Handheld technology...
With the explosion of handheld technology in the last few years, many schools are now receiving funding to incorporate the use of these technologies such as iPods, iPads, smart phones, and other handheld touchscreen devices in the classroom. Many students may even have personal access to these technologies. Instead of just banning these devices in the classroom, teachers need to find a way to embrace the educational benefits they have to offer.
Handheld technology is a great way to keep students engaged during direct instruction and facilitates student-centered learning (Parades et al., 2010; Terrion & Aceti, 2012). Of course not all classrooms and students may have access to these devices, but if so, here are a few ideas and ways to incorporate them into your classroom. |
Cell phones:
If we had a nickel for every time we asked a student to stop texting and put away their cell phone, we'd all be rich. Why not use texting as a way to gather information on students' knowledge or opinions about a particular topic?! Sites like Poll Everywhere allow you to create surveys and forums online where students can vote or free respond via text message through their cell phone. Use a projector to show the screen from your computer and you have real time data gathering results or a comment feed for everyone to see.
If we had a nickel for every time we asked a student to stop texting and put away their cell phone, we'd all be rich. Why not use texting as a way to gather information on students' knowledge or opinions about a particular topic?! Sites like Poll Everywhere allow you to create surveys and forums online where students can vote or free respond via text message through their cell phone. Use a projector to show the screen from your computer and you have real time data gathering results or a comment feed for everyone to see.
Clicker devices:
Researchers have shown that students are more engaged during direct instruction of a lesson when they are able to participate or asked to recall knowledge (Terrion & Aceti, 2012). Using clicker devices (wireless handheld devices that allow students to punch in their answer via a keypad and wirelessly transmit to a computer-based program) is a way to keep students engaged and listening, while providing instant feedback on content knowledge. The good news is that clickers are fairly simple for teachers to set up and for students to learn how to use; the bad news is that clicker classroom sets are not free.
Handheld Touchscreen Devices:
Handheld touchscreen devices such as iPads and iPods are the wave of the future in education. They keep students engaged, lessen cognitive memory loads, and allow for kinesthetic learning (Ng, 2011). There are an endless number of apps that can be downloaded to assist with learning in the biology classroom.
Here are a few free apps that can be downloaded from iTunes that can be used to teach biology:
Researchers have shown that students are more engaged during direct instruction of a lesson when they are able to participate or asked to recall knowledge (Terrion & Aceti, 2012). Using clicker devices (wireless handheld devices that allow students to punch in their answer via a keypad and wirelessly transmit to a computer-based program) is a way to keep students engaged and listening, while providing instant feedback on content knowledge. The good news is that clickers are fairly simple for teachers to set up and for students to learn how to use; the bad news is that clicker classroom sets are not free.
Handheld Touchscreen Devices:
Handheld touchscreen devices such as iPads and iPods are the wave of the future in education. They keep students engaged, lessen cognitive memory loads, and allow for kinesthetic learning (Ng, 2011). There are an endless number of apps that can be downloaded to assist with learning in the biology classroom.
Here are a few free apps that can be downloaded from iTunes that can be used to teach biology:
There are also a few apps out there that work the same way as the clicker devices by allowing students to respond during the lesson through an iPad or iPod. Most are not free and some may also require you to sign up through their company to allow for so many devices to be logged on, but if you already have a classroom set of iPads or iPods, these apps are significantly cheaper than purchasing a whole classroom set of clicker devices and offer the same student engagement value.
Websites like QuestionPress.com can also be saved as a bookmarked webpage onto your handheld touchscreen device, and students can easily log in to take tests, quizzes, or respond to questions during direct instruction. Again, the membership to utilize this site is not free, but fairly inexpensive if you already have access to a classroom set of handheld devices or computers. The responder interface on this site is very easy for students to understand, and even easier for teachers to set up and enter questions. The program also allows teachers to watch in real time as students take a test or quiz to see who answered correctly or incorrectly on each question, and allows the teacher to access and print out scores to enter into their gradebook. Oh, and you can save trees by not having to print out 200 copies of a paper test!