Introduction to Mobile Learning

Introduction to mobile learning

Jon Trinder

University of Glasgow j.trinder@elec.gla.ac.uk

www.ninelocks.com jont@ninelocks.com

Introduction to mobile learning

1

Outline of Part 1

Introductions

Technology

The Free PDA

Futures

What is mlearning?

What aspect is mobile? The Technology or the Students?

Technologies

PDA

Phones/SMS

MP3 Players

Voting Systems

USB Memory

Voice Recorders

Books!

Combination Devices

Application Areas 06/05/09 jont@ninelocks.com Learning Lab

Why Do We need mLearning

PDAs in Education

“ Our team carried out a detailed study of how radiology is taught and practised. One clear finding was that trainees have very little spare time. They can’t take the time to sit in libraries or computer labs, and so any computer- based learning must fit into the gaps in their busy schedule - in the hospital, at home, when travelling - which means a personal and portable system.” (Sharples, 2000) ‏

The immediate readiness for use has been highlighted by users in other studies, a typical student comment being a PDA is something that is “unobtrusive and neat and that could always be ready at hand” (Waycott et al., 2002) ‏

History

History http://members.surfeu.at/org2/psion1/ 1984 1996 1999 1993

1996 PDA Specifications First Palm and WindowCE Machine specifications. 6-8 Weeks 160 *160 128K 16Mhz Palm Pilot 1000 Palm OS 20 hours 640 x 240 2MB 44Mhz Hewlett Packard HP 300LX, WindowsCE Battery Life Screen Size (Pixels) ‏ RAM CPU Speed PDA Operating System

Philosophical Differences

“ It may in fact transpire that different hardware and software platforms support rather different interpretations of mobile learning” (J Traxler 2007) ‏

The Free PDA

Choice of Device

Which is the Best……..

What’s the best…

Breakfast

Car

There is only Best for You

PDA Uses

PDA Anatomy 06/05/09 jont@ninelocks.com Learning Lab

First Sync

Choose name carefully

Mobile Registration mechanisms

Activity

Beaming

Resets Applications are not informed of the system reset. May be useful to enable faulty applications to be uninstalled if something is preventing the machine from starting Preset reset button while holding the scroll up button. No-Notification Erase all memory. System will display confirmation message before performing the clear. Press reset button while holding Power button Hard Clears dynamic RAM Storage RAM unaffected.(You keep your applications and data!) ‏ Press reset button Soft Affect How Type

Software for Mobiles There is a choice!!!!

Apps You Need

Crash and ResetEmu

http://www.79bmedia.com/resetemu/d_index.html

Backup Tools

BackupMan http:// www.bitsnbolts.com/backupman.html

Programmers Tools

Filez http:// nosleepsoftware.sourceforge.net/#filez

Palmasaurus http://hazelware.luggle.com/palmasaurus/

Introduction to mobile learning Deploying....

1B

What Do I Need to Consider

What benefits do you expect the mobile learning to bring to your course for your students

What benefits do you expect the device to bring to your course for you?

What disadvantages can you foresee?

Are other people involved enthusiastic

Practical Issues

Do you need special software on the device or in the labs

Have you got suitable materials for deliver on the chosen device

How are you going to transfer the materials

Do the materials provided on the devices need to be available in other forms as well,e.g. for partially sighted students?

Thinking of Using Mobile Devices

What problems could cause the project to fail?

Materials Not ready in Time

Lack of enthusiasm from tutors

Technical problems

Lack of Technical support

Preparation

General

Security Mark

Set up accounts for HotSync

Batteries/Charging

First HotSync

Configure the PDA

Paperwork

Data protection

Loan forms

Insurance

Training/Support

Charging

Evaluation

Why Is Evaluation Difficult? Evaluation IS difficult

Evaluation IS difficult Students cannot or will not always be able to tell an evaluator about their abilities, knowledge, values,needs,preferences,goals or feelings, or any changes in them-they may not be able to put them into words,they may be too embarrassed to disclose or reveal. (Traxler 2003) ‏

Resources

Reports Personal Assistants (PDAs) in Further and Higher Education, Ted Smith (2003) http://www.ts-consulting.co.uk/DownloadDocuments/PDAsinFurther&HigherEducation.doc Handheld Computers in Schools BECTA report http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/handhelds.pdf Mobile and PDA technologies and their future use in education (Paul Anderson and Adam Blackwood) ‏ http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/services/techwatch/reports/horizonscanning/hs0403.aspx Kaleidoscope Big Issues in Mobile Learning http://telearn.noe-kaleidoscope.org/warehouse/Sharples-2006.pdf BECTA Researching Mobile Learning (2007) http://partners.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/page_documents/research/mobile_learning_july07.pdf CTAD mLearning Publications http://www.m-learning.org/knowledge-centre/m-learning-research.htm Commonwealth of Learning. Mobile Learning in Developing Countries http://www.col.org/colweb/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/docs/KS2005_mlearn.pdf Mobile technologies: prospects for their use in learning in informal science settings http://jime.open.ac.uk/2005/25/

Books