First Tuesday: The Mobile Classroom


Mobile learning ("mlearning") is here. Are you ready?

Imagine going back just a few years, and telling someone that in the not-so-distant future, pocket-sized devices would enable any individual to be a freelance photojournalist, to be a part of a movement to overthrow a government that has been in place for decades, to direct and produce movies that would be viewed by millions globally ... who would have believed you?


 

 

"Mobile learning is any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies."

- K-12 Mobile Learning blog.

 

There are many approaches to leveraging the power of mobile devices:


Special Guest Facilitator, Dr. Lisa Young (Scottsdale Community College iPad Project)

    To Navigate the information about SCC's iPad project:

  1. Click the image below to go to the SCC iPad project page.
  2. Click the "Slide to unlock" icon at the bottom of the virtual iPad.
  3. Click the "App" on the virtual iPad that interests you (e.g., "Classroom use")
  4. Click on the slide that appears, the use the right/left arrows on your keyboard to navigate through the presentation slides for that section.
  5. Click the "Home" button on the virtual iPad to go back to the "Apps" screen.

 

 

 


More Ideas for Mobile Learning

NOTE: The list of uses for mobile devices entailed in this table is by no means exhaustive -- there are literally hundreds of thousands of mobile applications out there. Use a game like "Angry Birds" to teach Math & Physics, or use "Diner Dash" or "Sally's Spa" for Restaurant & Hotel Management courses. Twitter can be a discussion board, or a research tool. Be willing to explore, and to think outside the box!

 

Take a look at the following table (this table is identical to your worksheet handout). Which type(s) of activity are you interested in for you and your students?

When considering any type of activity, answer these two questions:

  1. WHY would you want to use this -- i.e., what learning objective(s) is met?
  2. HOW would you want to use this -- i.e., what would the assignment look like?

 

ACTIVITY

WHAT IS IT?

WHY WOULD YOU USE IT?

HOW WOULD YOU USE IT?

RESOURCES NEEDED

 

Polling/Classroom Response System

 

    

 

Students use cell phones as “clickers” to respond to class polls - data updates live as students vote.

IDEAS: in-class polls.

 
 
  • Any device that can send a text message can be used (the only charge to the student is the cost of sending a text message).
  • Instructor needs Polleverywhere account.

Audio Recording

 

 

Students use cell phone or other mobile device as audio recorder.

IDEA: Create/publish basic podcast.

 
 
  • Works with any phone that can make a call (using a tool like iPadio). Many mobile devices now come with a recording feature already installed.

 

 

Notes

 

  

 

Students create notes on-the-go, using voice-to-text notes via cell phone or other mobile device.

IDEA: Field trip notes.

 
 
  • Works with any phone that can make a call, and can send/receive texts (using a tool like GoogleVoice).
  • Evernote is also useful for notes; you can create webclips, but it's not a tool you can use with a basic cell phone.

 

Photos

 

 

Students take photos, send to others’ phones/emails, or upload photos to a photo website via mobile device.

IDEA: Keep a photo journal.

 

 

  •  Works with any mobile with a built-in camera and cellular/wi-fi connection.
  • Flickr, Photobucket, etc.; accounts required in order to upload content.

 

Videos

 

 

Students create video*, send video to other students’ phones or emails, or upload video to a video site.

IDEA: Peer interviews.

 

 

  • Works with any device that has video camera and cellular/wi-fi connection 
  • YouTube (or similar) account required in order to upload content.

 

Blogging

 

 

Students create a mobile blog and upload content (text, image, and video) via mobile device.

IDEA: “[Your Discipline] in Action” blog.

 
 
  • Works with any device that can send a text message.
  • There are many other blogging tools, but Blogger is easy for beginners. Account required.

 

 

 

Conferencing

 

  

 

 

 

Students participate in mobile conference on cell phone or other mobile device.

IDEA: Study groups.

 

 

  • Video conferencing or screensharing requires smartphone with data package, or tablet device with wi-fi
  • Screensharing: Join.me
  • Video conferencing:  Skype mobile, FaceTime (iPhone/Pod/Pad, wi-fi), GoogleTalk (Android, 3G/wi-fi), Tango (3G/Wi-fi)

 

 

QR Codes

 

  

Instructor creates QR (Quick response) codes that contain information (Audio, video, website, contact info, etc.) that can be scanned with a mobile device.

IDEA: Scavenger hunt.

 

 

 

  • Instructor uses code generator site, such as QRstuff.
  • Student needs a device with an internet connection and a QR code reader app to scan the codes.

 

Presentations

 

  

Students create presentations (slideshows, videos) that can be delivered to the web, or to others’ mobile devices.

IDEA: Museum slideshow. 

 

 

  • Animoto for iPhone/iPad allows user to create videos.
  • Prezi “read” app for iPad allows viewing of existing Prezis.
  • Other options: Powerpoint, Open Office, GoogleDocs

 

Mindmapping

 

  

Students create graphic organizers of course concepts, or of their own writing or projects.

IDEA: Outline a group project. 

 

 

 

 

Video Sharing

 

  

Students can broadcast their video as they are recording (live streaming).

IDEA: Have a student report “on location” to the classroom from an outside site. 

 

 

 

 

  • Qik (works with most smartphones and many tablet devices)

 

File Sharing

 

  

 

 

 

Access content anytime, anywhere, from any device. Share access with others.

 

 

  • Many “cloud storage” tools (such as Dropbox) are now available that will not only work with a computer, but also with various smartphones/tablet devices.

CLICK HERE to download this table as a PDF.                                             *CLICK HERE to watch a YouTube video that I recorded on my phone.

 

= works with basic cell phone (text/photo/video capable)

= works with Android

= works with iPhone

= works with iPad (wi-fi)

 

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT...

Based on the learning outcome you hope to accomplish, and the chosen task to accomplish that objective, what will you need to learn about mobile learning and/or your device?

 

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS to help you with some of these tools:


 

 

 

RESOURCES:

 


 

 


 

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). Many mobile devices now come with a recording feature already installed.