Consider uses of mobile technology in your school or workplace.Upload to group blog and present in class.
I will share the experience of using mobile technology in my undergraduate college.
Background
My college offered some Distance Education, though it was a attempt in developing online learning, and has experimented with mobile learning as an integrated service of the online learning system for a long time.
However, most courses in my college are not designed to function as online interactive elearning programmes, although some parts of the courses may involve such interaction with multi-media materials, tests and assignments. The courses normally comprise intensive study, mainly of text based materials, solving problems, writing essays, submitting assignments and communicating with fellow students by e-mail or in the web based conferences. We are mainly offline when studying.
Development
When developing system solutions for mobile learning, it is assumed that we students normally will have access to a desktop or laptop computer with Internet connection. This means that the equipment and technologies used when mobile are additions to our equipment used when studying at home or at work. It is also assumed that mobile learners study in the same group as students not having access to mobile technology. Thus, the learning environment of my college was designed to cater efficiently for both situations and both types of students.
Examples
Initially my college developed solutions for mobile learning using mobile phones and PDAs with portable keyboard. Learning materials were developed mainly for downloading to the PDA and off line study, while online access to forum discussions, supplying forum messages, reading in forums and communication with fellow students and tutors and submitting assignments were handled online via mobile equipment when we were on the move. Later, my college developed and tested solutions for an “always online multi-media environment” for distance learners based on the use of PDA with access to wireless networks. It installed software and solutions that in principle made all online courses accessible independent of devices on the receiving side, e.g. most types of pocket PCs and mobile phones. One of the main challenges concerning the mobile devices was to find acceptable solutions adapted to the small screen. There is simply not enough space on a small screen for all the information found on a traditional web page.
Another problem was the limited data transfer rate and processing power found in mobile devices. When people use a mobile device with Internet connectivity, the connection speed is traditionally lower via a mobile phone.
The next step was to develop mobile learning course content and services that will enter into the mainstream and take mobile learning from a project-based structure and into mainstream education and training.
Evaluation
When using mobile technologies, we found that it was generally satisfactory for us to have the course content available to study on the Pocket PC. In addition, the following communication possibilities were seen as necessary. When mobile, we must be able to access the course forum archive to read messages,access the course forum to submit contributions to the discussions, send e-mail to peers, to the teacher and to the administration, receive e-mail from peers, from the tutor and from the administration,submit assignments by e-mail including attachments and receive assignments corrected and commented on by the tutor including attachments. In order to access e-mail and discussion forums, mobile phones with infrared connection to the PDA were used.
We found that downloading and synchronizing learning materials to the students’ PDAs caused few problems. The learning content was delivered in two versions, HTML and Microsoft Reader ebook format. As the preference for the e-book format was so clear from the first trial, in a second trial, the course applied e-book materials only.
Illustrations were considered unacceptable on the PDA. Taking notes was found to be a problem, so for the second trial it was found to be necessary to equip the us with keyboards, that actually solved the problem, including writing longer texts in connection with assignments etc. Communication via mobile phones for submitting assignments and writing messages to the course forums were found to be easy, with few problems and with acceptable costs – on the condition that texts normally were produced offline. The main aim in designing solutions for mobile learners at my undergraduate college was to maximize student freedom and to support online learners who also are mobile when studying but cannot come to my college.
My experience of mobile technology in HKU:
ReplyDeleteWith the development of smart phones, more and more apps are provided to support school learning and management. Facebook in most countries or the RenRen in mainland China is a convenient platform for school administrators to post school news and activities. For example, in HKU, the department of Cedars hold a public website on Facebook,which allowed students to follow its update activities and join in or register for wherever and whenever.
Here is the link of Cedars: http://www.facebook.com/hku.cedars
Another function used in mobile technology is the iPhone apps, which is available for students searching information in nine main parts, including news, food and drinks, events, directory, map, accommodation, calendar, videos and images and mini games. Each part offers different useful resource about learning and living in HKU campus. This app can be downloaded from apple store for free and compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Here is the link of Cedars' App: http://beta.cedars.hku.hk/iapps.php
Nebula
The mobile learning bring the learning around us. No matter where we are, we can just pick out a smart phone or iPad, then we can get access to the online learning. The resources and the users just get close to us by using it. People are not just limited by the time and places, learning is now moving with us physically. Except the use of the internet, those various apps also bring us into some specific learning environment. For example, now we can down load the electronic dictionary into our smart phone, and no need to buy or take dicts with us. There is also a game called SHUDU, which can raise our sense on maths. More and more apps are developed to combine learning and interesting. Phone is not just a phone, it is a multifunctional devices that makes things possible.
ReplyDeleteI find an interesting videos show how can we learn through smart phone. Just take a look!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mobl21.com/images/mobl21.mov?width=800&height=400
Actually to say, I like using mobile do most of things. One of the app I prefer is evernote, I have used it for almost 2 years. I can take notes when ever I am, also can take photo. The evernote not only use in mobile phone，also has application in PC. with the develop of technology the evernote to be a kind of cloud application, I can upload the information to the cloud, and download it on my phone or PC. It is good for studying I think.
ReplyDeleteI think mobile learning opens subtle channels of communication, which can encourage students who don’t actively participate in classes to respond and express themselves. By exploring and testing new forms of content and exercises, you’ll come across ways to engage your learners both inside and outside the classroom.
ReplyDelete