Elaine+Week+9

Here is my Week 9 Wiki Update.

 Our college seeks to optimally use its  technological resources to aid students in gaining technical and information literacy to prepare them for future career opportunities. As the United States moves from a individualistic society into a global community, the need for teamwork and collaborative skills increases. Because of the popularity, availability, and educational value that cell phones provide college students, the Board should consider the optimal ways this innovation could meet the needs of our technologically advancing institution. Cell phones enhance the accessibility for students to perform scholastic tasks on our existing Blackboard platform from anytime or anywhere. Cell phones provide a lower-cost alternative to the acquisition and maintenance of netbooks; therefore, providing more educational value for the economic outlay.   Howard Gardiner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory meshes completely with the integration of mobile phones in the college classroom. Cell phones operate  with audio, visual, and kinesthetic properties. For example, a student can listen to a lecture, browse the Internet for additional resources, watch a Youtube video connecting the lecture concepts, and text a discussion response on the class discussion blog. This aforementioned scenario promotes technical and information literacy by incorporating multiple technologically enriched media exposures in sequence. With cell phone usage on the rise for U.S. citizens of all walks of life, and the affordability of a cell phone with Internet service, the Digital Divide chasm diminishes. Most cell phones have nearly all the same capabilities and functions of a typical netbook at a fraction of the cost for upkeep and maintenance. Cellular service is widely available in Massachusetts and across the country, making accessibility to content 24/7 possible. 1,000’s of applications, including for our college platform, Blackboard, represent a responsible use of existing college resources.  Mobile phones have the capacity to connect students to a wealth of communicative and collaborative  tools that align to common curricular activities such as flashcards, etextbooks, course platforms, Podcasts, quick dialogue, and Internet searching. Imagine having the benefit of a student response system without the high cost, setup, or storage requirements. Students thrive with prompt feedback and email, blogs, and social networking avenues provide prime opportunities for multiple contacts with learners.   As we wrap up our discussion, I’d like to reiterate that access to information equate to communication skills, and communication skills are essential to the future leaders of America. Our place as educators is to inspire, support, and provide the tools students and our peers need to succeed in scholastically directing the next generation. The Internet provides a serviceable mode of transportation to reach the scholastic destination sought by college educators. Let’s take advantage of this innovative technology, implement cell phone usage in the college classroom, and bask in the fruit of our labor. Thank you.