mLearning news:

Handover from mLearnxyz UPDATED

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:44:04 +1000

Thanks to all my many regular readers for your views over the last 3 years and for getting us into the google top ten.

This site will now be continued as a component of www.uLearningportal.info; head over there to see what all this change is about! Please adjust your feed readers and bookmarks accordingly:
Blog: http://ulearning@edublogs.org
RSS: http://ulearning.edublogs.org/feed

This site and all its posts and resources will remain available.

A new beginning / handover from mLearnxyz

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:02:37 +1000

Thanks to all my many regular readers for your views over the last 3 years and for getting us into the google top ten.

This site will now be continued as a component of u-Learning.net; head over there to see what all this change is about! Please adjust your feed readers and bookmarks accordingly.

This site and all its posts and resources will remain available from there.

mLearn -> uLearn

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 16:42:07 +1000

Yes, an evolution is underway here at mLearnxyz - the fast pace of technological change means that mLearning is more widely successful than ever, but is also now revealed as a component of the wider move towards ubiquitous learning ...

Check back in January 09 to learn more!

Teacher thoughts re: the iPhone platform

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:34:07 +1000

At present I am manager of an iPhone OSX in education discussion list with my Employer, Education Queensland. So far we have nearly 20 members (some with iPod Touch’s) sharing ideas and apps as everyone experiments with this new platform. One of our members, Ben shared these thoughts on his experiences with the iPhone as an educational device, and its wider implications, and has allowed for it to be shared here! Enjoy:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi all

After contemplating some questions on this list, more experience with the device in the MOE and with students, and reflecting on its educational implications, I have some thoughts I might share...

I am very excited about the iTunesE concept and how that would allow teachers to upload content to be shared under the anytime, anywhere model.

I see Teachers and EQ being able to write iPhone apps that will engage students in new ways. I see teachers as becoming designers and now that the NDA on the SDK has been lifted, the marketplace will thrive for those without the specific web and cocoa programming skills, to be able to integrate quality content.

Could Education Queensland create a standard template for mobile web apps and simple iphone learning content apps and can an iphone optimised skin be applied to the current joomla wcmss much like vBulletin plugins?

Having tested the iPhone connected to the school QDETA-X wifi environment I can not see too many benefits as yet compared to a good high quality 3G connection, except for local school intranet access and school based web apps which is where further exploration needs to occur.

This leads up to 3G mobile data access in schools for professionals and students which then promotes discussion around filtering both in schools and the Australian governments National Internet Filtering agenda and the Clean Feed debate.

Not too much detail from me here, even though the implications of unfiltered mobile internet access within schools holds many more benefits than pitfalls in my eyes, but the national agenda will impact heavily on how our society moves forward.

Students with disabilities as I have mentioned in other posts find the device intuitive and allow for natural movements and gestures that can suit many students.

Students with disabilities also benefit from the convergence device as the remote app and genius features allow for remote access of iTunes libraries and apple tv's through Cover Art views and the ability to find new music via genius playlists and
itunes store links, there are many many more benefits but this is the early success' in the home environments for some people with disabilities besides all the usual iPhone stuff which in itself is opening up many new avenues of communication and connectedness as we all are experiencing.

This new mobile and portable workstation concept then heavily impacts on our classroom design and furniture concepts for the future. The iPhone has created a new mobile playing field and with ever increasing penetration into the education sector and the latest accessibility features in the nanos and environmental reports of the unibody laptops, show Apple's direction for increasing accessibility options.

This worldwide trend is evident here in Queensland today with rollouts of C4T MacBooks and creation of lists such as these and the number of educators and students turning to macs, as highlighted constantly in SteveNotes and today's latest Q4 financial call, market share, growth and earnings.

Lots of ramblings here and no that well worded and more reflection needed everywhere but just where I'm at in my current thinking...

Cheers
Ben

Teacher
Brisbane Special Education School

Musings on a connected world

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:36:52 +1000

This whole mobile/ ubiquitous computing world has had me reflecting on things of late. I mean, the more ways in which we can access data/ the web etc., the more connections it is possible to make. This can be stressful, especially at first. If its possible to do Facebook, email, note-taking, calendering, everything on the go, there is no escape.

This is what I’ve found since getting my iPhone 3G. Its kind of like the whole early mobile phone phase when suddenly we could be phoned at anytime- and debates raged about intrusive technology. Except now its audio, video, documents, sites, friend updates, appointments etc that can reach us anywhere. While productivity can go through the roof, so can overload.

