Schooliblit

Sunday, September 7, 2003

Dangers of Mobile Phones
There has been a discussion on the Classroom Connect email list recently about the possible dangers inherent in allowing students to have mobile phones with cameras in the classroom. One message gave a link to this article in Wired that talks about some of the inappropriate uses of the little cameras in general. The article ends with the quote:

Daisuke Okabe, professor of education and human sciences at Yokohama National University, says rules about mobile phones ideally should be created by the users themselves, rather than forced upon them.
"Mobile technology can change social behavior, and social behavior leads to new mobile technology," he said. "It's a two-way street."

This is always the key, it seems to me -- users making the rules. We need to have forums to discuss new technologies, with teachers and students together wrestling with "appropriate" and "good" and "educational" uses.
8:07:41 AM

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Importance of School Libraries
The most recent ASCD Research Brief looks at the question of the effect of school libraries on student achievement. The research study profiled was done in Texas, but the results parallel those done in other states.
The conclusions are obvious: the presence of a good library in a school, with a certified librarian and adequate support staff, can make a definite difference in the achievement of students. A remark at the end of this article caught my attention, however.

Although libraries appear to account for up to 8 percent of test score variance on TAAS, this study does not include a cost-benefit analysis.

Is the author suggesting that the costs of maintaining a good school library might be higher than the benefit of increased student achievement? How can one put a price on student achievement? I know there are political considerations, but I'm thinking of the individual student and his or her success in school and perhaps in life!
6:08:32 AM

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