Mobile Technologiesfor Learning

Matthijs Leendertse

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Mobile technologies for learning

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One Laptop per Child

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Some quotes from Negroponte

• “It’s an education project, not a laptop project”

• “Children are teaching parents”

• “Children being the agents of change”

• “See it as a vaccine against ignorance”

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Mobile technologies as linking pin in the life of the learner

Context

Content

Connectivity

Expression

Self Management

Applications

School

Home

Friends

Sports

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3 benefits of mobile technologies for learning

1. Improving access to (social) networks, content & applications

2. Facilitating Informal Learning

3. Adding Interactivity

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Access to network connectivity

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Access to content: Kindle

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Access to content: Kindle

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Access to applications: iBird explorer (the future of ebooks)

Source: New York Times

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Access to applications: iBird explorer

iBird Pro $29,99

Selected features:

• Songs and calls of bird species of North America

• Multiple professional photographs of most species, showing various plumages, sexes, and seasons

• Extensive identification and behavior information, including what the bird eats, egg color, and much more

• Detailed Wiki pages for every bird

• Favorites feature, for bookmarking your birds and Flickr photos for every bird

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Access to content: pod / vodcasts

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Access to content: Pod/Vodcasts

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Access to applications: PSP Go

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Access to social networks

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Informal Learning

Informal learning: it’s life…

Informal learning is semi-structured learning that takes place in various locations (at home, work, during sports, while playing outside etc).

Best example is language development: learning by doing.

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Informal Learning: characteristics

• No curriculum• No long term pedagogical model• No teachers• No fixed timeframe• In ‘natural environment’• At the pace and timeframe of the ‘learner’

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Learning doesn’t end at school

Source: ToothpasteforDinner.com

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Value of Informal Learning

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Informal learning: tap tap revenge

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Informal learning: Defense

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Informal learning: Women of Nairobi project

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Informal Learning: Swinx

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Adding interactivity: from passive to active learners?

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Interactivity: SMS-TV

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SMS voting in college

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Twitter: apps, mobile net, internet, SMS...

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Interactivity: Twitter Utrecht University

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Interactivity: Twitter

(Faculty Focus, 2009).

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Interactivity: Twitter

“I have used Twitter to capture real-time feedback from students on course design and assignments.

Additionally my students use it to stay abreast of current issues in our field (distance education) and to bring those topics to the classroom for further discussion.

The students have given positive feedback on that use of twitter - they like the feeling of not having all their information filtered through me and it encourages them to challenge my point of view”

(Faculty Focus, 2009).

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Some Conclusions

Mobile technologies are rapidly evolving and maturing.

It’s not about technology, but about what mobile technology can do for learning:1. Improving access to networks, content and applications2. Facilitating informal learning3. Adding interactivity to learning processes

Going forward, we need to address:• pedagogical models• consequences of mobile technology for the classroom practice.• the assessment of mobile learning (e.g. certifying informal learning)• the roles between different stakeholders (especially teachers in

formal education)

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Do not forget the teacher...

“For any educational innovator it is important to realize that it is not the view of the innovator about the merits of the innovation that matters, but rather it is the view of the teachers about the innovation that is critical” (Veen in Scrimshaw, 2004, p. 14).

Matthijs Leendertse TNO Information and Communication Technology

matthijs.leendertse@tno.nl+31 - (0)620 - 596 310