Education Supervision
Having already spent so much money on computing technology, school’s will be wary about abandoning it for Smartphones
The digital divide in each class and school is different, and funding has to be allocated accordingly
Teacher Education
Teachers need to be taught how to use Smartphone technology to teach effectively
Supervision
Student access to inappropriate material is difficult to filter.

16. Conclusion
Although they face many difficulties in their implementation, Smartphones could potentially be the next great piece of technology to inspire real learning in our classrooms!

17. Audio for Presentation
I will pause speaking to allow the viewer know that we have moved on to the next slide.

18. Bibliography
Fearrington, C. (2011, October 8). Smartphones in Education [Web log message]. Retrieved from 
Kamenetz, A. (2010, April 1). A Is for App: How Smartphones, Handheld Computers Sparked an Educational Revolution. Retrieved from
MobiThinking. (2011) Global mobile statistics 2011: all quality mobile marketing research, mobile Web stats, subscribers, ad revenue, usage, trends…
The NPD Group, Inc. (2011) Verizon's iPhone Sales Help Make Apple the Third-Largest Mobile Phone Brand in the U.S. Retrieved from 
Smartphone. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 17, from