The Way We Handle Technology in Education

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-02-10-technology-and-its-implementation-in-schools-is-widening-the-opportunity-gap


Everybody in the western world is connected to an increasing stream of information and apps that is now accepted as the norm. Wherever we go peoples heads are peering into a screen viewing images, text, shopping and socializing and lots more. 

But how acceptable is the use of personal mobile devices in education, within a classroom setting?

Is there an opportunity for each individuals mobile devices to be used in the classroom setting or is it to be viewed as, not the time and place?

I supposed the problem is that the device could be a distraction to students and used for personal use during valuable learning time. Maybe younger students are distracted more easily. Yet it provides a equalizing of the learning experience as all student generally have a personal hand held device (to the exception of a minority, if any).

Some students only access to the internet is through a mobile device. If rules were implemented so that the students understood the doo's and don'ts of mobile use within the classroom, a clear difference between personal use and an educational use, then this would provide students with guidelines and a positive mind set as to its advantages within a classroom setting. Or alternatively an app could be designed to switch on an educational use of a mobile only.

There are many benefits to consider, firstly the financial cost to schools and educational budgets. Every student has a personal mobile device which would cut down the cost of school and colleges purchasing technological devices that so frequently become out of date, in the blink of an eye. 

Changing the perspective of the mobile devices for a student from social to educational would also be beneficial. Mobile devices hold a wealth of educational material and if used correctly become a powerful research tool for students to learn from. If attitudes and perspectives were changed this would aid all learners to increase practical skills through (you tube tutorial videos) and
increase knowledge and understanding of more disadvantaged learners.