Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Developers, Educators, and Learners (Wiley and SAS Business Series)

by Scott McQuiggan

Also, through the combination of mobile integration and virtual schools, ruining a weekend or cutting into a summer break with school make-up days is no longer necessary. Instead of cancelling school due to adversities such as weather, students can attend virtual school from the safety of their home via home technologies or school-issued devices. Devastating storms such as 2012's Hurricane Sandy, 2009's Hurricane Katrina, and even 2013–2014's unusually snowy winter, quickly use up a school district's allotted inclement weather days; therefore, 1:1 technology schools like Pascack Valley Regional High School in New Jersey have implemented virtual school days to avoid the dreaded make-up days.23 Teachers can easily facilitate lessons, assign and collect work, and provide feedback using online resources and mobile apps just as they would in the classroom. Finally, the portability aspect of mobile makes these devices a great tool for both students and parents. For most students, the success of virtual school relies heavily on parental involvement. With mobile devices, parents can stay up-to-date on progress and performance in real-time without sitting next to the student as they complete classwork. Also, students can easily communicate with teachers, parents, and academic coaches through mobile communication for immediate feedback and support with features such as video conferencing, phone calls, and text messaging. Lastly, mobile technologies provide anytime, anywhere access t...