Reflections on Virtual Schooling and Mobile Learning

Where Applicable in Secondary Setting

Attendance issues

Illness

Family emergencies

Exceptional situations

Summer school/retention

Students benefiting from a different school model

Behavior problems

Interventions/ alternate settings

Suspensions

When a Viable Option

Families

Parents are "coaches" willing to collaborate and supervise

Home situation is conducive to learning

Accountability procedures exist between families/schools

Students

Students take responsibility

Students indicate a need for a change of setting/format

Students become self-motivated and do not let parents do their work

Resources

District or sponsoring organization has adequate technology

Staff and personnel bridge the gap between home and school

Home or alternate setting has adequate technology and support

Impact on My Future Teaching

Posting videos and audio to help the make-up process for absent students

Finding ways for students to be more engaged, as active participants moving toward creating and synthesizing, not just understanding

Using my class Web page to be as helpful as possible for make-ups, review, and reinforcement

Enables better collaboration with colleagues (In-School/Out-of-School Suspension, Behavior Modification, Special Education, Department)

Fosters collaboration with families and allows them to "look in" on what is happening in the classroom

Definition

learning not determined or influenced by the setting (time or place)

learning goes with student and does not primarily occur in classroom

uses smart phone or other technology like iPod Touch

initiated by students and requires active participation all the time

Mobile Instruction v. Mobile Learning

Mobile Instruction

form of direct instruction, only difference is means of transmitting information

instructor and instruction = focus

student does not engage in much higher-order thinking

Mobile Learning

students are active participants

students move from apply, understand to evaluate, synthesize, create

student response=focus

What It Looks Like/How I Could Implement at the Secondary Level

Photos on cell phones are used as story starters

Access class Web page and online content

Photos capture grammar errors and use of vocabulary in public, then shared with the class

Questions, comments, and feedback for writing are texted or tweeted

Quick assessments and in-class responses via Twitter

RSS feeds, receiving and giving feedback on blogs

Recording audio and/or video to practice presentations

Replaying audio and/or video for self and peer evaluations

Convenient e-mail access for questions once at home

Podcasting/recorded audio or video of class sessions nd presentations