So I’m learning to manage this constant connectivity. I don’t have an answer yet, except that handling it all ‘live’ as it comes in does mean at the end of the day, I have some time that normally would have seen me dealing with it then.

BUT, on the plus side, my extended connections means that I’m assisted in surprising ways - like today, when Michael from mLearning-world.com posted a link on Facebook to an article that was just what I’d been looking for for my masters thesis. As I move forward embracing constant connectivity, I look forward to many more such happy connections.

New mobile platform arrives: Android

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:04:46 +1000

As most geeks would know, the Google-developed mobile OS known as Android had its public unveiling last week. While only available on one handset in the US at the moment, its open-source nature and backing from Google mean that it is destined to become a major new mobile platform alongside the existing Palm OS, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry, and iPhone OSX.

We’re not interested in the competition between these OS’s here, but in what new features does Android bring to the use of mobile devices for learning. In this case, what Android brings is an acceleration of the mobile access to cloud computing that the iPhone OSX began 18 months ago. Because Google itself has no interest in desktop computers, Android devices currently link in directly with online services rather than syncing with a home computer as every other mobile OS has always done.

This means that files, music, video etc are all either accessed online, downloaded directly from the net, or streamed to the handset. What does this mean for education? Well, perhaps its another sign that our many labs stocked with desktop PCs are becoming less and less relevant. Perhaps forward thinking education departments need to start planning a cloud-computing based model for getting out content and services to its students. There’s a few interesting years ahead!

To read more on the Android launch (and a whole heap of interesting, though not-education focused comments) read the engadget article HERE.

Selling mLearning: a presentation

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:39:35 +1000

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I recently had the opportunity to present at Education Queensland’s ‘eLearning Innovation Expo’. This was a fantastic chance to really sell mLearning to an audience that hadn’t much heard of it before.

It also proved a chance for me to solidify some of my thinking around how mLearning can be categorised and defined. The full presentation (38 mins) and accompanying slides are now available for viewing online HERE.

You can also learn more about the Expo itself HERE, and watch keynotes from other technology-focused educators such as Michael Furdyk (Canada) and Stephen Heppell (UK).

100 million mobile apps

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:07:32 +1000

Well if anyone was doubting that a new platform in mobile computing has arrived, the 100 million apps downloaded in under 2 months for OSX mobile version 2.x should put that to rest.

Imagine where such a platform will be in 1-2 years time and you can start to get an idea about why its so important that educators begin experimenting with and using it in their teaching now. Recent price drops to the iPod touch model bring it in line with prices that many high school students usually spend on PSP’s or MP3 players etc.

I know in my Education system in Queensland, Australia, we already have 15 educators signed up to an iPhone-specific discussion list, which is a very encouraging sign as to the level of engagement with new mobile technology within my department.

Now we just need some really exciting education apps to appear! (Something other than flash card software would be great - anyone want to develop a student data and timetable tracking app?).

Mobile wifi touchpads

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 13:54:45 +1000

One of the great problems for educators trying to use computer technology in the classroom has always been having to walk up and push keyboard or mouse buttons when teaching or presenting. Even Interactive Whiteboards require that you walk from wherever you are and touch the board, or carry around a hunk of plastic keyboard.

For the teacher/ lecturer who would prefer to control the whiteboard/ computer/ presentation from anywhere so they can instead concentrate on the lesson and students, this problem can now be overcome via several apps downloadable for the iPhone/iTouch platform. This solution fits into the educator-focused mode of classroom-based mLearning.

Oldest of these solutions is the local web-app AJAX page generated by 'Remote Buddy' ($32.95, Mac OSX). While it's always had amazing potential, able to control the webcam, virtually any program on your computer, and display the desktop, its slow at times to respond and just not as intuitive as it needs to be for classroom conditions. A native app version is promised soon however. 3/5

My personal favourite at present is the very intuitive Snatch ($7.99 from the App store, PC and Mac) which runs on your device and connects to Snatch software running on your computer. Via this link, it becomes an amazing portable trackpad with mouse buttons and a scroller, as well as a full keyboard complete with function keys. Anything you can do with your mouse and keyboard you can do from anywhere within wifi range with Snatch. There’s also a free ‘lite’ version you can try out first before buying. 4.5/5

Lastly we come to one that controls one program and one program only, but does it so well I had to mention it here. Stagehand (which like Snatch links with a desktop app via wifi) controls keynote presentations - giving you access to all your presenter notes on screen, as well as the ability to select any of your slides from a list. It also allows you to flick between slides and builds with your finger, or to turn the device sideways to landscape mode and see the slide itself. From this mode you can also two-finger flick to the next one, or touch the screen with one finger to bring up a highlight. (Mac, $9.99) 4/5

If you’re after PC-compatible apps, there are two you can try - iClickr for Powerpoint, which has similar features to Stagehand, and Jaadu Click, which looks like a more fully featured (but more complex) version of Snatch.

