Using smartphone texting applications to help students Contents introduction

Chapter .II.How phones can increase Learning for all types of students

2.1.Smarphone applications as a teaching technique for enhancing tertiary learners

Educators tend to fall into two camps when it comes to phones—they either love them or hate them. Many teachers wonder whether games, texting, and social media are too big a temptation for students, and whether the distraction outweighs the contribution to learning. Even fans of smartphones in the classroom admit that there is the potential for distraction, but this can be an opportunity in disguise. Students must master time management to succeed, and training them to use phones appropriately and prioritize their learning is a beneficial lesson in digital responsibility. When accompanied with high-quality instruction on digital responsibility, student phones don’t necessarily have to cause trouble in the classroom. Instead, they can be an incredibly powerful tool for learning, and in equalizing the playing field in districts that cannot yet fund 1:1 initiatives. 
 “If you can’t beat them, join them.”It’s an effective strategy for the classroom; instead of getting angry with students for playing games, consider how gaming, apps, and instant access to the outside world can help students develop a passion for reading and learning, connect to units you’re already teaching, and improve research skills. This can be the key to providing adaptive learning strategies without singling students out.