Mobile technologies in HE The possible vs the practical 9 th January 2009 9 th Durham Blackboard Users’ Conference Kate Reader University of Bristol Sophie Paluch College of Law Zak Mensah TASI University of Bristol

What’s Possible?

What’s there Your students The market Your VLE – learning tools Skills, resources and issues surrounding training, support and longevity

Your students

The market

Your VLE – learning tools

Skills, resources and issues surrounding training, support and longevity

What’s Useable Key size Screen size Battery Life

Key size

Screen size

Battery Life

What’s Accessible Age Cost Signal IT Competency Digital Divide

Age

Cost

Signal

IT Competency

Digital Divide

What’s Realistic Expectations Using what you have Your budget Unlimited Patience

Expectations

Using what you have

Your budget

Unlimited Patience

Have we come along way? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=694TX2lQ7Uo&feature=related

1985 1 st mobile phone 1 hour of talktime 8 hours of standby. Only had signal in New York and Chicago Within a two mile radius No address book No text Cost $3395 2009 15 hours of talk time Two weeks of standby 8mp Camera Internet access Barcode Scanner Music Player Organiser Email Sim Pay 98% UK coverage Free or cheap on PAYG

1985

1 st mobile phone

1 hour of talktime

8 hours of standby.

Only had signal in New York and Chicago

Within a two mile radius

No address book

No text

Cost $3395

2009

15 hours of talk time

Two weeks of standby

8mp Camera

Internet access

Barcode Scanner

Music Player

Organiser

Email

Sim Pay

98% UK coverage

Free or cheap on PAYG

YES 45 Million People share 71 million handsets in the UK. Only 10% of adults don’t have a mobile phone Students are some of the most prolific non standard (not just text and calls) users of mobile devices. Internet use has increased 13% since the iphone came in. Free on contract PAYG with web access £49.99

45 Million People share 71 million handsets in the UK.

Only 10% of adults don’t have a mobile phone

Students are some of the most prolific non standard (not just text and calls) users of mobile devices.

Internet use has increased 13% since the iphone came in.

Free on contract

PAYG with web access £49.99

Internet on phones has gone from this 2001

TO THIS 2008

NO Cost data and wi-fi not free. Majority don’t have decent internet enabled phones Don’t know how or want to use them. Text is still most prolific way to communicate in the UK.

Cost data and wi-fi not free.

Majority don’t have decent internet enabled phones

Don’t know how or want to use them.

Text is still most prolific way to communicate in the UK.

About me Zak Mensah e-learning officer TASI soon to be JISC Digital Media (Feb 2009) University of Bristol

Zak Mensah e-learning officer

TASI soon to be JISC Digital Media (Feb 2009)

University of Bristol

Today’s key subject “ how we can use the mobile technology currently available to enhance current teaching and learning practices within the VLE, without complicating them” technically, pedagogically and socially Ref: JISC technology and Standards Watch 04-03 (November 2004)

From abstract “how we can use the mobile technology currently available to enhance current teaching and learning practices within the VLE, without complicating them”

“how we can use the mobile technology currently available to enhance current teaching and learning practices within the VLE, without complicating them”

Quote "Recent changes in device technology and the adoption rates and market development for mobile devices have converged with changes in both the strategic direction of post-16 education and some aspects of pedagogy." JISC technology and Standards Watch 04-03 (November 2004)

"Recent changes in device technology and the adoption rates and market development for mobile devices have converged with changes in both the strategic direction of post-16 education and some aspects of pedagogy."

JISC technology and Standards Watch 04-03 (November 2004)

The Educause Horizon report 2008 http://connect.educause.edu/Library/ELI/2008HorizonReport/45926 suggests that while web-based tools are rapidly becoming standard in education and in the workplace and technologically-mediated communication is the norm, fluency in information, visual, and technological literacy is not formally taught to most students OR staff http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2009/

The Educause Horizon report 2008

http://connect.educause.edu/Library/ELI/2008HorizonReport/45926

suggests that while web-based tools are rapidly becoming standard in education and in the workplace and technologically-mediated communication is the norm, fluency in information, visual, and technological literacy is not formally taught to most students OR staff http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2009/

The answer lies in a subtle polish Its early days really for mobiles but using my iphone has already shown: We need good design : Just think about me…. Let me do my 1-3 core task quickly (flickr)

Its early days really for mobiles but using my

iphone has already shown:

We need good design : Just think about me….

Let me do my 1-3 core task quickly (flickr)

http://alistapart.com/articles/returnofthemobilestylesheet

Points Start simple feedback iterate “ the mobile experience merits its own design, as discussed in a growing body of literature, including the W3C’s very own Mobile Web Best Practices , released in July 2008 as a W3C Recommendation.”

Start simple

feedback

iterate

http://aneventapart.com/

http://aneventapart.com/

Technically Provide wifi to help those with wifi enabled phones/ipod touches in and around uni buildings. Bus stops would be amazing.. buses and trains.”

Provide wifi to help those with wifi enabled phones/ipod touches in and around uni buildings.

Bus stops would be amazing.. buses and trains.”

Possible The BBC stray from the University practical and produce many iterations of a site for all the popular mobiles http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/03/bbc_iplayer_on_iphone_behind_t.html

The BBC stray from the University practical and produce many iterations of a site for all the popular mobiles

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/03/bbc_iplayer_on_iphone_behind_t.html

Example http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2008/03/hairdressingtraining.aspx A key online vocational resource developed by West End professionals for hairdressing training has been made available via mobile phones; it was announced at a recent launch event in London. The photographic step-by-step guides to styling, colouring and cutting techniques, combined with lesson information and handy hints, encourage the benefits of the interactive learning styles available on the Hairdressing Training site.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2008/03/hairdressingtraining.aspx A key online vocational resource developed by West End professionals for hairdressing training has been made available via mobile phones; it was announced at a recent launch event in London. The photographic step-by-step guides to styling, colouring and cutting techniques, combined with lesson information and handy hints, encourage the benefits of the interactive learning styles available on the Hairdressing Training site.

Example Hyperlinking the real world http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/hyperlinking_the_real_world.php

Hyperlinking the real world

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/hyperlinking_the_real_world.php

Experimentation is the key in 2009

Experimentation is the key in 2009

Mobile Use at the University of Bristol The Practical…

% of Students with the Technology

Contract vs Pay As You Go

Other Mobile Devices?

What does the research say? ….

Assumption: Young People are more competent with technology JISC’s verdict: young people tend to use much simpler applications and fewer facilities than many imagine. Assumption: Young people pick up computer skills by trial-and-error JISC’s verdict: This is a complete myth. The popular view that Google generation teenagers are twiddling away on a new device while their parents are still reading the manual is a complete reversal of reality, as Ofcom survey 22 findings confirm. (The Google Generation Study)

Assumption: Young People are more competent with technology

JISC’s verdict: young people tend to use much simpler applications and fewer facilities than many imagine.

Assumption: Young people pick up computer skills by trial-and-error

JISC’s verdict: This is a complete myth. The popular view that Google generation teenagers are twiddling away on a new device while their parents are still reading the manual is a complete reversal of reality, as Ofcom survey 22 findings confirm.

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