Lindsey+Polk

By: Lindsey Polk
====Mobile technologies are present in our everyday lives now more than ever. These technologies are also becoming more popular throughout our schools and school districts as well. We have seen a shift in our students being able to use technological devices in a way that has never been done until recent years. Students are now using computers less and putting more of a focus on cell phones, tablets, and other handheld devices that allow mobility with their learning. By having these sorts of mobile technologies available to students many doors have opened.====

====“ Mobile technologies are used both in classrooms to support instruction (safe) and as tools that significantly change instructional activities, learner roles, and learning location (disruptive) (Koszalka & Ntloedibe-Kuswani, 2010). With that being said, we as educators need to see that mobile technologies can play many roles in the educational realm. One thing that mobile technologies allow for is collaboration among a number of people. Information and resources from the outside world are brought into the classroom in ways that have never been done before. These technologies also allow for students to access information anytime and anywhere, both within as well as outside of the classroom. The flexibility with mobile technology is one of a kind and should not be ignored.====

====It does seem as though mobile learning is rapidly growing on the university and college level. However, we want to push for a change on the elementary and middle school levels to hopefully encourage our educators to see what a positive experience mobile learning can be for those involved.====

====The main aspect to look at is the future of our students. We need to see if students will be able to survive in the workforce of the 21st century. I believe that the only way students will survive and also thrive in the workforce is if we push forward with the use of mobile technologies in education just as we have with every other change in education as far as technology is concerned. As research has shown, “…mobile learning is spreading rapidly and likely to become one of the most efficient ways of delivering higher education instruction in the future” (El-Hussein & Cronje, 2010). Let’s hope that this is not only efficient for higher education, but a possibility for upper elementary and middle school students alike. The future is said to be full of technology with no end in sight. So let’s hope that mobile learning will also be a step in the future of learning around the world.====

//Lindsey Polk is currently an Instructional Technology Coordinator for a local school district in the St. Louis area. She was also a 4th grade teacher for numerous years prior to her recent position.//