Educating the Mobile Generation: Using Cellphone Computers in K-12

Cathleen Norris, Regents Professor, University of North Texas

Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, University of Michigan

Achieving 1:1 may well be easier than schools have thought. The cellphone computer –a smartphone is really a computer with a radio that is used to make phone calls – is a low-cost, pervasive device that is the quintessential 21^st century, knowledge-workers tool. In our presentation we will explore the issues involved in using cellphone computers for curricular purposes. Indeed, rather than banning cellphone computers from school, we need to embrace them as a way to reach the mobile generation – who see the cellphone as essential to their lives outside of school -  and prepare our children for the 21^st global marketplace.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Cathleen Norris is a Regents Professor in the College of Information, Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas. For 14 years, Cathie taught high school math and computer science. She received the Dallas Public Schools highest honor for teaching, the Golden Apple Award. Drawing on those classroom teaching experiences, Cathie’s university research focuses helping teachers weave mobile learning technologies into the daily fabric of their classrooms. Cathie has been President of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the leading international organization for technology-minded educators. From 1996 through 2001, she was the President of the National Educational Computing Association (NECA), the association that organized NECC, the premier conference on technology in K-12.  Cathie is a co-founder of GoKnow Learning, Inc. an Ann Arbor-based company that provides K-12 with mobile learning products and services.

Elliot Soloway is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor with appointments in the Dept of EECS, College of Engineering, the School of Education, and the School of Information, at the University of Michigan.  For the past 10 years, Elliot has been exploring how mobile computing technologies can be effectively used in K-12 classrooms. In 2001, the undergraduates at the University of Michigan selected him to receive the “Golden Apple Award” as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year.  In 2004, the EECS College of Engineering HKN Honor Society awarded Elliot the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.” Elliot is a co-founder and CEO of GoKnow Learning, Inc.