Teaching With the Tools Kids Really Use: Learning With Web and Mobile Technologies

by Susan Brooks-Young (Editor)

A foundational guide for integrating mobile technologies into your classroom!   Designed to help educators deliver relevant instruction through the use of 21 st -century technologies, this resource examines available low-cost hardware, explores free Web 2.0 tools, and sheds light on the pros and cons of using mobile technologies for instructional support. Emphasizing the ethical use of technology, the book

Genres: Education, Technology

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[CTEP]

The title of this book really grabbed my eye when I was searching for a February book share candidate, and after giving it a read I gained many helpful insights on an issue that is highly relevant to several of my youth programs at the NLC. Over the course of the year I have seen an almost feverish attraction to internet based technology among the youth I work with, often times coming in the form of an obsession with facebook, youtube, blogs, and other internet based services and technologies. I have also seen how schools—at times—have either ignored or stifled this trend in the name of education through web filters and direct punishment for use. In challenging what this book sees as a detrimental trend, the author Susan Brooks-Young provides a valuable look at how embracing these facets of a young persons life as educational tools can take something that youth are already putting hours of energy into and transform it into an effective learning mechanism.

The book begins by discussing something all of us at CTEP should be very familiar with: the necessity of 21st century skills and the importance of engaging in digital citizenship in order to achieve empowerment. The next section addresses how affordable and personal technological devices can be used to create “one-to-one computing initiatives” in schools across the globe. I thought this section of the book was most intriguing, as it provided many practical suggestions for how Netbooks, mp3 players, and cell phones can used to create a seamless learning environment. Instead of require that students adapt to outdated educational methods, the author argues that educators meet youth at a technological “common ground” by utilizing these devices. This part of the book made a lot of sense to me—why not use a medium of information exchange that lends itself so well to the attention of youth and grows in global relevance and importance on a daily basis? The final part of the book discusses social networks (as well as blogs and wikis) and makes an impressive case for how these technologies can and should be embraced in schools. Each section of the book also ends with discussion questions and a space dedicated to practical applications of the ideas discussed.

This book has filled me with ideas of how to best embrace (and use in my learning opportunities) certain web tools that I have had mixed feelings about over the year. In this way, “Teaching With Tools Kids Really Use” serves as a highly applicable treasure trove of information. I would strongly recommend this book to any of the other CTEPers serving youth in technology-based learning.

[Josh Luukkonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given 4 stars only because of the outdated nature of the book. Frankly, I expected not to like this, and for it to be filled with generalized platitudes that were old hat for educators like me that have been in the tech implementation process for a while. What I found, instead, was a well-researched book that was full of good ideas. However, being as old as it is, it is terribly out of date. My edition was from 2010, and most of the topics discussed have changed quite drastically over the past seven years. In addition, iOS and Android weren't even around/mentioned when this was being written.

So if you can find an updated version, I would think THAT one would be very good. The author seems to really know her stuff. However, this particular edition just suffers from age.

[Monika · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for a continuing education course, but the book could not have been more obsolete. If technology has a six-month lifespan then a book about technology should have about the same. This book, however, was written in 2010 when kids were still using mp3 players, Facebook only just became "a thing," and Club Penguin. Really? This book was written before The Cloud!

Needless to say, this choice in texts puts the integrity of the course to question.

[Jay Salikin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good if you don't know this stuff I guess.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guide for those who might have tech questions. Not exactly why I purchased it, but I still got stuff from it.

[Becksy49058 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guide for using technology tools and social networks in the classroom. There are many suggestions that I will attempt to use in my classroom this coming year.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for those less familiar with how to use tech in the classroom. Really good section on digital citizenship.