Listen to this video. All classrooms should follow model 2 in the CNN Video. I agree "we need to take control" before they take control of us, and if teachers are the leaders, we can take charge of the distraction of cell phones. Notetaking, videos, reinforcing lessons, even tweeting. Think of all the money we will save, NO PAPER. This can lead to a new revolution if we teach the students to experiment and use the mobile devices in an educational manner. Assessments, 140 Word Historical Tweets, Mobile Handheld Apps for Social Studies, and so much more. I truly believe handheld apps and smartphones use in classrooms hold the key to motivating our students. We must join them and find ways to utilize the tools they already use or lose.
Policy makers need to realize teacher work 24/7 to keep up with 21st century changes. Our teaching colleges need to do the same. Our young teachers need to be in the top 10% of their classes, the Finland model. We need to pay our teachers salaries aligned with professionals, then we will begin to see change.
Meanwhile many of us continue to enrich during our free time, often forsaking our own family time for our students. Each year my main goal is to MOTIVATE students. If I wait for district money to alleviate the challenges, I fall behind. Cell phones just might be the key.
