Exploring the Concept of "Mobile Learning"...
What is it?
[Image by Alana]
Put simply, mobile learning or M-learning
is learning in any location via the use of portable digital devices – that is, any piece of digital technology
you can carry in your bag or pocket - such as mobile phones, smart phones, mp3
players, digital game consoles, or PDAs.
Because Apple’s iPod Touch and iPad are currently the most commonly used mobile devices in Australian primary classrooms, this eResource will focus on the use of these two products. However many of the concepts, classroom strategies, pedagogies, and applications discussed here will also be applicable to other devices.
One major drawback of Apple’s mobile devices is that they are not compatible with the Flash content of many valuable and widely-used online resources (e.g. Mathletics, The Learning Federation's Learning Objects available on Scootle and interactive websites such as Starfall). The Android alternative to the iPad which does have Flash content enabled is soon to be released in Australia. As these devices become available and utilised in educational settings, the Authors will assess their performance and modify the content of this eResource accordingly.
Because Apple’s iPod Touch and iPad are currently the most commonly used mobile devices in Australian primary classrooms, this eResource will focus on the use of these two products. However many of the concepts, classroom strategies, pedagogies, and applications discussed here will also be applicable to other devices.
One major drawback of Apple’s mobile devices is that they are not compatible with the Flash content of many valuable and widely-used online resources (e.g. Mathletics, The Learning Federation's Learning Objects available on Scootle and interactive websites such as Starfall). The Android alternative to the iPad which does have Flash content enabled is soon to be released in Australia. As these devices become available and utilised in educational settings, the Authors will assess their performance and modify the content of this eResource accordingly.
How might it work for me?
[Image by Goopymart]
Well, that's hard for anyone to
say at this point...
So how about we help you explore the topic for yourself?
Below are 5 different sources of information about Mobile Learning (catering for a multitude of learning styles) for you to explore. Choose one, two, three, four OR use all five in your explorations. You might even prefer to look for other sources of your own.
Most importantly, reflect on what you read / view / hear / see / experience. Use our suggestions for reflection, or do it in your own way, but make sure you share your thoughts.
The reflection is an important part of your journey. The sharing will make this eResource a richer experience for those who come after you.
So how about we help you explore the topic for yourself?
Below are 5 different sources of information about Mobile Learning (catering for a multitude of learning styles) for you to explore. Choose one, two, three, four OR use all five in your explorations. You might even prefer to look for other sources of your own.
Most importantly, reflect on what you read / view / hear / see / experience. Use our suggestions for reflection, or do it in your own way, but make sure you share your thoughts.
The reflection is an important part of your journey. The sharing will make this eResource a richer experience for those who come after you.
1. Watch the Video
Chris Baldwin incorporates mobile phones in
his teaching of English to foreign students.
Many of the strategies he is using can be applied in any classroom. Watch his video and reflect on how mobile
devices may be useful in your own teaching context.
Reflect and Respond...
How has Chris embraced technologies that students are already using? What are your feelings about mobile phones in the classroom? How do you think you could make use of them in your own context? What strategies does Chris use that you'd like to adopt?
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
2. Read the Document
The Victorian Department of Education has
implemented trials of mobile devices in many Victorian schools.
The 2009 iPod Touch Research Report presents information on the implementation and subsequent findings of several of these trials. It is a large document, but if you read Sections 1 (Executive Summary), Section 2 (Recommendations) and the beginning of section 7 (Research Findings), you will gain a good understanding of the scope and implications of the projects. Reflect on how access to mobile devices in your classroom might
enhance or improve teaching and learning.
Reflect and Respond...
What interests you about using mobile devices in the classroom? How might mobile devices enhance teaching and learning? What challenges might you face in using mobile devices in your teaching context?
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Reflect and Respond...
Make a note of any ideas, questions, concerns, hopes or any other thoughts you might have about
using mobile devices in your own context.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
4. View the Poster
The people at Voxy have created this poster
detailing the rise of mobile technologies in education.
Reflect and Respond...
Share your reflections on the Voxy poster. How do these statistics and
trends make you feel about using mobile devices in your classroom?
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
5. Visit the Website
Tony Vincent's Learning in Hand is a rich online resource for educators anywhere using technologies in teaching and learning. Have a look at this page on using mobile devices and consider what pedagogical values are implicit in the strategies used here for using mobile technologies in the learning process.
Reflect and Respond...
Consider Tony Vincent's approach to using mobile
devices. What pedagogical values are implicit in his approach? Is
there any "truth" you can "take away" from his comments?
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Use this Wallwisher page to document your reflections.
Some resources for Further Exploration:
1. Educause Review: "Enabling Mobile Learning" article
2. Mobile Learning Blog: What is Mobile Learning?
3. 10 Benefits of Mobile Devices for Learning
4. More interesting mobile statistics from presentation by Tomi Ahonen (3G Strategy Consultant and Author)
5. Karen Bosch explains how she uses her iPhone as a teaching toolkit:
MOBILISed is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
