Pupils should be allowed to have their cellphones in class so they can be used for research.
This was one of the suggestions made at this weekend’s EdTechConf, a conference organised for teachers to discuss how to use technology in their classrooms without breaking their budgets.
The conference, held at the International School of Cape Town in Wynberg, was attended by 110 delegates from more than 50 city schools.
Tim Keller, an organiser, said by referring to cellphones as “mobile learning devices” mindsets could be changed about their use in classrooms.
“By letting children have a cellphone on their desk where the teacher can see it … they can research their work.”
Delegates also discussed whether social media, like Facebook and Twitter, had a place in the classroom.
Keller said some teachers were scared of exposing pupils to social media.
Suggestions made at the conference included creating Facebook pages so teachers could communicate privately with their pupils and specific hashtags on Twitter so pupils could discuss lessons with each other.
Keller said good parenting and good teaching was needed so pupils would not abuse the technology and could use it without getting into trouble.
He said the cost of some technologies was preventing a number of teachers from using them in the classroom.
“The cost is still prohibitive. We focused on free tools available that schools can use,” said Keller.
He said without teaching pupils about available technology, they would be ill-prepared to find employment.
He said the conference had been well received by teachers keen to learn more about using technology.
Keller said some teachers had been scared of technology and using social media like Twitter.
Soon the delegates were Tweeting up such a storm that the hashtag #edtechconf made its way across South Africa on Friday.
Another conference had been planned for this coming weekend in Worcester, but this was cancelled after only a few delegates had signed up.
Keller said there was resistance in outlying areas to changing the education sector.
“There is an absolute resistance to bringing about change in technology in education.”
Keller said the conference would become an annual event and would in future be held in other towns around the country.
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