Mobile Phones To Help Learning

by Adam Woods

May 7, 2007

Mobile phones are usually seen as a menace in schools but a new project will turn them into learning tools.

As part of a project headed by Murdoch University, mobiles have been programmed with new educational games to help primary students improve their learning.

Two schools have been chosen for the trial, Bateman Primary School and the Moorditj Noonger Community College.

“Hopefully, in the future, mobiles can be used in class,” said Renato Schibeci, Murdoch Associate Professor in Education

Professor Schibeci said they decided on mobile phones rather than other electronic devices because students said they were more comfortable using them.

The mobiles contain two maths games, one dealing with multiples and the other with money.

“Year 3s have trouble using money in maths,” said Professor Schibeci.

According to Bateman’s principal Mr Breen, today’s students are very familiar with technology and the school is always trying to integrate technology into its learning programs.

“If the research proves that students’ numeracy skills are improved by using phones, then why not incorporate this technology into our teaching strategies?” he said.

In first semester this year the students in the trial - 10 Year 5s and 10 from Years 6 and 7 - found the games too easy. But there are more to come.

Students are taken into a separate room and spend an hour learning from the mobiles as part of the project.