Interesting article on podcasting.
Podcasting is transforming school life for forward-thinking schools, stimulating creative learning and new ways of communicating.
Category Archives: mobile
“Please switch on your mobiles”
The Guardian has an interesting article on how educational institutions are using mobile phones to enhance, support and deliver learning.
They were banned as a distraction in lectures and seminars, but now colleges and universities are exploiting them as learning platforms. Mobiles that double up as internet platforms and iPods and MP3 players that can download hefty video or audio files mean students own what is in effect a portable learning tool. Digital mobility is drawing in students through distance learning, outreach or aids for special needs. What’s more, the use of technology can be highly motivating, adding value and content in opening up entirely new teaching scenarios.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a passion for the use of mobile devices to support learning. I lean towards the use of portable entertainment devices as opposed to the use of PDAs. By this I mean using mobile phones, iPods, PSPs rather than the business orientated PDA (such as an iPAQ).
The PDA has many greater advantages over entertainment devices in terms of what it can deliver especially in terms of text entry and interactivity. For me though one of the key issues of any mobile device is how personal it is to the user. If you don’t own a device or even know you are going to have it for a long time, why would you use it on a regular basis or even keep it charged.
Handing out mobile devices in a classroom also seems illogical to me, why give all students a PDA when a laptop trolley (or even moving to a computer suite) would give a similar (or better) experience.
Though being on a field trip a PDA (or an UMPC) would certainly be a better choice over a traditional (heavy) laptop, more so with features such as GPS.
I also see that the mobile device as only one part of the learning design, the learning activity would not be solely delivered via a mobile device. It would be used in conjunction with non-mobile delivery and assessment.It’s also about choice.
Allowing learners to choose how, where and when they access learning has an impact on their learning compared to been dictated where and when they can learn.
As the article demonstrates I am not alone in seeing the benefits of mobile learning.
Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC
A few reviews of the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC have emerged.
This is another one of those UMPC (ultra mobile personal computer) devices which started arriving last year but are now making waves, especially in the mobile learning world. Unlike traditional PDA devices, these usually run a full version of Windows and with appropriate connections can be used with a “normal” monitor, keyboard and mouse, and used as an UMPC when out and about.
Compared to the Samsung Q1 and the Sony UX1XN (which I have used) the battery life on the U810 is much more impressive, over five hours.
I am slightly sceptical Fujitsu devices, I used a p1510 LifeBook Tablet PC in a previous job and was not overly impressed in the main as it got very very hot (and had a poor battery life).
Certainly we are now seeing a lot more UMPC formats now.
iPod touch
In a session at ALT-C I mentioned (and blogged)…
…about the rumours of new OS X based iPods, these may be wireless and may have browser capability. We should know by about 7pm tonight.
Well by 7pm we did know. I checked out the details via my phone at the conference dinner.
Apple did announce a new iPod with a touch interface (aka the iPhone) which will be available worldwide and will be wireless, have a browser and run a version of OS X.
Whether I get one, different story, £200 is a lot of money for a touch interface. I already have devices which can play music and video and portable wifi capability as well.
Having said that , it would be nice to have one, then again do I wait until the iPhone is available in the UK and get the phone element as well?
Decisions, decisions.
Whatever I decide one of the key things to remember is that our learners will by buying this iPod, they will be buying other iPods, other mp3 players, new phones, etc…. and we need to think about how they can utilise those devices to support their learning.
Can mobile learning content also be collaborative?
I really enjoyed Geoff Stead’s demonstration, Can mobile learning content also be collaborative?
– a demonstration of tools and techniques from across the UK.
Tribal CTAD have created and trialled innovative approaches to mobile learning since 2001. Our original experimentation with m-learning materials highlighted the importance of collaborative learning experiences. This led us to a more constructivist approach when developing both tools and materials, in which collaboration and active participation are key. Our most recent developments, particularly those with the LSN, have made it easier for both tutors and students to participate, publish and develop their own materials. Research has shown that helping learners publish their own m-learning can encourage student involvement and engagement (LSN 2006).
I do find it interesting the approach based on creating content in the main for PDA type devices, in other words Windows Mobile, smart phones; this is in some ways different to my own view of mobile learning which is very much about allowing learners to access content and learning (and create content) using their own devices.
I do like the content and it would appear that the learners like the content as well.
I did mention in the presentation about the rumours of new OS X based iPods, these may be wireless and may have browser capability. We should know by about 7pm tonight.
Can mobile learning content also be collaborative?
cn we uz mobz 4 LernN?
Today I ran my mobile learning workshop which I felt went really well.
It was much less about me talking, but much more about the delegates talking to each other and sharing their practice, issues and solutions.
I did ask people to scribe their ideas and then got carried away answering questions that I forgot to collect their collective writings in. Please pass them onto me, or hand them into the conference reception and I will pick them up from there.
In the workshop I demonstrated some mobile technologies and explained mobile learning scenarios that we are already using at Gloucestershire College or are planning to develop further over the next few years.
We had quite a bit of fun with Bluetooth, and for the first time ever, my Bluetooth photo printer was “hijacked” and some people printed their own pictures to them!
Excellent.
I did also show how to print from my Nokia N73 to the printer.
I also demonstrated ShoZu which worked well.
As usual never enough time to cover everything and discuss everything.
Tensions between personal space and social space in mobile learning
Oh where shall I go…
So here we are on the first full day of ALT-C. Over morning coffee I had another look at the programme to see where I shall be going this morning and this afternoon.
I will need some time to prepare for my workshop so will be “missing” some of the day to setup and ensure I have everything ready.
I have decided to go with a mobile learning theme today. I will be going to the Tensions between personal space and social space in mobile learning symposium and then a series of short papers, projectBluetooth – delivering large-scale content and support to the mobile generation and Which side of the wall are you on? then I will go to Web 2.0 and informal learning which all look interesting.
Hopefully (wireless access permitting) will be blogging and adding photos to my Flickr account over the day.
Check out my Jaiku for intermittent thoughts over the day.
Arrived in Nottingham…
So I have arrived in Nottingham ahead of ALT-C a huge learning technology and e-learning conference for HE and FE in the UK.
Okay so not the easiest week for FE (usually the start of term for most) but I see that there are quite a few FE delegates on the list (and I have already bumped into a few).
I am running a workshop on mobile learning which takes place at 5pm on Tuesday, this will be very hands on, so if you are at ALT and want an active session, please come along.
I am staying in student accommodation which is, well okay, well to be honest not very nice, and I am on the second floor as well, too many stairs! One advantage free internet access (which isn’t working now, but hopefully soon).
I have had a quick look round the exhibition which seems smaller than last year, but that may be because the room is larger!
More soon…