Arguments in the balance: Now you decide

I thought a final round up of pros and cons would be useful as Board members prepare to cast their vote ..

Since my summary of points made during the first week - http://h800sim.blogspot.com/2010/06/summary-of-arguments.html - a number of further points have been put forward by both sides in the debate. They are:

Against:

• if mobile learning involves student-generated content, this could dilute the quality of education
• mobiles in class could have an adverse effect on discipline
• it's not clear who will provide technical support or ensure accessibility for all students
  

For:

• bringing mobiles into school will give students a feeling of ownership of their own learning
• teachers' skills will become outdated if they fail to embrace this new learning technology
• mobiles will help reach out to those students who are less engaged with school
• students will gain digital literacy skills by using mobiles in the school setting
• educators have already embraced computers and the internet: mobiles are just the next step
  
• lots of schools in the US have embraced mobiles for learning, which is endorsed by headteachers there and encouraged by the US Dept of Education
  

Three suggestions which fall into neither the Against nor the For camp are:

• the views of students - all students - should be surveyed before proceeding
• teachers will need training for this to work, and
• the scheme should be piloted before a full roll-out

Having followed the debate for the last 2 weeks I would like to make an observation..

Our college community would seem to be fairly evenly divided on the issue of mobiles for learning. Members of the teaching staff have argued on both sides of the debate - as have students - as have parents - as have administrative staff. If members are surprised that the discussion is so evenly balanced, perhaps they should not be.

Innovation is always unsettling, and new educational technologies have always excited vigorous debate, with many people arguing that they undermine the education they're intended to enhance. This happened with the introduction of printed books, and with the introduction of first broadcasting and then the internet into educational institutions. Perhaps mobiles ARE just the latest fad. Or perhaps they are part of the future of education...

best,
Willi