Making the Case for Using Cell Phones in the Classroom

 has started a conversation about whether it is time to lift the city’s ban on cellphones in schools. SchoolBook, The New York Times and WNYC combined effort to share news, data, and conversation about schools in New York City, reached out to me and my Teaching Generation Text co-author, Willyn Webb as experts to share our ideas about ways to incorporate cellphones into the classroom.
In the article we share ways real educators are using the power of cell phones for learning and explain the building blocks that must be put in place for success.  
You can read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2011/11/01/cellphones-why-not-use-them-to-teach.

6 Ways to Turn Your 1-Computer Classroom Into a Global Communication Center

In the 21st century, the connected classroom is no longer a privilege. It is a right. Fortunately, more and more school systems are bringing their students out of the past and into the present with a basic internet connection, laptop, and projector.  With the right building blocks in place, teachers will be positioned to transform their classrooms from disconnected spaces where learning happens in isolation to global communication centers.  Here are the building blocks for success that you should put in place for effective change.

8 building blocks for successful technology integration
To follow are the building blocks that school leaders and teachers must work together to provide for successful integration of technology into the classroom.

1. Support teachers in using technology for professional purposes.
2. Provide teachers with support for securing interactive digital content.
3. Encourage teachers to partner with students to integrate technology into learning.
4. School principal must lead by example.
5. Embed technology integration into teacher and leader evaluation.
6. Support student acquisition and use of technology in schools.
7. Work with students to develop responsible use policies.
8. Secure appropriate permissions from students and their parents.

As schools put these building blocks in place, they will be able to work to support real transformation.  Below are 6 ideas that teachers across the globe are implementing to transform learning in their classrooms.

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