Using iPhone in the Secondary Classroom

Question

Hello everyone!
I bought my first iPhone a few months ago, and I haven't regretted it a single day. I knew that it would bring increased accessibility and connectivity to my personal life, but I had no idea how helpful it would be in my classroom. I'd like to share some of the ways I've been using my iPhone; hopefully someone might find my ideas helpful.
I am a high school English as a Second Language teacher in a public school in the Bronx, NY. This is my 4th year teaching. So far, I have been using the camera and the voice recorder the most in my classroom. I use the camera to take photographs of class notes that I or my students take. Then, I send them to my computer, print them, and arrange them as they were written originally, and finally distribute the notes to my students. If I put a little more time into it, I'm sure I could find an application that would help me arrange the photographs in a document so that I didn't have to cut and paste the prints. I love this because it allows my students to focus on the creation of the notes instead of just copying them into their notebooks. They carry the printed photographs in their binders and use them whenever they need.
I have been using the voice recorder in a few ways so far. The first thing I do is record listening passages for some of my students on the iPhone, and then I hook it up to speakers, and allow the students to listen and re-listen to the listening passage that way. (It's funny - it is actually a lot less work for me to record the passage once on my phone rather than reading it aloud multiple times, but the students find it thrilling that I "would do all this" for them!) The students take notes, create outlines from their notes, and write essays --- after I had taught them this strategy once, they were able to complete the entire process on their own while I did other work! (And I don't have angel students, either! Using technology in this way seems to help students feel like they have more power over and interest in their own learning.)
I also use the voice recorder to record myself reading books aloud. I have certain students who are either just learning to read in English, or who have severe reading or learning disabilities. These students really benefit from hearing a book read aloud as they follow along in the text. Before Winter Break, I recorded a book on tape for a student, and then sent the file to my email, downloaded it into iTunes, and recorded an AUDIO BOOK on CD!!!! (That was so cool!) I recorded instructions for my student on the CD and then burned him a copy, which I gave to him along with the book.
In the near future, I am going to use the voice recorder to record my students speaking and reading -- perhaps they'll make their own audio books, or read stories aloud, etc. I will also use it to record interviews and meetings with my students -- I can see replaying a CD of a taped meeting about a student's progress being a powerful way to remind students of the commitments they've made.
Basically, the iPhone has been the most powerful technology that I have brought into my classroom in my few years of teaching. Often, I find that using technology in the classroom is more trouble than it's worth - the products we have are old, nothing works when you need it to, kids aren't actually as tech savvy as everyone thinks they are, etc..... But the iPhone has really worked in new and interesting ways for me. I know I'm not finished figuring out its potential!
Does anyone have any other ideas?

Answer 1

First you need to do the steps provided here.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/international-roaming.js p?WT.svl=calltoaction
Data roaming is off by default with the iPhone. Visual voicemail messages are downloaded to the iPhone via the cellular data network only and if data roaming is off, this should prevent visual voicemail from being downloaded to the iPhone - but you should confirm this with at&t. The amount of data involved with downloading visual voicemail is not significant. Downloading email (especially email with attachments), sending email, and downloading websites is significant for the amount of data roaming charges.
With data roaming off, you can access the internet via Wi-Fi with no data roaming charges.