Day 2
m-Learning Device
The current mobile device that I use is the iPhone. I am consistently blown away by its capability throughout my day to day life and how it makes things considerably simpler.
I have used my iPhone for courses in the past. I find that like Koole notes, it allows for the learner to focus on the content and task at hand, instead of being cumbersome and difficult to navigate. I have tried to use the web on a Blackberry Pearl, and find that screen too challenging to read and even the navigation (I am not a native BB user) very challenging to pick up and go. The iPhone rarely crashes on me and I find that its new addition of multi-tasking (I say new, but it’s not that new) allows for me to take on many things at once (flipping from Youtube to Safari and back almost seamlessly). One challenge that I have found has been the institution’s tools somewhat limiting. As far as the last Vista course that I took, the apps that were available for the iPhone required a newer version of Vista, to which UBC has not yet subscribed.
I find that having the tool of the iPhone literally in my pocket encourages Koole’s notion of authentic solutions to real problems. Because the topics are always close at hand and the reading is fairly sporadic, I am more in-touch with the content. It is not a read-once, forget about type thing. I imagine that we can all agree that it is easier to engage with the content to more time we spend with it– mobile learning enables just that, therefore encouraging engagement.
In terms of sociability, the iPhone is fairly simple in its functions and doesn’t support an overwhelming amount of symbols. The keyboard is intuitive (even if a little bit challenging). The browser is unmatched and the speed I absolutely enjoy (Wifi and 3G), even if it does get tedious when you’re on the move and it constantly requests to join new networks– but I guess that’s the breaks when you’re driving and doing homework (kidding).
Posted in: Week 11: Mobiles
David William Price 9:47 am on November 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Very interesting.
You talk about authentic learning and real problems. How has your mobile changed the way you use what you’ve learned in the “real world”? I mean beyond re-reading material and actually applying it, coaching or guiding yourself with the mobile?
How do you think you might share your mobile in groups for learning activities? How might you use it for collaboration? How do you feel about “staying connected” to material through reading and commenting on this blog while you’re on the move and taking breaks at work?
Kristopher 10:27 am on November 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi David,
When I mention using the learning in the real world, it is because the content (that I have interacted with an learned with) is at my finger tips. When I look at introducing e-learning in our organization, I am able to pull out the cube analysis in our boardroom and add value to the discussion by providing a framework that I am familiar with to the discussion. It is only because that analysis was available to me that it was able to enhance the discussion. Does that make sense?
I am not sure I understand that second question regarding sharing my mobile. It think the essence of the mobile is that it is a one-to-one device where the learner can focus on that which applies to him/her specifically. In terms of collaboration, again, the learner can focus on what is important to him/her, while still having available (from anywhere)( these other incredible resources in colleagues. Mobiles give us not only a library-in-the-pocket, but essentially people-in-the-pockets.
Kristopher
David William Price 11:55 am on November 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Nice follow-up.
You give a great example for both of my questions.
First, you use your mobile as a performance support to help you apply what you’ve learned within a problem situation (a cube analysis).
Second, you “share” the mobile in the sense of sharing that information with a group of people in the boardroom. You could easily pass it around so people can see the diagram of the cube. I’ve had people pass me an iPad with a decision-making matrix on it as a PDF. I’ve read articles about people learning languages (Kanji, English) on mobiles they either share within a family, or share within a learning group where the learning activity requires passing the mobile around.
The mobile is small and easy to share. It’s a tool groups can interact with… a tool that can guide and scaffold interactions, much the way you used your mobile to guide and scaffold a cube analysis in your boardroom.