mLearning to Enhance Disaster Preparedness Education in K-12 Schools

Abstract

Several of the most disconcerting and compelling news events of the 21st century pertain to natural and human-caused disasters. However, these themes are generally absent in the social studies, civics, science, or mathematics curricula of most U.S. K-12 schools. Similarly, discussions about ways to incorporate new digital tools, such as mobile tablet computers and apps into such discussions are also overlooked. This chapter provides a roadmap for considering disaster-oriented themes in the K-12 curriculum and then provides several examples of apps that can be included in classroom lessons along with guidelines for incorporating these digital tools into pedagogical practices. The authors have framed their analysis within the context of mLearning as a way to address cross-disciplinary themes via mobile technologies.