A presentation to our school board over an action research project on Mobile Technology in the classroom.

1. Kim Estes and Dottie Mehaffey Crossroads High School Cellular Phone Survey Responses Mobile Technology: Learning on the Go

2. Surveys Student Work Results Testing the Waters

3. Baseline Survey Results 2 Surveys Given: Students - 67 CHS students completed the survey Teachers/Administrators - 54 completed the survey (39 teachers, 15 administrators) NOTE: While the initial survey focuses on cellular technology, the focus of the action research project was all mobile technology (cell phones, digital cameras, iPods & iPod Touches, laptops)

7. How can we productively use cell phones in classrooms? Student Teacher/Administrator Calculator Take notes Calendar reminders for assignments and activities Complete assignments and email them to teachers Texting during class Texting to get answers on quizzes and tests Not productively at all Not sure/no idea Best to leave these at home What about payment fees/lack of access? Polls/surveys/quick answering devices Research Photos Podcasts/videos Record lectures for later reference

8. Why are student willing to risk detention or worse to have a cell phone in school? Student Teacher/Administrator Because there hasn’t been any enforcement of the rules/Punishment is not severe enough. They are a wired generation and we consistently require them to “power down” because we either fear the technology and our inability to control it, or we don’t understand how to use it. Cell phones are a part of their everyday life. It gives them empowerment./Sense of entitlement. Social connections are important in our society and it makes them feel less isolated – safer because they can reach parents. Most of the time I catch the phones because parents are calling while their kid is in class. Socialization is #1 in their life, not education. Teachers are inconsistent with their cell phone policies. If you take it up every time you see a cell phone, students will be less willing to risk their use in your class. They are doing it because they’ve been told not to. When we don’t have our phones we feel disconnected from the world Because kids don’t really think they are going to get caught Because everyone has one – even teachers – it’s just everyday use. Because we have nothing better to do when we are sitting at our desks not able to talk or be social!

9. What strategies would help students become more responsible about cell phone use in school? Teacher/Administrator Immediate arrest and detainment/take their phones up and don’t give it back for a week Enforce current policies 100%/consistent consequences from teachers and administration It is difficult to convey to kids that they cannot use cell phones in school when parents are some of the people who are texting them. We must get parents to understand that they don’t need to text during the day. Like the internet, students must be informed about the positive and negative impacts. Have determined times (before school, lunch) for texting etc. Teach responsibility through ad campaign on campus. I think the big fear is cheating, but those who use them to cheat would find a way to cheat anyway. Explain the policy with the purpose behind it. Have students help/participate with policy changes. Clear expectations of appropriate use. Put some sort of restricting tower on the building so that no cell phone signal works in the building. Or just ignore it. Give up the battle, because it is one. Incorporate them into labs or lesson plans.

10. What strategies would make student use of cell phones in school more palatable to teachers? Teacher/Administrator You’ll have to educate your teachers about the technology first. As long as cell phones are used to cheat in class they will not be palatable to teachers. Not use them unless asked to. Have specific times/places that cell phones are allowed and times/places when they are not. Stick to it. If we as teachers could find ways to implement cell phone use to enhance their learning – to use it as a tool – then we might see more and more acceptance of it. I managed to get through school without a cell phone and so can these kids!!! If a parent needs to reach their child, that is what the office is for. Until we find a way that communicating with friends in other classes is on the TEKS – then it’s worthless. Some teachers don’t have problems with them now. Some teachers just want complete control over kids – and that will not happen. Students will respond if they understand why rules are in place and if they have adults in their lives who listen to what they have to say. Adults in the school environment need to learn from the students. To record /receive information – some teachers are just scared because the students are more knowledgeable about the technology than they are Try it in a demonstration/beta class first. Accept that they are a part of this generation. Define clear rules about their use in the classroom.

11. What does it all mean? We seem to be divided as a District into 2 groups – those who see the benefits of incorporating this technology into the classroom and those who do not due to the distraction/behavior issues currently caused by this technology or fear of this technology. Students are predominantly for the use of mobile technology but concede that abuse could occur. Cheating, inappropriate usage, teacher training, classroom distractions, non-enforcement of policies/consequences appear to be the biggest concerns.

