If you’ve been watching T.V. lately, you’ve probably noticed a
slew of iPhone commercials sandwiched in-between campaign ads. Apple and
AT&T have been running frequent commercials for the latest version of the
iPhone that double as “how-to” videos. In addition to convincing wary costumers of the simplicity of the
iPhone’s technology, the ads also showcase the phone’s ability to act as a work calendar, mp3 player, or even a map.

But some educators are taking these functions one step
further and incorporating the iPhone’s diverse technology into the classroom. Ollie Bray, the head teacher at Musselburg Grammar
School in East Lothian, Scotland,
writes a blog
about his teaching experiences. His latest series is a set of posts on how to
use the iPhone while “on location” in the field.

His “Handheld Learning” series highlights the
iPhone’s ability to connect to Earthscape
(a downloadable application similar to GoogleEarth), Google Earth, Trackme
(another downloadable application showing the user’s exact latitude, longitude
and altitude), and iPhone
maps (similar to Google Maps on your computer). The blog suggests uses for these applications
in the classroom, while also noting how highly sophisticated applications can
be supplemented with iPhone programs for note-taking, photography, and calculations. Quite the all-in-one package for students and
teachers!

Ollie’s blog not only reminds us of how powerful technology
has become, but also how technology can be used in creative ways to teach a
subject that is becoming increasingly unbounded by the borders of the classroom.

Can you think of additional ways that the iPhone can be used
in the classroom? Let us know!