Six ways to actually USE smartphones in the classroom

I don't police cell phones as strictly as most teachers because I really think the benefits of cell phones outweigh the harms. I know this is an unpopular opinion, and while I don't think students should have total freedom with their phones (everything in moderation, yes) I do think there is a place for smart phones in the classroom, especially a science class. The amazing thing is....when students are actually engaged, most of them can police their own use of cell phones without my help. If I can train students to self regulate with technology, that not only takes the stress off of me, but it makes the students feel less irritated from having an adult constantly berate them for being on their phones. Figuring out how to design a lesson that engages students productively with their smartphones is the hardest and most rewarding challenge of teaching for me this year. 

Here are six ways to use smartphones in the classroom

1. Gimkit and Kahoot

• A lot of us are familiar with Kahoot which serves as a good review game. Gimkit is similar to Kahoot, but adds another twist of extra competition, power ups, and money. Both Kahoot and Gimkit engage students by gamifying the classroom. Even the kids who can't get off their video games love playing Gimkit. 

2. Quizlet Live

• Quizlet Live is great for getting students to actually communicate productively with each other. The downside is....a lot of students struggle to communicate, so this game can be stressful for a lot of students. With practice though, students do get used to communicating, and Quizlet live is a good way to practice that skill. 

3. Pear deck

• Pear deck teaches vocabulary and involves drawing (which is easier to do on a touchscreen smartphone than on a computer). It's like Pictionary and students like sketching things out on their smartphone for their classmates to see.  

4. Smartphone Camera 

• If students don't finish a lab/activity, they can take a picture of their work to remember where they left off for next time. Cameras are good for activities that involve stations (students can submit pictures of their work at the station for grading). I require students to use smartphone cameras in the lab to document stages of an experiment for their lab reports. Cameras are also useful for students who have trouble seeing the board (a lot of students will take pictures of the board and zoom in on their phone to see better). 

5. Air drop 

• I've air dropped pictures and screenshots to students before. Students also air drop each other notes and photos (sometimes they're cheating I'll admit, but other times they're genuinely collaborating)

6. Suite.smarttech.org 

• If you have a Smartboard, this one is a necessity. Students can log into www.hellosmart.com and they'll be able to see and interact with the Smartboard on their smartphone. Since the Smartboard is a touch screen, it makes sense to let students use their phone (which is also a touchscreen) so they can interact with the Smartboard without having to leave their seat. 

While training students to be responsible with technology takes a lot of effort, I do think it's worth the effort to get students to self-regulate rather than banning phones all together. As a fellow Gen Zer/Millennial I actually agree with the students on a lot of their smartphone habits. I too take pictures instead of notes. I have my notes organized into photo albums on my phone. I look the periodic table up on the internet rather than carry a paper copy around with me all the time. Trusting the students to use their phones productively is a big leap of faith, but worth the effort in the long run.