12. One Classroom’s Experience with Mobile Technology. Crossroads High School Parenting Class Putting it to the Test!

20. Spend Less Save More By: Shelbi Baker

21. My goal for this project was to buy all the items that I need and use on a daily basis and stay within my budget of $50. I used Dollar Tree and Target to compare all of the products.

22. Shopping List Milk Bread Chips Peanut Butter Jelly Soda Ketchup/Mustard/Mayo Sandwich Meat Toothpaste Tooth Brush Deodorant Shampoo/Conditioner Body Wash Q-Tips Make-Up Shaving Cream Razors Feminine Products Laundry Detergent Dish Soap Toilet Paper Paper Towels Paper Plates Medicine

23. Toothpaste Colgate - $1.00 My Choice Crest- $ 2.79 My savings: $ 1.79 I chose the Colgate because it was cheaper.

24. Ketchup Hunts- $1.00 Generic Brand- $1.57 Even though the Generic Brand is slightly more in price it has more in value than Hunt’s. My Choice No Savings

25. Paper Towels Bounty Basic Paper Towels- $1.00 Viva Paper Towels- $2.24 I chose Bounty because it was less expensive for the same product. My Choice My Savings: $1.24

26. Medicine Ibuprofen- $1.00 Advil Liquid Gel- $5.94 I went with Ibuprofen because it was cheaper and works just as good. My Choice My Savings: $4.94

27. Conclusion This project was a very good learning experience for me. I learned how to budget and save money. I am about to graduate high school and will soon be on my own, so this project really helped me understand how to build a budget and to stick to it.

28. Total My Total- $34.32 Comparing Total: $132.33 MY SAVINGS: $98.01

29. Final Project Survey This survey was given to students who participated in the mobile technology activities provided by Mrs. Mehaffey during her Action Research Project. 22 students responded. All 22 participated in the cell phone polling/survey daily warm ups and subsequent daily discussion groups during the parenting class. Some students reported that they used their cell phones to take the survey.

30. Did using a cell phone add to your learning in class? Explain please. yes it did. It gives you a new way to learn. Yes. I was able to see other peoples point of view. It made it more interesting yes, because it was more fun! yes. I learned about different things from the survey that I wouldn't have known if we didn't use cell phones. Doing the survey's with the cell phone helped me learn in class, Yeah yes using a cell phone in class has added to my learning. I used my cell phone in class to do a picture project for mrs.mehaffey, and the cell phone helped very well. If i had a say in the rules i would let everybody use their cell phones in class. Yes, it showed me how much a cell phone can be used in school. yes, I learned a new thing every time I walk into the classroom. I always asked questions about all the choices, so I understood them all. Yes it was nice to do something I do everyday in school It was more comfortable to ask questions /I wasn't embarrassed to ask questions Yes. I was able to answer questions to further my knowledge by using my cell phone. Yes. We were able to use our cell phones to answer questions that pertained to the information we were learning. yes it may it really easy yes it helped out a lot..... I learned about things I didn't know about and I actually got to answer them with out embarrassment... people didn't laugh at me for getting a problem wrong or not because they didn't know it was me who got it wrong.

31. Did you like the multiple choice questions or text questions better?

32. Did you have trouble answering any of the questions? – All 22 students said no. Do you think this kind of technology could be used in other classes? – 21 students said yes, 1 student had no opinion. Did this type of response system allow you to participate without embarrassment? – All 22 students said yes. Would you like to see this technology used in other classes? - 22 students said yes. Did you have any trouble using your cell phone to answer the questions? – 21 students said no, 1 student said yes.

