Students at Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Missouri, are using smartphones and tablets in the classroom rather than restricting their learning to textbooks, the Kansas City Star recently reported.
Biology teacher Kathleen Teel noted that although some students do not have their own devices, sharing is not an issue. She also said with so many different products, technical problems that arise are usually left to the students to figure out, rather than land at her feet, the Star reported.
Although some educators may feel these devices cause distractions, Teel dismissed this notion and said she has not regretted the decision to allow this type of learning.
"The kids? They love it," Teel told the news provider. "This is the way they learn. They feel comfortable with it."
Smartphones and tablets are interactive devices that can be useful for students, but there is other technology that can spark imagination. For example, a document camera, an interactive whiteboard or a
DLP projector each provides its own unique educational applications.
Technology official for Sion High School Ellen Carmody shared Teel's sentiment and added that allowing students to learn with new technology connects administrators with children rather than push them away.
