Lots of people use their cell phones to send text messages. (Personally, I’ve never done it, and I don’t really find it very appealing, but that’s me.) Texting in the classroom, however, is usually outlawed. Despite this fact, I recently read an article about classrooms that do just the opposite and require their students to use texting in the classroom. The article Texting in classrooms may become the norm by Alison Pugh hails from New Zealand and talks about a new teaching tool called Activexpression. According to Pugh,
The device, called Activexpression, allows teachers to ask questions on the board via a computer, and students can then text their answer through their Activexpression cellphone.
The software instantly produces a graph or chart on the board displaying the students’ answers, allowing teachers to gauge the class’s understanding at a glance.
The positive aspects of this technology are that it allows the teacher to have a better idea of how students are understanding the material that they are learning very quickly. It also is something that students would probably have fun with and would enjoy.
However, I can see some negative aspects to it as well. First off, I’m willing to bet that this is probably a pretty expensive technology. Buying every student an Activexpression cell phone plus the software sounds like a very expensive endeavor. Secondly, when I picture a classroom where all of the students are bent over their cellphones texting away, I can’t say that it seems very appealing. It doesn’t encourage a lot of interaction, in my mind. I also don’t really know that its purpose would be worth its expense. There are much cheaper methods of doing things like this, like having students write their answer on a white board and hold it up for the teacher to see, or just plain good old-fashioned homework. Granted, these methods are not as fast or convenient as texting, but they accomplish their purpose.
In short, while I think that Activexpression is an interesting idea that could be fun to use, I don’t know that it is really needed or that it would really be worth what it costs.
Article: Texting in classrooms may become the norm by Alison Pugh.
The Dominion Post. October 7, 2008. Stuff.co.nz.
This comment could be in response to almost any of your posts, Liz, but I chose this one because of the popularity of texting among students.
Recently I met a teacher friend for breakfast, and one of the topics that came up was whether it is necessary, valuable, or desirable to “entertain” students. Since this is an area that non-teachers seem to scoff at, I found it an interesting topic.
There is no doubt that we must engage the students if we are to teach them. In many cases there is no better way to do that than to entertain. However, it must be a means to an end; entertainment for its own sake would surely be a waste of time. Think of the most energetic, dynamic professor you’ve had. She was likely engaging, interesting, and yes, a little bit entertaining, right? No harm in that. If it takes juggling flaming chainsaws to get the students’ attention, then perhaps there is a greater problem, but in general entertainment in the service of engaging students is a worthy endeavor.
Here’s how I connect it to technology in the classroom. If it makes it more accessible, enjoyable, interesting, or just plain fun, I say go for it. It is bound to add something to the student’s learning experience that would be missing without it. But if technology is used solely for the novelty, for the sake of technology alone, I would let it be. Students don’t need me to introduce them to technology, but if I can harness it to reach them more effectively I’m all for it.
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This raises several interesting ideas with technology in the classroom. I agree that it might be fun for students to get involved in class, but I am a firm believer in getting students to socialize. I hate that things are becoming much more involved on the computer…where has the human element gone?
I was talking to my friend’s mom recently who was reflecting on her college days. She was telling me that she would walk into her friend’s dorm and sit all day talking…to which I laughed at. I would never walk to someone’s place without calling them first to make sure they were there! From there we would probably text and decide a time we could meet. One example of the human element being lost.
I agree with you that it would be expensive to get students involved, too.
I also really connect with what Blayne had to say. I don’t think it is up to the teacher to entertain students. Engage and entertain are two very different words.
I think the problem lies in the instant gratification we pump today’s kids with, and their entertainment expectations. They are used to flashy TV shows, so when they get in the monochromatic classrooms, they are obviously going to be bored.
Interesting article. I agree with you though, there are some problems with this. It would probably be expensive to provide all students with the proper software. I can also imagine that lots of the students would find it very easy to sit there texting their friends while looking like they were participating with the rest of the class. It’s easy enough for students to use cell phones in class now, imagine how much easier it would be if students were allowed to have their phones out.
At my sister’s high school, they’re not allowed to even have their cell phones on them while in school and yet she still managed to call me while she was in her math class and her teacher was giving a lesson.
An alternative option to having them use cell phones would be something that my geology professor used last year. We were each given a remote to keep for the semester that functioned in the same way the cell phone software does. We would key in our answers to the questions our professor asked and a graph would appear on the screen in front of us. It was very cool, I liked it, so I think that the idea is good. I just think the method they are using to accomplish it needs a little tweaking.
I have to say that I agree with you on that one. I think that technology that can actually get kids interacting around information that they’re being taught is a great idea. But I think that the cost would outweigh the benefits. Most schools are having trouble providing kids with computers in general; I don’t know how this would play out for urban areas nationwide.
Another concern is to what extent will this alter the classroom experience? Classes at the college level call for much more structured forms of education than the usage of “texting-in” answers at the high school level.
On the other hand, it does take a lot of energy to educate kids on certain subjects that can seem repetitive or less interesting. Perhaps something that is interactive like this that also incorporates what we are trying to teach could be a huge help in the classroom. I think that at the same time, kids could be learning about technology in general. In high school, I had a similar kind of experience with a “techy” teacher who made a video game for Test Review Trivia. It was very engaging and it was also a good way to let the students know what specific things they needed to review and study.
This use of technology in the classroom has significant potential but it seems to me that it needs serious refinement. When I was a freshman, one of my lecture classes required us to purchase a remote control that was used in the class for quizzes and attendance. Most students did not like them because of their tendency to malfunction and the difficulty we had selecting our intended answers using them. However, using cell phones for this purpose seems like a much more effective way of going about things, particularly if teachers are able to institute a good system for receiving the texts and effectively monitor student usage. Like every tech-related idea, good teachers will find ways to use this well to encourage and motivate students and bad teachers will find ways to further detract from their already poor teaching (albeit unintentionally).