Stephanie

Final project

= EDUC-8841-1 Diffusion and Integration of Technology in Education = = Stephanie L. Hartman, # A00227812 = = December 26, 2010 =

I choose to examine smartphones or PDA’s (personal digital assistants) for the diffusion topic from the three innovations I reviewed. Many classrooms in my teaching district have adopted the use of smartphones, in particular, the iPod for student use. This device comes with myriad applications that can be adapted for teaching and learning purposes. In the K-12 education arena, the use of a smartphone type device could enhance teaching and learning when used appropriately. These tiny tools allow students to access various learning applications that are interesting and fun to use beyond being portable. Portability alone serves to increase student use by giving instant access to learning applications. In addition to student interaction with the applications, the device enables students to interact with peers and instructors which may foster construction of knowledge. Teachers have found that these devices are a quick and easy manner to gather information about what a student knows. Recording students during oral reading fluency tests has allowed me to share specific and personalized information with school team members including parents. It has opened a door to understanding unique characteristics of our students. I chose this particular innovation over interactive whiteboards and Moodle because I have just started incorporating the iPod Touch in my classroom. The focus on smartphones is timely for my purposes. While the use of “cellphones” in the classroom is seen as a distraction by many, it’s important to understand that devices such as the iPod Touch are not set up for making calls or texting. This increases the potential for acceptance of use within the K-12 environment. A study I found that supports the use of the iPod in the classroom namely, Podagody by C. Dale and J. Pymm (2009), focuses on student use of the iPod in performing art classrooms, and how the device might enhance learning experiences. The study seems to be relevant to the early stages of the diffusion process in which I find the iPod has not been adopted yet by K-12 institutions in the sense that Rogers (2003) explains, “//adoption//, a decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available” (p. 37). Whatever we call the little mobile devices, smartphones, cellphones, PDA’s, or iPods, it’s certain they are here to stay. Naysayers have valid points regarding distraction and disruption, but with proper discipline and guidance they will be helpful more than a hindrance. Whether they are going to be adopted for classroom use on a wide basis is yet to be determined. They have not been rejected yet.

References

Dale, C.& Pym, J. (2009). Podagogy: the iPod as a learning technology. //Active Learning in//

// Higher Education, 10 // (1), 84-96. doi: 10.1177/1469787408100197

Rogers, E. M. (2003). // Diffusion of innovations // (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press.