...but why are all their screens cracked?

It seems appropriate to start with the first strip I drew. 

Getting kids to use their smart phones as tools as much as they use them as toys has been a bit of a mission for me, and I've got plans this trimester to introduce them to apps like Flipboard, Readability, Evernote and Google Drive to help them start seeking and organizing their own online content. Last trimester was big on looking up quick bits of information and there were also about 25 students reading "The Call of the Wild" on their phones and tablets. I was pretty happy with this application of technology, but this trimester I want to take it further and really turn these things into the kind of learning tool that you take out of your pocket with the intent of discovering something new. As of today I have one kid converted to a love of podcasting. At least I hope. I'll check in with him tomorrow.