The document discusses the concept of the 'mobile university' and its evolution, questioning whether current technologies provide meaningful educational benefits or if they are merely informational tools. It references various experiments and opinions from educational technologists and highlights the ongoing debate about the effectiveness and relevance of mobile technology in higher education. The author ponders whether such advancements are truly innovative or simply a repeat of past trends.

1. The Mobile
University
last year’s model?
Jeremy Speller
Director of Learning & Media Services
FOTE10
1 October 2010

2. Overview
What is this Mobile University
then?
Are we there yet? Are we getting
there?
So is it last year's model?

3. What is the Mobile
University?

4. ...well if you’re in Alabama...

5. Something researchers/
educational technologists
love to talk about
Eduserv Symposium
JISC conference
Experiments by champions
Many learned papers - but...

6. Something researchers/
educational technologists
love to do
Duke University
First year iPod experiment report - http://is.gd/ytXp
Abilene Christian University
ACU Connected - http://is.gd/eB2OV

7. Something vendors are
keen to promote
Apple in particular - but others too
as tablets evolve
Drives sales
Benefit to our students via devices
they mostly have

8. Mobile
pre-iOS
Handheld
Learning
Palms in Schools
...but not much in
universities

9. Something that (only)
geeks want?
Endless arguments about
technology
Native apps vs Web apps
Mobile sites vs styled sites vs
nothing special at all

10. Something that’s a blip
(WAP anyone)?
Technological wild west
Here today gone tomorrow
technologies
Ethernet in LTs
Power outlets in LTs

11. Something for information
not education?
Most current development is
around mobile apps / websites
pointing at informational resources
Very little education...
...but challenge me on that!

12. Are we there yet?
Are we getting there?

13. Aren’t universities mobile
anyway?
Paradigm shift - but not
fundamentally different
Books are mobile
Handouts are mobile

14. Moving forward...
Embed in mainstream HE
Move from information to education

15. Is it last year’s model?

16. Is it last year's model?
It may never have been a model
It may be last year's model in 3 - 5
years time
...so I'm probably being unfair - but
you see where I'm going
hopefully...

17. What will he
see that’s
different to
today?

18. Questions?
Discussion?
Approval?
Denouncement?

19. Acknowledgements
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemole/4751556485/ - gummy phones
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ntr23/2436618473/ - iPhone unpacking 1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_ninjamonkey/3574350862/ - 3GS gets a phone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djwudi/382030798/ - demo phones
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastrobiggo/2421862064/ - boy with iPhone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ntr23/2428051483/ - iPhone unpacking 2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bods/972598373/ - sleeping phone
http://www.jumsoft.com - theme background
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