Wireless+devices

Wireless Devices
Haley Loughran Elise O'Brien Josh Davis

Definition:
Wireless devices can be defined as any technology that does not require the use of a cord or attachment to an electrical or technical source in order for the device to work. The device can run off of battery power, Wi-Fi, radio signal, rechargeable battery, or satellite reception.

What is the impact of the issue on K-12 schools, educators, and students?
One main topic of concern in all levels of school is the use of cell phones and how they become a distraction to students in the classroom. This has even become a topic for discussion in our own class as to if and how cell phones can be used in the active classroom in a productive manner. The impact of the other wide variety of wireless devices has its own impact on K-12 schools, educators, and students by broadening the space in which technology can be used in learning. Without the limitations of using cords and plugs, teachers have the opportunity to take their class outside into the world to further explore subjects like science, geography, and even mathematics. With the benefit of wireless technology students can take their assignments not only home to further investigate, but also more cross-curricular work can be done, making connections through activities and assignments. Finally, schools can make great use of wireless devices by allowing equipment to be easily transferable from one grade or class to another, giving multiple students the opportunity to explore learning through technology.

Pre K-K
Students can give daily reactions to a book read during Read Aloud by video taping or tape recording their response. Teachers could also create a daily center activity using laptop computers, and if funds were available to have several laptops small groups of students could use wireless internet to look up what unknown animals look like, teachers could show a slide show to go along with a lesson, or students could compete against each other in educational games online. Teachers also could give an assignment to students that asks them "to take 5 pictures with a digital camera of things beginning with the letter 'a'" this not only incorporates wireless technology but also brings in learning letters and numbers.

Grades 1-3
All of the above activities could also be used in these grades as well as an array of more advanced activities. Students, with the proper instruction and supervision, could use GPS devices to discover clues that relate to a unit which then would lead to another clue (otherwise known as Geocaching). This activity could serve as a unit review or an exploring portion of a lesson.

Grades 3-5
Students could have daily exit passes or responses to readings by video taping or voice recording themselves, similarly to Pre K or Kindergarten. Students at this age may also find uses for GPS devices while learning about maps, geography, and even in mathematics class. Wi-fi at this grade level is almost an essential so students may have access to the internet in order to look up background a story or history chapter in class, further explore a subject in science, or have a contest to who can name the capital of Afghanistan first.

Grades 5-7
Teachers have the ability the take notes on students as they answer verbal questions. A new devices exists that allows teachers to take prompted notes on the ways in which students answer these questions. Potential prompts may include : if the student had to guess, think hard for an answer or knew the answer immediately. With these devices teachers have the ability to quickly track the progress of a student in their class, as well as compare similar information between each other in an effort to track progress of a student across the board. When considering this option on a larger scale, an entire department can tell how many of their students are able to understand the concepts presented.

Grades 8-9
At the ages more closely associated with entering high school students can begin to be trusted with more expensive pieces of technology. The introduction of e-books could be utilized to lessen the weight of a student's backpack. Each student could be provided with an e-book which can either download or become preloaded with the required texts for all of a student's classes. In this way, a student will be less likely to forget a book for any particular class and will have the ability to quickly a significant amount of information.

Grades 9-12
As student mature into their high school years they can take on ever more responsibility. The same students that became accustomed to the use of e-books can now be provided with their own personal lap top computer. The computer will have the same capability of the e-book (downloading required texts) but will also have the ability to do much more. A laptop can be used as a tool to conduct online research, to communicate between students, and to write an essay. With each student able to conduct research in the same way no students will feel as though they are lacking materials. With a Wi-Fi connection in the school library students will have the ability to access limitless amounts of information while still on school grounds and use this information at home. Additionally, the amount of paper that will be saved by submitting information by e-mail will be staggering.

Links
Application of the E-book in California Note taker for teachers Educaching Digital Cameras in the Hands of Our Students