Write an entry for your course weblog about mLearning as both an end user and course designer (on your “Home” page and posting a new entry).
I found the information in Educause very interesting. Our school district has made statements as to the viability and practicality of hand held devices. Chris Kennedy, our Supertendent has spoken at conferences as to the positive aspects of their use in the classrom. The article by Ellen Wagner, “Enabling Mobile Learning” was very informative. She mentions that mobile learning needs to meet criteria such as ubiquity, access, richness, efficiency, flexibility, security, reliability, and interactivity. I also feel that cost is an important criteria to consider.
I tried some of the activities on my phone such as capturing a photo and taking a video. My phone has internet, however I have not paid to be on a plan that includes that, so any use is very expensive. My reason for this is I have a laptop, a recently bought netbook and a computer on my desk at school. I am never very far from any of them. My phone would be a good alternative if I didn’t have the other options.
I used my daughter’s iphone to access ETEC 565 WebCT Vista course and it worked very well. I could see a lot of positive things about having a mobile device depending on one’s needs. I also took a picture and she showed me how she uploads to her website. (learning from others!) She also showed me all her different apps for her phone and what others apps are available.
My response to MLearning is positive as some of the affordances are flexibility and convenience. I see cost as something that needs to be accessed so that the monthly cellphone bill is affordable. It would be best to compare various carrier’s plans and options for the many different types of devices on the market. An assessment tool such as a self generated rubric could be used for this evaluation.
I would like to have an iphone in the future but it would have to serve a need and be cost effective. It does not meet that criteria for me at this time. I feel that they may be serve a very good purpose in the classroom as they are portable and the interactivity of them makes moble devices a good reason to consider using.
You touch on a number of very real tensions in the realm of m-learning. I think smart phones with wifi capability (like iPhones) can offer something of a compromise–though a data plan of some sort usually needs to be purchased.
Keep exploring–but don’t run up huge bills! 🙂
Hi John,
Thanks for your comment about iphones. There have been so many news items about cell phones. I try not to talk a lot on my phone and I am so glad that there is a new law prohibiting talking on the cell phone while driving. I think that there ought to be one about dogs on driver’s lap! I took a double take the other day because all I could see was a dog at the wheel!
Anyways, the cell phone companies are making the money. I try not to add to their profits.
Leslie