Banned tech gadgets may one day be useful as instructional tools
Aug. 30, 2006
By JOSEPH M. DELEON News-Post Staff
jdeleon @ fredericknewspost . com
FREDERICK — Frederick County Public Schools now bans the use of cell phones and iPods, but such devices could someday play a role in education. Over the next few years, FCPS classes could be complemented by technology such as podcasts and electronic documents transferred to mobile phones, Ann Bonitatibus, secondary schools instructional director, said Friday.
A podcast places audio and video files on the Internet, allowing Apple iTunes users to automatically receive new files.
“In the future, it'll really be interesting just where technology will be involved,” Ms. Bonitatibus said. “We have a lot of colleges that have gone to iPod lectures.”
The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business launched weekly video and audio podcasts focusing on the school's management topics, according to a June 21 press release from the school. Users can download five-minute video and audio clips to digital devices, such as iPods, or view them online at the Smith School Web site.
“We recognize that media models are changing and people want more control over when and where they access information,” said Jeff Heebner, the Smith School's managing director for marketing communications. “Because subscribers can download the content directly to their mobile devices, they can watch or listen to it whenever and wherever they want.”
Ms. Bonitatibus said college students might not need to attend class.
“Instructors record the lectures and you can be anywhere and still be plugged in and listening to what the instructor is doing,” she said.
While Ms. Bonitatibus said she has not researched the use of mobile phones and digital audio players, she believes such technology could have a place in some high school classes.
“iPods are not the instruction mode for high school by any means,” she said. “But maybe some time in the future there might be some kind of hybrid program.”
She said many high school students lack the discipline needed for remote learning.
“Now that cell phones can take photos and can store and pull up documents, there could be many advantages to students and instructors,” she said. “If you're a creative enough and savvy enough teacher, there are many possibilities that exist.”
As an example, Ms. Bonitatibus said that in years past, music in the class room was seen as a distraction, not a learning tool.
“Now we have learned that you have to have a multimodal system of engaging our students and music is a part of that,” she said. “As instructors, it's imperative that we find our students' interests and integrate them into our curriculum where appropriate.”