Good practices

Tablets and Smartphones in Science

Working Group:Science through digital learningCountry:LatviaLanguages:EnglishAge of students (target group/s):13-14Contact person information:Inese Liepina
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This is a classroom practice from Vecumnieku Secondary School, teacher Anda Kuzma. Teacher lets students use smartphones to search for pictures of plants, lichens, insects etc. because students are accustomed to do this every day. She uses tablets for practical work in biology (particularly outside the classroom or school premises) as it is easy to record research steps and it makes a learning process more interesting.
Students like to communicate on social networks, so the teacher often makes use of them for consultations online or for different tasks (e.g. Facebook, draugiem.lv, or Skype). For instance, students share selfies with deciduous trees, birds, stork nests and so on via Instagram.Strong points and opportunities:Students usually use Internet to search for information – why not to use it for learning purposes?
Students like communication via social networks, that is why such tasks, such as selfies are interesting for them and motivate them to learn.Limitations:Not all students have smartphones or tablets. Therefore, they may feel bad and cannot fulfil the tasks.
Sometimes, students’ interest lasts for a very short time (only for using phones) and they forget quickly what they have learned.
The school has to have a good Internet connection and WiFi.
The balance between nature and technology should be kept.
Not all information found in the Internet is valuable. Teachers should be aware of this.Added value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:WG1
You can reach students who do not like science but who like technologies.
Quick search for information.
Quick communication.
The practice could be useful also for WG3 as it gives possibility to consult things with students individually.Any prerequisites needed:Tablets or smartphones, Internet connection, WiFi.