Personal Devices in the Classroom: Distraction or Engagement?

Nellie Deutsch, Ed.DApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers

“We learn best with focused attention” (Goleman, 2013, p. 16).

Personal Devices in the Classroom: Distraction or Engagement?

Nellie Deutsch, Ed.D

Atlantic University

http://nellie-deutsch.com

https://moodle4teachers.org/

http://nellie-deutsch.com/



Challenges and Opportunities April 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers


Personal Devices in the Classroom



Personal Computers vs. TabletsApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



• Easy to carry• Encourage learning everywhere

• Take notes• Images• Videos

• Collaboration• Sharing for feedback




Learning Opportunities


Personal Computers vs. TabletsApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



Tablets Superior• Elaboration• Rehearsal• Organization• Critical thinking

(Reychav, Warkentin & McHaney, 2015)



Text vs. Video ContentApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



Videos Superior

• Problem identification stage of critical thinking




Text vs. Video ContentApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



Text Superior

• Evaluation stage of critical thinking




Computer Lab vs. BYODApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



Computer Labs• Learn with technology• suggests “place-driven”

teaching and learning (Burns-Sardone, 2014, p. 198)



Computer Lab vs. BYODApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers



Preparing Teachers for BYODs• Learning and teaching

anywhere• Teach pedagogy of using

personal devices as a tool for learning (Burns-Sardone, 2014)




April 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers


Nellie Deutsch, Ed.DApril 4, 2016

FOCUSPersonal Devices in the Classroom: Distraction or Engagement?

Moodle for Teachers

Are they focused?





What happens when students focus?




“Phase-Locking” Making Neural Connections

(Davidson, 2012; Goleman, 2013)


Connecting to Previous Learning

Focus Necessary for Learning




(Davidson, 2012)



Attention Muscle

Mental Training

• Choose object such as a coin• Keep eyes on it• If wander off • Bring attention back



Are they focused?


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How do we know?

With or Without Technology ?






Are they focused?





Are they focused?




Focused within Distractions

Personal and Other Awareness

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Distractions

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Challenges

Sensory

Visual

Auditory

Smell

Tactile

Taste

Personal Inner

Other

Outer




Nellie Deutsch, Ed.DApril 4, 2016 Moodle for Teachers


Challenges

Technical

Sign up for programsDownload programs Install appsBattery ran out (no cord/socket)No Internet ConnectionDevices don’t work (class)Forgot device (BYOD)No mouse Wireless down (class)No hotspots (mobile)SupportLearning curve




• Relax• Positive outlook • Collaborate • Social Engagement• Transfer in and out of class



(Csikszentmihalyi, 2002; Davidson, 2012; Goleman, 2013)





Focused in Social Engagement



Classroom Climate


Self and Other FocusedMoodle for Teachers



Two Truths One Lie Activity


What is the lie?

• I have 4 children

• I danced ballet for 15 years

• I helped the swimming coach in

high school.

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Two Truths One Lie Activity


What is the lie?

• Turn to the person next to you

• Two truths one lie

• Let them guess (Bonk & Khoo, 2014)

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Tenacity is a meditative app designed to promote mental well-being through breath counting. In Tenacity, the focus is on learning practices of wellness and self-regulation. Relax and concentrate on your own breathing as you explore Greek ruins, Egyptian dunes, and staircases that ascend into the skies, and unlock rewards and achievements as you become a more mindful person

Learning Games

Moodle for Teachers

How to get students to focus?



Personal Devices in the Classroom: Distraction or Engagement?Citizen Science is an online flash-based computer adventure game in which the player is a young adult who becomes concerned about the health of a local lake threatened by eutrophication. Based at Lake Mendota in Madison, WI, the player's goal is to restore the lake. By focusing on the ecological needs of Lake Mendota as well as the surrounding community, the game is able to bring together real-world issues and scientific practices.

Moodle for Teachers


http://www.gameslearningsociety.org/project_citizen_science.php

http://citizenscience.gameslearningsociety.org/




Get their Attention

Look at the Flower





Smell the Blossoms

Get their Attention





Teaching as a Way to Learn

Document & Reflect on Learning

• Teamwork• Knowledge • Preparation• Presentation Skills

Requires





Teach Peers

Create Video Tutorials

• Focus• Motivation• Self-confidence• Social skills

• Other• Outer

• Gain knowledge

Develop





Free Tools to Create Videos

Active Authentic Learning

• Movenote (PowerPoint with Audio & Video) • Screencast-o-matic (Audio & Video) capture • PresentMe (Audio & Video on PowerPoint) • Plotagon (Audio and Video animations) • Capture image (Jing, Screencast-o-matic) • SlideSpeech (PowerPoint & Notes Computer)• Knovio (PowerPoint and Audio)


http://movenote.com/

http://screencast-o-matic.com/



http://presentme-edu.com/

http://presentme-edu.com/

http://plotagon.com/

https://www.techsmith.com/jing-features.html

https://www.techsmith.com/jing-features.html

http://slidespeech.com/

http://www.knovio.com/




Individual and Teamwork

Collaborative Learning





Padlet Wall Viewing








Selective Attention in Class

Padlet Wall Viewing








Focus in Distractions

Padlet Collaborative Learning

How do you know your students are distracted? What are they doing?

Activities that engage and help learners focus in the classroom. Share an activity that allows students to use their personal devices.

http://padlet.com/nelliemuller/personaldevices






What goals drive us?



Bonk, C. J., & Khoo, E. (2014). Adding some tec-variety: 100+ activities for motivating and retaining learners online. Bloomington: Open World Books.

Burns-Sardone, N. (2014). Making the case for BYOD instruction in teacher education. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 11, 191-201. Retrieved from http://iisit.org/Vol11/IISITv11p191- 201Sardone0505.pdf

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). Flow. London: Rider.

April 4, 2016 Nellie Deutsch, Ed.D Moodle for Teachers

References




Davidson, R., & Begley, S. (2012) The emotional life of your brain: How to change the way you think, feel and live. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The hidden driver of excellence. London: Bloomsbury.


References

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. (2015). Tenacity. Available at Games Learning Society http://www.gameslearningsociety.org/games.php


http://www.gameslearningsociety.org/games.php




https://twitter.com/nelliemuller

“We learn best with focused attention”


https://twitter.com/nelliemuller

Education

Personal Devices in the Classroom: Distraction or Engagement?