e-Learning Stuff

Nice piece from ITV West on how Gloucestershire College are using PSPs to support and enhance learning.

Some related posts from this blog about how we have been using PSPs.

Using the PSP

How can you use the PSP?

Last week saw the Game Based Learning Conference, we didn’t go, but that didn’t stop us from talking about using games for learning and using gaming devices to enhance and enrich the learning process.

With Kev Hickey, Ron Mitchell and James Clay.

This is the forty-first e-Learning Stuff Podcast, We’re playing a game

Download the podcast in mp3 format: We’re playing a game

Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

Shownotes

• The Game Based Learning Conference is one of the largest events of its kind dealing with all aspects of games in learning. Building on the success of Handheld Learning and provided more depth by creating stimulating, challenging and provocative dialogue spaces at the intersection between the education, gaming, social media and consumer electronics sectors. There, policy makers, thought leaders, innovators and key practitioners met and exchanged ideas, knowledge and experiences as part of a unique ongoing conversation.
• Using computer games to support learning – The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) has released a new report exploring the ways in which computer games, digital games and digital learning games can be used to enhance and support teaching and learning.
• The PlayStation Portable PSP is a portable gaming system that uses the GO! Camto take photographs and video. The PSP GO! doesn’t have a camera and can’t use the GO! Cam.
• If you need cases for your PSPs, then Gloucestershire College have been pleased with the cases from Connected.
• If you do have a PSP then you might want to consider an AV cable to connect it to a TV  or a projector to show images and video.
• If you don’t like the PSP then you may want to look at the DSi or the new DSi XL (the one with the bigger screen).
• Pictochat on the DSi is certainly a useful communication tool, in some ways the there are advantages it is a closed system.
• We’ve talked about screencasting before and some time ago I wrote a post about screencasting tools for Mac OS X. At this time I use Screenr a fair bit.
• The Nintendo Wii is one console that seems to have found a place in many classrooms.
• A website created by Learning and Teaching Scotland to explore the latest games technology. Find out more about the background to learning with digital games and watch the case studies to see computer games successfully used within the classroom.
• Neverwinter Nights was used to improve key skills.
• at-Bristol in Bristol has a virtual volleyball game.
• The future of gaming includes Sony’s Eyepet for the PS3, Microsoft’s Project Natal for Xbox and rumours of a Nintendo Wii with 3D.
• Scrabble – 80% off this Easter, only £1.79
• Prince of Persia

Interesting and informative podcast from RSC NW about St Helen’s College use of PSPs.

Gill explains how these devices came out of the MoleNet funding stream and why she finds them better than some other devices for capturing and playing back video evidence.  She explains how easy to use these devices  to display PowerPoint presentations, screen shots and photographs as well as capture high quality video and sound.

Often when people mention mobile learning they automatically think about mobile technology, notably mobile computers, specifically Windows Mobile PDAs and iPhones.

For me it is a different philosophy, much more about learning when mobile.

It was walking around different colleges which made me realise that when it came to mobile learning, it wasn’t about getting PDAs running learning content (though I am sure there are scenarios which they would enhance and support learning), but was much more about using the devices our students already have.

These could include

One end result of this was a presentation I gave at the 2006 JISC Online Conference, available here, which looked at how to use a range of consumer mobile devices for learning. I also made a video of the presentation which was made available to delegates at the conference for their mobile devices.

Mobile Learning on a VLE

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Since then, three years later, the market has moved forward quite dramatically, it is now even easier for learners to access audio, video and web content on their mobile devices. Devices such as the PSP, the iPhone, the Nintendo DSi are more widespread and are also much more connected and can play a lot more content.

One of the key factors has to be how easy is it for the learner to access that content?

Another barrier to overcome is to realise that the mobile device is only one tool that a learner may use for learning. So though a learner may listen to audio, or view video on a mobile device, assessing their learning may take place using a traditional computer or a pen and paper. For me mobile learning is not about learning on a mobile, but learning when mobile.

A (paper) notepad can be used when mobile, though mobile devices do allow for a more interactive, collaborative, engaging learning experience.

Certainly this model is how my institution is moving forward in terms of mobile learning.

So here I am down in Cornwall for the Cornwall College ILT Fair. I am down here as a MoLeNET Mentor providing specialist support for Cornwall College. I have been asked to do four workshops on mobile learning with some Web 2.0 thrown in as well.

Rather than do four identical sessions I will be doing four different ones.

I have my bag of stuff so can show lots of things. Also have a case of PSPs with cameras that will be used. Hoping to stream some of the sessions using Qik or Ustream. Will be posting to Twitter as well.

Should be fun.