Mymiamia The ChaCha for Many Countries!

I often gloat about how fantastic ChaCha is for gathering information. ChaCha allows you to dial a toll-free number or send a text message and receive information regarding just about anything! Sadly ChaCha can only be used in the United States. However, I often forget to mention that there is an alternative for countries outside of the U.S.. It is called Mymiamia. Mymiamia works in the same way as ChaCha. You can call or text in a question, then receive an answer within a few minutes. These countries include Austrialia, Norway, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, South Africa, and many more! I pasted in the chart of voice and SMS numbers below. Try it!


Classroom Connections:
1) Field Trips/Outside of Classroom Learning
While many teachers may have concerns with using cell phones inside of classroom to gather knowledge and data (although I think this speaks to the need to adjust assessment to more inquiry-based higher order thinking skills), teachers could encourage students to take advantage of Mymiamia on a field trip for gathering knowledge. For example, if students are at a historical village or science museum, and they learn about a famous person, they can gather more knowledge about that person via Mymiamia---in the moment. Thus they learn how to use their cell phones as an immediate knowledge gathering tool!

2) Beginning Inquiry Research
English, Science, and Social Studies courses often encourage inquiry-based learning. While Mymiamia is not going to write an inquiry paper or do inquiry research, it can help students get started on their knowledge gathering process. For example, students could ask, "What are some reasons why the stock market crashed in 1929?" Mymiamia will give a variety of reasons or just one reason. Then it is up to the students to find evidence to corraborate the findings from Mymiamia. They could continue to use Mymiamia IF they know which type of questions to ask. Such as "were there any regulations on the stock market trading in the 1920's?". Once again this is not a paper, rather a knowledge gathering process.

Cell Phones in Learning Radio Show Wed July 15th: Math Teacher Jimbo Lamb Talks Cell Phones & Learning

Chat Transcript:
Liz Kolb says (19:13:19):
We are talking today with Jimbo Lamb. A Math educator from Pennsylvania, who uses cell phones in his teaching and learning. http://misterlamb.blogspot.com/
Liz Kolb says (19:14:07):
About Chalkbot http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages
Liz Kolb says (19:15:10):
We are talking today with Jimbo Lamb, a secondary Math educator from Pennsylvania who uses cell phones in his teaching. http://misterlamb.blogspot.com/
Liz Kolb says (19:20:11):
We will get started in about 10 minutes!
Liz Kolb says (19:29:46):
Hi Paul Thanks for joining us
Paul R Wood says to (19:30:15):
My pleasure. I am still trying to figure out how we missed each other at NECC. Too funny.
misterlamb says to (19:31:30):
Lance is racing this year
misterlamb says to (19:31:41):
Currently in 3rd place
Liz Kolb says (19:32:14):
Text 'LIVESTRONG' followed by your chalk message to 36453, and we'll let you know when it's written.
Paul R Wood says to (19:32:15):
8 seconds behind
Liz Kolb says (19:32:55):
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages
Liz Kolb says (19:33:50):
http://twitter.com/chalkbot
Liz Kolb says (19:34:59):
http://misterlamb.blogspot.com/
Paul R Wood says to (19:35:09):
From Chalkbot on Twitter: Hey Twitterverse, we are sending out some of our printed messages today via DM. If you are not already following us, please do! Please RT.
Paul R Wood says to (19:37:52):
Always fun to watch the students reaction when first used.
Liz Kolb says (19:38:03):
@Paul---YES!
Paul R Wood says to (19:38:22):
Student smore than willing to work within the framework when shown ways to use it and why
Paul R Wood says to (19:40:01):
So many different ways that we need to bring others to the water and show them the reasons to drink
Liz Kolb says (19:40:35):
Hi Kim!
Paul R Wood says to (19:41:19):
@kimcaise how are you?
kcaise says to (19:41:23):
hi all!
kcaise says to (19:41:32):
how was the damage at home paul
Paul R Wood says to (19:41:46):
It is ugly to saythe least.
kcaise says to (19:41:51):
oh no, ss to hear that
Paul R Wood says to (19:42:36):
Yep all for the protection of the power lines. Trees were no where near them
Liz Kolb says (19:43:03):
Link to Jimbo's Yodio project http://mrlambmath.wikispaces.com/quadratics
Paul R Wood says to (19:44:49):
Ah the power of twitter keeps on shining
Paul R Wood says to (19:45:28):
Great that yodio was so very willing to work with you.
Paul R Wood says to (19:47:28):
When I went thru school we were using slide rules. We have come so wonderfully far.
Liz Kolb says (19:47:49):
Hi Rich, thanks for joining us
Paul R Wood says to (19:49:00):
Good point on the ettiquette
Rich Mackrell says to (19:49:00):
How much time have you taken to teach the students how to use their cell phones for your classroom needs?
Paul R Wood says to (19:49:25):
I see that as empowering the students and they are all for that
Rich Mackrell says to (19:50:49):
Did you need permission forms since texting has a cost?
Liz Kolb says (19:51:15):
@Rich --- good question I will ask
Liz Kolb says (19:52:31):
I like the responsibility...students should know their plans
Paul R Wood says to (19:52:47):
Agreed @Liz
Rich Mackrell says to (19:53:14):
Awesome ideas.
Paul R Wood says to (19:53:41):
Like the idea about bringing in a bill to look at with the students
Liz Kolb says (19:54:07):
@Paul me too!!!! I'm going to do that
Paul R Wood says to (19:54:37):
If you explain it to the parents they ARE very appreciative.
Paul R Wood says to (19:55:15):
Me niether
Paul R Wood says to (19:55:48):
Most parents want their children to use things properly
Liz Kolb says (19:56:16):
http://textmarks.com
Paul R Wood says to (19:57:31):
Someone disgruntled about video on youtube is what it sounds like
Liz Kolb says (19:59:20):
Start Small!!
Paul R Wood says to (19:59:48):
Great job LIZ and thank you @misterlamb.
kcaise says to (19:59:52):
good suggestion
Rich Mackrell says to (19:59:58):
Awesome job Jimbo, you've definitely givem some ideas to walk away with...
Paul R Wood says to (20:00:17):
Also let an administrator use your polleverywhere account and let them play and the understand better
misterlamb says to (20:00:39):
Use it in a faculty meeting to show the power of the tool
kcaise says to (20:01:05):
thanks liz and jimbo
kcaise says to (20:01:08):
nite all
Liz Kolb says (20:01:12):
Thanks for joining us tonight everyone! You really need to check out Jimbo's wiki and blog
Liz Kolb says (20:01:49):
I know a superintendent (62 years) who used Polleverywhere at the 1st day of school meeting! Loved that
misterlamb says to (20:02:09):
I am getting excited about this coming school year, as I will be working with integrating cell phones with lower-level students
Liz Kolb says (20:03:00):
Cannot wait to hear about it!