33. Did you participate in class discussions that before you would be reluctant to respond to?

34. What did you like best about this use of technology? it was a different way of learning and you got to see everyone's outlook on different situations. I liked that you didn't know who texted the answer. No one can get embarrassed because no one knows who put what answer. I like it better than having to answer in person /you get to be anonymous and also see everyone else's truthful opinion. that we got to use the cell phones in class and not get in trouble for it It's just a good way of communication when you can't call or need to tell someone something without everyone hearing or in classroom use and the surveys, You can answer without anyone judging you or making fun of the answer you chose. it was easy to use/It was something different. /I believe it opened up many doors in learning. I liked that you could express your honest opinion about anything and not be embarrassed. I also enjoyed using the technology. It was very interesting and innovative. I hope to be able to participate in other classes. it was something we were already used to doing so it was kinda tying in outside stuff with classroom work. The part i liked best was when i got to use my cell phone to do a school activity. I didn't have to raise my hand to answer questions and have the whole class looking at me to do so. It showed the cell phones can also be used for good reasons./didn't have to use paper i like new ways to learn and i think its great that a teacher is using something that most teacher wouldn't want near the school. It was modern and cool plus. I didn't have to worry other people laughing at me I liked that we got use something that we are always dying to use and we got to actually learn something at the same time. Using my phone made me really want to participate and actually be engaged in learning and at the same time I was able to use something that I enjoy using. I could definitely say that it would be very helpful for any teacher that is having trouble with their student cooperating and paying attention. I was fully alert using this type of technology and I know that it would help any student want to learn and at have fun learning at the same time. Every kid dreads going to school because it is boring and no one likes to get up early and work. I actually began to wake up in the morning and not really dread going to school because learning was very fun for me.

35. Any suggestions you would like to make about this project? I thought it was a very educational project and it opened peoples eyes to what new technology is out there and how to use it. My suggestions are that cell phones should be used in other classes. No nope everything is fine I loved participating in this project and hope we have more classes that offer this technology. I suggest that every class should try this technology out to see if they like it. Use something other than a cell phone for people that cannot submit answers from certain carriers try and see if metro PCS has any problems with this use of technology. more classes should use it this method can really help uncooperative students learn and see that learning can be fun too. iwould like to see this in more classes...

36. Where do we go from here? Moving Forward!

37. Current Policy Board Policy FNCE (Local) Telecommunications Devices: District employees may confiscate telecommunications devices, including mobile telephones, used in violation of applicable campus rules Other Electronic Devices: Guidelines regarding other electronic devices shall be addressed in the student handbook. Student Code of Conduct – General Code Violations Possession of Telecommunications or Other Electronic Devices: Display, turn on or use a telecommunications device, including a cellular telephone, or other electronic device on school property during the school day.

38. Recommended Changes Change Student Code of Conduct General Conduct Violation From: Display, turn on, or use a telecommunications device, including a cellular telephone, or other electronic device on school property during the day. To: Display, turn on, or use a telecommunications device, including a cellular telephone, or other electronic device when not being used in an educational format under the direct supervision and/or with the consent of a teacher or administrator as specified by campus policy and the District Acceptable Use Regulations.

39. Recommended Changes Create Campus Policy for Telecommunications and Electronic Devices Campuses will create committees composed of students, parents, faculty and administrators to draft policy and consequences appropriate for that campus to address the use of telecommunications and other electronic devices. District-Wide Training Learning Technologies will provide staff development for teaching the appropriate use of and provide assistance with the integration of telecommunications and electronic devices in the classroom/on campus.

40. Items for Consideration Plus Delta 21st Century Skills Global Marketplace Skills Increased Accessibility to technology if students can bring their own (laptop, camera, phone, etc.) – Closer to a 1-to-1 initiative Increased Motivation Increased Participation/Engagement/ Interactivity More specific campus-based guidelines for use to decrease inconsistency in rule enforcement More freedom for campuses to determine policy that is appropriate for their student populations and current usage. Technology Department indicates that infrastructure is in place to handle the extra demand on District resources. Student Empowerment Differentiation and interactivity built in to integrated lessons Discipline/Behavior Issues/ Classroom Management (Cheating, Theft, Etc.) Teacher Resistance Requires more training and support Possible increase in bandwidth usage and technical issues related to non-district equipment Possible use of non-filtered internet access (Smart Phone, 3G networks, etc.) Students who don’t have access to their own mobile technology must be addressed