Why does it take the invention of the iPhone to consider Cell Phones in Learning?

While I am as excited as the next tech-geek about the new iPhone. I think it is interesting that before the iPhone most educators and non-educators were not considering the cell phone as a potential learning tool. Now, suddenly if you have an iPhone, you have a possible learning tool for the classroom. While I agree that the iPhone has a lot of great features for classroom learning, basic cell phones (you know the cheap ones that come with your calling plan like the one I have) also have a lot of potential for classroom learning. There is so much a student and or teacher can do with just a basic cell phone plan. A few examples include data collection by recording audio, taking pictures, filming movies, surfing the internet, note taking, calculating, and text messaging. As mentioned in many of my earlier blog posts, most web2.0 sites have "go mobile" options (such as Wikipedia, Flikr, MySpace, Blogger...etc) so that a basic cell phone (not a fancy expensive iPhone) can become a learning tool. So I say WELCOME to the new iPhone, I can't wait until I can afford one, but in the meantime students and teachers who have the basic tool----there is so much that you can do!

TXT'ing the Library...a new way of reference

An interesting article came across my email from a colleague of mine in literacy. It is about libraries starting to take advantage of students' interest in text messaging by providing a library reference service through text messaging. This is currently being done in Australia, and the nice feature is that the librarians use email to communicate with the text messages since they are more comfortable with email and it is often easier to type quickly. But students can text from anywhere when they need a reference or have a question. I was thinking this is a fantastic feature for students who do not have computers at home but have their own cell phones. It may help lessen the digital divide. In addition, students on field trips could also use this feature as they are uncovering and discovering new pieces of knowledge (e.g. a field trip to a museum where they want to research about an artist). Also, since the text is stored in their phone, they can retrieve the information at anytime.