Mobile technology available through smartphones, iphones and personal digital assistants is becoming increasingly common as web browsers with more wireless capabilities and faster internet speeds are now standard on an average new mobile phone. At the same time the number of students with mobile technology is increasing and there are more opportunities to use these devices for their formal and informal learning within the VLE. This paper examines how we can use the mobile technology currently available to enhance current teaching and learning practices within the VLE, without complicating them. The paper through both survey data and case study's also investigates how your students may already be using their mobile devices as part of their education. It then uses survey data to examine the reality of today versus the possibilities for the future.

1. 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

2. What’s Possible?

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

10. Internet on phones has gone from this 2001

11. TO THIS 2008

15. 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)

21. http://alistapart.com/articles/returnofthemobilestylesheet

23. http://aneventapart.com/

24. http://aneventapart.com/

30. Mobile Use at the University of Bristol The Practical…

31. % of Students with the Technology

32. Contract vs Pay As You Go

33. Other Mobile Devices?

34. What does the research say? ….

36. Questions Comments Rants