Text Message To Tour De France To Fight Cancer!

Wow! This is really cool! Too bad most students are not in class right now, but it could still be a great activity for summer break!

Chalkbot, is a robot project from the Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation for cancer awareness. Anyone can send the robot a text message which will be printed out in chalk on the road during the Tour de France!

Text 'LIVESTRONG' followed by your chalk message to 36453, and they will let you know when it's written! Cool!

It's Good Business! Mobile Web2.0 Tools Should be Free For Educators

Over the last five years of researching web2.0 tools that couple with cell phones, I have found many tools that I LOVE, but they cost money to use. As an educator and former technology coordinator, I know that for many schools it is unrealistic to expect them to be able to pay (consistently--year after year) for access to the web2.0 tool. At the same time I understand that most of these companies that create the tools are in business to make money. Especially sites that do not advertise (which schools like), need some way to stay afloat. Therefore, here is my proposal to these companies.

1) Allow educators K-16 to use these resources for free. Allow them to use the FULL version for free if there is an upgrade option (there are many resources that are starting to go in this direction)

2) In return when these students enter the "real world" there is a good chance they will be hooked on these resources. Thus, they will be willing to pay to use them in the business world.

In my opinion, this is a win-win. The schools get access to the latest and best resources for mobile phones, and the companies get lots of marketing and future business.

I thought of this idea when I was talking with a friend in Canada who said that in his province all students under the age of 18 get free unlimited texting by a few of the cell phone companies. I realized that this is an excellent marketing scheme by the cell phone companies. Here is why---the companies get the students hooked on all the bells and whistles of text messaging (not hard to do!) so that the companies have guaranteed business when the students reach the age of 18! Smart marketing in my opinion. Why can't some of my favorite mobile web2.0 companies do the same??? The resources below were often-used by educators BEFORE the sites started charging.
http://Gabcast.com
http://www.voiceonthego.com
http://jott.com
http://gcast.com
http://drop.io
http://evoca.com

I have been contacting many of these sites with my proposal.

What do you think? Do you have any sites to add to the list?

Cell Phones in Learning Radio Show Wed July 1st: Preservice Teachers Talk about Cell Phone Use in Student Teaching

Chat Transcript
Hi Everyone! Tonight we are talking with 2 new teachers who both used cell phones during their student teaching for project-based learning activities.
afeikema says to (00:28:37):
Hi LIz--saw this on your twitter and thought it was worth a listen
Liz Kolb says (00:29:04):
Hi Allison! Good to see you!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:21):
Liz, I'm having trouble getting through on the phone
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:35):
Hi, Allison!
Liz Kolb says (00:29:38):
Oh No!!!
afeikema says to (00:29:47):
hello :)!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:54):
Have Sean and Allison gotten through?
Liz Kolb says (00:30:04):
This number right (347) 324-3938
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:33:32):
Langwitches:
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:33:35):
http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/14/what-is-in-a-fieldtrip/
Liz Kolb says (00:34:09):
http://www.everythingformymobile.com/
Liz Kolb says (00:41:08):
http://wiffiti.com
Liz Kolb says (00:54:28):
http://drop.io (Sean & Allison both used this for audio recording from cell)
Liz Kolb says (00:55:06):
I love that!!! You can "text it to me" Great idea!
Liz Kolb says (01:00:17):
Thank you All for joining us!
Jeff Stanzler says to (01:00:30):
Thanks, everyone!!