Cell Phones in Education--Say Yes!

Imagine this...students using their cell phones in the classroom...as a part of a learning task! No you are not hallucinating...read this article from Innovate, the Online Journal of Education. Author Marc Prensky provides some great ideas for thinking about this technology in learning design. (login to read the whole article)

While I know that this idea of cell phone learning is a real stretch for many educators...Marc is really right on and his message is very similar to why teachers and students are using handhelds for learning. It becomes an anytime, anywhere, learning device! The difference...advocates are trying to get handhelds in the hands of students, and Mr Prensky is looking at the tools that are in the hands of students right now!

Those following the trends in mobile technologies--phones, PDAs, gaming gadgets, etc., all know that in the future these tools begin to blend their features together. The excitement for learning comes when the software features help educators and learners connect to the learning targets!

Programmers, device manufacturers and cell phone companies...bring on the cell phone capabilities! Educators, rethink learning targets for the 21st century! Students, keep helping us evolve "education"!