If you have ever tried teaching sin, cos and tan to 40 bored teenagers, who have no interest in you, but rather in their mobile phones, you would know that teaching is not easy. But, you can make learning fun by taking advantage of their interest – smartphone.

Unlike the millennial kids, the new generation kids thrive on mobile phones. It has become very hard for tutors and parents to distract students from social media and the likes. Smartphone technologies are so engaging that conventional study materials are finding it hard to hold students’ attention.

However, the bright side to this is that instead of banning smartphones in school, using them to engage students and improve their experience can help educational institutions in providing the best education to individual students.

Why Mobile Devices are Distracting and Traditional Learning is Distasteful?

While both mobile applications and textbooks empower students, the reason why mobile apps are distracting and textbooks are distasteful is not the content but the way it is delivered.

In the eyes of students, what’s happening in the Grammys award is more interesting than studying organic chemistry. It is also about the visual appeal, the physical touch, and having control over the content that mobile devices offer.

How Teachers Can Leverage Mobile Apps in Learning

Professors can only beat students’ smartphone addiction by integrating mobile apps in learning and knowledge development. Educators must create a learning environment that aligns students’ reel world to their real world.

Here’s how teachers can develop smart classrooms with mobile phones/apps:

Make Lectures Available All the Time

Teachers can record lectures and make them available on mobile apps so that students can access them anytime. Pre-recorded lessons will not allow students to miss important lecture points.

In fact, with mobile apps, professors can create lectures using inventive ways, such as by embedding YouTube videos, using graphical representation and infographics, providing real-life examples, adding audio-video notes and animations.

Heighten Communication with Students

Teachers can foster one-to-one communication with students who fear public speaking or social confrontations. One-to-one interaction is proving significant in developing students’ social-emotions. With mobile apps, professors can provide special services for individual students and help them beat their weaknesses.

For instance, professors and tutors can share learning tips, send reminders, and engage in friendly conversations to help students get rid of their fear and apprehensions regarding studies and teachers.

Associate with Parents

Parents’ involvement is crucial in students’ academic activities. Mobile apps can instill parental support by keeping them in the loop regarding students’ performance and progress.

For instance, parents can view their children’s test results or extracurricular achievements on the mobile app dashboard in real-time. This saves time and effort in visiting schools.

Incorporate Collaborative Classrooms

Collaborative classrooms allow students to update assignments, ask for feedback, pose questions, gain access to supplement notes, solve workbooks, attend quizzes and tests, share projects and notes with other kids, and share ideas and opinions on a daily basis through engaging smart mobile apps.

Students of this generation are always prepared for new technology experiences so educators must use their enthusiasm in science and technology and empower them with the right knowledge and skill via smart classroom technologies like mobile applications and smart classrooms.