TechQuest: Extending Science Research Using Cell Phones Need/Opportunity My TechQuest will address a need schools have every day, limited access to technology. In this specific example, students need improved access to tools to record text/numeric data, and capture images, video, and audio recordings during field research. They need improved methods to record data; chart & analyze data, brainstorm ideas, and review key concepts. Students using cell phones would have the tool to accomplish all of these things (depending on the cell phone model and carrier.) The cell phone would be a cost effective tool to address this learning need/opportunity. This is a real issue. Students have limited access to mobile recording devices while on science fieldtrips or when doing field research. Some districts are able to provide laptop computers for every student, but most can not. Instead of waiting for a bond issue to pass, consider an immediate solution – use what students carry to school every day, the cell phone. These new cell phones allow recording of text, data, images, audio, and video some even allow access to websites. Cell phones are owned by the student/parent, and are carried by nearly every high school student and many middle school students. The use of cell phones would be of minimal cost to a district. It is the ideal answer to address this need. Using cell phones for instruction isn’t without potential problems. Changing how a school thinks about cell phones, from banning cell phones to embracing them, will take time, policy changes, and education. This TechQuest would help secondary science teachers create and implement lessons where cell phones are used by students for field research. The cell phone is a tool students will embrace. They live in a multimedia world. In a typical day students use their cell phone for more than just talking. They listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos and send text messages. What if this multimedia tool could be used to support learning? The tool is available for by using the cell phones most students bring to school every day. In addition the project includes loaner phones with prepaid minutes for use for those without cell phones. Some activities can be accomplished using a landline phone or computer.
Implementation Phase I – Teacher education and planning Someone learning: An invitation would be made looking for 4 – 6 secondary science teachers to volunteer to be involved in this project. They would not be paid and they would need to commit to attending 4, three and a half hour, afternoon or after-school professional development workshops, and one, four hour workshop on August 13. The ideal teacher is a teacher who is forward thinking and willing to try new things. The application requires a sign off from the technology director and the building principal.
Andy Mann Ed Tech Consultant, CISD
Page 1 of 13
MSU CEP 812 manna@calhounisd.org