Just before launching into a lesson Tuesday morning, Brian Patterson instructed his class of fourth-graders to do the unthinkable — turn on their cell phones.

Gasps sounded across the classroom as students from Rosa Parks Elementary School in City Heights clutched shiny new Sprint Samsung “Moment” smart phones specially programmed by Qualcomm to help them learn while they visited Balboa Park.

Using text-messaging, video and e-mail, the students roamed the park’s Botanical Building, following prompts — with help from GPS — that had them analyzing flowers, researching history and collaborating with classmates.

Article link