To try some of the interactivities in this part of the tool kit I did not have access to a smart phone, so I tried to use my Ipod touch with a wifi connection. The following are my reflections.
As an end user I was able to access the course site VISTA, the Word Press web log, and my Moodle site without too much difficulty. However, due to the screen size I often had to maximize my screen in order to click on the correct link. While the load times were reasonable, by browsing slowed down considerably as I often clicked the wrong link. Furthermore, when I went to post an entry on each of the sites, I found the typing to be painfully slow and full of mistakes. I even started writing this post with the Ipod, but gave up as I realized it was going to take far too long. I searched for an app in the Apple app store for managed to find one for Word Press, which I downloaded for free and made browsing reasonably easier, but still did not fix my typing problem. The app store did not have an app for either Moodle or VISTA.
In terms of mobile learning from a course designer experience, I cannot take photos with my Ipod; however, I was able to save images from the web and then transfer them to a post on both Word Press and Moodle either through an embedded link or saved image upload. (The image below was done in this way)
Nonetheless, while I could make minor updates and perhaps do some assessment using a mobile device, I think it would be quite time consuming to design and continually update using one. On the other hand, an iPad works much better as it is easier to view the site due to a larger screen size, use the keyboard (especially with a bluetooth wireless keyboard) and with the new versions take video and images. The only other downside of all of these Apple products is the inability to play flash media, which limits the effectiveness of some sites.