Finally, if you don’t mind a bit of work customising, another ‘mobile touchpad’ app called PearPad (Mac only at present) allows even greater control than Snatch.

Site of the month: Learning in Hand

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:49:09 +1000

I’ve recommended Tony Vincent’s ‘Learning in Hand’ site before, but it has recently been reorganised with some new categories and content that makes it perhaps the best overall site I know for those wanting to start their mLearning journey.

While the site has always been a great place to head for PDA and iPod tips, it now has sections for Netbooks (ala OLPC, Eee PC etc) and the Mobile Web as well. Newly added too for those experimenting with the iPhone/ iTouch OSX platform is a great section on how it can be used for blog posts, apps, audio, video, podcasting, and photos.

There is also a series of regularly updated podcasts such as those on iPods. A recent one features Tony’s video review of - wait for it - stylus for the iPhone/iTouch - which changed my mind on the subject. I’m thinking now that even such a revolutionary touch interface could be made better accessible for some students (ie. those with motor difficulties) with a suitable stylus. Tony points out that for some apps like drawing programs, a stylus is actually an improvement on the mark 1.0 finger.

Ok, so head on over!

3 methods of organising mLearning

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:39:56 +1000

After an educator has worked out where they want to use mLearning (be it in the classroom, outside, or even anywhere the student goes), and what device to use (from cheap, one-use devices to high end, always connected ones), they also need to consider choosing one of the three methods of organising mLearning. The first method, of using mobile technology in an educator-focused way, is where I first began, with a brand new PDA and just experimenting with possibilities.

the 3 modes of deploying mLearning

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:00:46 +1000

In developing my recent ‘mLearning: Pedagogy Everyware’ presentation, I developed several slides defining mLearning as its being deployed today. For those not in the audience, I share them here. I have overviewed mLearning as being about modes or places of use, machines, and methods of deployment. Enjoy part 1 - modes, and part 2 - machines:

eLearning Innovation Expo

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:00:14 +1000

Well crikey - that may just be me myself opposite - snapped while presenting at Education Queensland’s (my employer) recent ‘eLearning Innovation Expo’. By all reports, our region is currently a bit of a world leader in integrating ICTs in education, and this expo was a showcase of why this is so.

I was very happy to be asked to present a session giving mLearning a bit of a sell, the first time it has received this kind of higher-level exposure here. Thanks to Education Queensland for recognising that using mobile technology to enhance learning is now becoming mainstream.

I’ll post some of my slides defining how mLearning can currently be defined over the next little while. (Oh and on the table you maybe able to spot an Eee PC, two Palm Z22s, a Palm Lifedrive and an Olympus digital voice recorder. Control of the Keynote slides was accomplished via Stagehand running on my iPhone).

A teacher’s 1st 7 days with an iPhone

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 20:50:43 +1000

7 days with a white 16gb iPhone...

Am I organised? Am I ever. My last 7 days have been all about adjusting to an always-on connection to ‘the cloud’. Email, Facebook, the internet, Evernote notes, the App store, my contacts and calendar - all now wirelessly ascend and descend such that on arriving home, any changes and additions I’ve made through the day have preceded me.

Add to this the ability to instantly (well within say 60 secs) look up any bit of trivia or information, and you could say this really feels like a digital revolution. It is taking getting used to and I believe the change to constant connectivity is on a par with getting access to the internet, or later to broadband, in terms of its importance and impact. How is this kind of connectivity going to change education? I’m not totally sure yet, but I will write about it here as I begin to understand...

I’ve also put OSX mobile (or OSX iPhone as Apple calls it) to a pretty good test. For me the iPhone is a mobile tablet computer first, a mobile internet device second, a phone third, and an iPod last.

As far as my #1 use (mobile tablet computer) is concerned:
It’s only at about 65% of what I’d like. There are some great apps available, but the ability to do things on the go is hampered by all of them offering good but limited capabilities. Updates are to come, but while 20-40 apps get added every day, the range of software is still stuck in puzzle/accelerometer games, to-do apps, password storers, flashlights etc. The only category that seems to breaking real new ground at present is navigation and location-aware services. I want a word processor and to-do’s that sync with iCal or Mail.

Stay tuned...