Texting in classrooms may become the norm
Relevant offers
Education
New Zealand schools may soon encourage cellphones in the classroom after this week's launch of a hi-tech teaching tool in which students text answers to teachers.
The device, called Activexpression, allows teachers to ask questions on the board via a computer, and students can then text their answer through their Activexpression cellphone.
The software instantly produces a graph or chart on the board displaying the students' answers, allowing teachers to gauge the class's understanding at a glance.
The technology is already being used by a Southland Girls' High School class.
Year 7 student Caitlin Wood, 12, said her class liked the new technology.
"It is quite fun. It's more fun than just doing maths normally or writing it out. Everybody enjoys it," she said.
Canterbury University professor of e-learning Niki Davis said incorporating text messaging was just one example of the "ecology of learning".
"It's a tremendous opportunity.
"It's what students are doing these days. We can get them to engage in learning and assessment," Davis said.
"Teachers find it exciting that they can go on to the same page as the students."
The system allowed teachers to immediately grasp the class's understanding of a topic, she said.
Claims that literacy standards would drop owing to education-endorsed texting were not true.
Teachers would set the style guidelines and could insist students use full English and punctuation.
Activexpression will be showcased at the Ulearn schools conference at the Christchurch Convention Centre from tomorrow until Friday.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Serious communication difficulties? Such as? There are many teenagers in NZ schools who do very well in public speaking. It doesn't matter if you ban cell phones from school grounds, because teenagers are just going to bring them anyway. I am a teenager and I have a job where I have to speak to customers a lot and no one has ever complained about my ability to communicate verbally with them. Please stop acting like you know everything about teenagers, you obviously don't. Also, calling people "Lard ass's" won't exactly help the society either. Either try to help, or go crawl back into your 'grumpy old man' cave.
That is just ridiculous. Plain and simple.
This is yet another project based on oil-based products that will flop in the next few years. Peak oil is going to be hit in the next few years and things like cellphones and computers will no longer be produced. Sure, there can be replacements created, but who's working on the replacement technology? The future wont be so much txting in answers to the large flat-screen monitor at the front of the class so much as raising your hand and the teacher writing the correct answer on the blackboard in chalk.
Open your eyes, kids txt all the time during class. Better txt'n on topic rather than what their doing that night/weekend. And by the time your 15-16 you know there???s no point in cheating in school Richard. As for RSI, Schools these days worry about safety too much (because of people like you) and they will have their wee stretches and micro pauses to do. Over all this will be a good tool used for pop quizzes for teachers knowing what they need to go over again being 20 minutes, its not going to be a constant 6 hours for you pedantic fools out there.
Another scheme by this Nanny Govt to dumb down the future of this country. Just shows what type of dumb politicians we have in this country.
Love it 'vomiting all over this fine discussion board?'
I'm glad you found a method that works for you.
I only have one concern. Written work. Kids will start to struggle with how to write, and correct spelling and grammar, should they be given this new technology.
I use a computer in my job, and as a result, my handwriting is appauling, even I can barely understand it!! However, at least my spelling and grammar is up to par. The amount of emails I see coming through, where people don't even know where to add commas, or apostrophes is very high.
As long as kids are still being taught these very essential skills, then go for gold on the new technology. Otherwise, bring back the whiteboard, and leave the computer's at home. Kids can learn how to use these seperately anyway.
This is crazy.Teenagers already have serious communication difficulties as it is now.Cell phones should be banned from school grounds.No wonder young people entering the work place these days struggle to communicate verbally.Society is slowly evolving into anti social button pushing lard ass's.
By the way I am dyslexic and have a fair amount of trouble with spelling, the funny thing is the thing that has helped me improve my spelling the most has been using predictive on my cell phone. Why? Because every time i spell a word wrong it does not come up so i have to go back and change the spelling until it does. thus giving me instant feedback which i have to engage my brain until i find the answer. not that this would necessarily work for others but it has helped me
'Urewera four' armed revolutionary leaders - Crown
Maori doubtful of Key's leadership
Rimutaka Incline train dream on hold
House row sparked mansion killings, court hears
Barriers didn't protect from falling facades
Jail for Thailand child sex tours
Community in sorrow as 5-year-old farewelled
Boatie missing from idling yacht
Speaker hits back in technology row
TPK travel money to be paid back
Labour reveals PM's emails over radio show
TPK travel money to be paid back
Boatie missing from idling yacht
Speaker hits back in technology row
Labour reveals PM's emails over radio show
Crusaders without Richie McCaw until April
Rimutaka Incline train dream on hold
Dad plays porn instead of Smurfs at kid's party
Guinness' all time greatest game ending
McClennan shooting for NRL title with Warriors
Houston under water when found
Leaked: Infiniti Emerg-E hybrid supercar
Air NZ example for high-tech public service - Key
Dad plays porn instead of Smurfs at kid's party
Black Caps win T20 nailbiter against Zimbabwe
Crusaders without Richie McCaw until April
Houston under water when found
Speaker hits back in technology row
Guinness' all time greatest game ending
TPK travel money to be paid back
Newest First
Oldest First
In response to Brents comment. Labour have not lost power and I don't believe they will!