iPods in the Classroom

I found an interesting article iLearning: Elementary, high school students use Apple devices in IDEA pilot program where one school system is piloting the use of iPods in elementary and high school classes. The program began in February. Students in the pilot program have shown a slight increase in test scores since the iPod was introduced. Unfortunately, the program is not a scientific study. It would be nice if someone conducts a program like this in a more scientific way. By conducting a scientific study, hardcore evidence could be obtained to justify the purchase and use of handheld computers in the classroom. Has anyone come across a U.S. scientific study similar to this while on the web?

Educational Software for Mobile Devices

I was browsing the internet and came across a website that offers software for mobile devices. Unfortunately, there wasn't an overwhelming selection to choose from as it relates to educational software. The lack of choices proves there is a need to develop quality educational software for mobile devices. Even though the pickings were slim, I was able to find a test prep software for 6th graders for the Windows Mobile platform. The software is definitely not attractive, but it does provide a way for kids to quiz themselves on various subjects and has the appearance of an actual standardized exam. Visit Soft32.com if you would like to view some of the other products offered on their website.

mLearning at Work in the U.S.

I came across an article titled "Low-cost Handheld Targets Elementary Students" on eschoolnews.com. It highlighted how a Chicago-based non-profit organization developed eLearning software for elementary school age children. When they attempted to deploy their product, they encountered some unforseen problems. Many schools had out dated, broken, and a limited number of PCs. To overcome this problem, they decided to install the software on handheld computers for a cost of $50 per student. When compared to purchasing a desktop computer, the amount of money spent on the mobile device was minuscule. They killed two birds with one stone! The program will be rolled out to all of the Chicago area public schools with planned roll outs in N.Y., Detroit, New Orleans, and a few other large metropolitan area schools. The article didn't mention what role the teacher plays in the classroom when the device is being used. I would be interested to know if a teacher guide is provided and how much interaction the teacher has with the students while they are using the device. However, they did mention that the University of Illinois at Chicago will be conducting a study on the effectiveness of teaching with the device and its accompanying software.

The company that developed the device and software, Innovations for Learning has demo units available for teachers to try out. Unfortunately, according to the website, they no longer send out free units because of the high demand for their product, but you can get one for $50 plus $2.50 in SH charges if you're interested in reviewing it.

An International Look at mLearning

Marcus Ragus wrote "mLearning: A Future of Learning" which discussed the growth of mobile technology around the world and its impact on education or in some cases the lack there of. Ragus provides an interesting look on how mobile technology is used in Asia and Europe. He also provides an explanation of why mLearning hasn't been excepted in the mainstream educational environment. The following excerpt from his article really drives the point home about the future of mobile technology development and what traditional educational institutes need to do to incorporate it into the classroom.

"Technology impacts, are we informed?

Hirsch (2005) believes that the education sector needs to put more effort into understanding the technological ‘tools’ that the current population is accessing in day to day life. He looks at current world wide trends in technologies and ponders why these developments are happening at all and why is it that the large companies that dominate this sector spend billions on these types of innovations.

"Why did Texas Instruments announce the production of new chips that provide high definition television on cell phones? Why does Europe already have wireless video services that allow you to watch TV via your cell phone even as you travel? Why do students in Japan demonstrate that they can thumb keyboard at rates approaching a traditional keyboard user?

……Why does a software application like CoffeeCup Wireless Web Builder exist to create web screens that operate in a cell phone size? Why does a website catering to cell phone users like WINKsite exist and continue to grow exponentially? Why have Nintendo and Sony introduced new game systems that have built-in ethernet wireless capability and Internet browsers, along with touch screens and USB ports? (Hirsch 2006:para.6-7)"

There is no doubt that the learning sector has to ask are we informed? Why procrastinate with numerous articles that often repeatedly focus on what is m-learning, is it really happening and is it of any benefit? We need to move on and start to produce complete working models for organisations, staff and learners. These models should allow for automated, systematic solutions for day to day operations and delivery, from automated mobile data recording, such as roll and enrolment, through to resource and learning pathways. The greater plan would blend fixed technology infrastructure with that of the flexible mobile spectrum, connected through affiliated telecommunication infrastructure and wireless networks.

We need to incorporate the technology as a ubiquitous component of day to day learning. Whenever the learner needs to use the technology as part of their learning they should be able to access it. Currently we have fixed technological infrastructure, such as regulated computer labs, where access for learners is limited and ‘just in time’ learning essentially can’t take place.
This type of environment tends to turn technology use into an event rather than treat technology as a tool to be used as necessary. Having technology in the classroom, ready to use at a moment’s notice, makes it possible to move beyond learning about technology and get to learning with technology (Hirsch 2006:para.13).
There needs to be a better understanding, particularly within traditional learning delivery areas, that this technology is here to assist in, and be part of, a range of flexible delivery options..." (Ragus 2005)

Handheld Learning

It is apparent that the UK has recognized the importance of incorporating mobile devices in the classroom. They have conducted numerous studies and have implemented pilot programs throughout all levels of education which shows their commitment to embracing m-learning. A Handheld Learning Conference was held in 2007 where various researchers, teachers, administrators, and business professionals shared their experiences and findings to others in the industry. The different presenters provided statistics and information about a wide range of information from how to incorporate games in the learning process to cyberbullying and risk children experience while on the web. To view the various presentations at the conference, visit http://handheldlearning.blip.tv/#452721.

M-learning can provide a great opportunity for teachers to extend the classroom. As an American witnessing the changes that are taking place in other countries such as the UK, I am left wondering what will it take for the U.S. to catch up with the rest of these countries. What will it take for Americans to view their mobile device as something other than an entertainment tool? I'm not sure. However, there is one big difference I have noticed about how the UK is approaching technology in education and the approach the U.S. is taking and it has to do with commitment. The leaders in the UK are committed to trying something new and embracing mobile technology while the U.S. NCLB technology plan discusses the importance of incorporating technology in the classroom but falls short in mandating and implementing a clear technological plan.

m-Learning Accessibility Issues

The potential of mLearning holds a lot of promise. It has the capability of extending eLearning courses by allowing students more mobility w/ the added benefit of being able to learn anytime and anywhere. Though it is hard to see a drawback to this type of learning, however, there are accessibility issues when using this type of technology. Mobile content has limited real estate on the screen because of its size which may affect how content is developed. Also, not all cellular companies have a massive network like Verizon ("Can you hear me now? Good!"). If a user must stay connected to the network to view content, this could be a potential problem if a "dead" area is encountered. Younger mobile device users seem to be more adept at using this type of technology as opposed to older adults (Don't worry. I'm putting myself in this category. If it wasn't for my job, I wouldn't know as much as I do about mobile devices.). Accessibility issues will be encountered because of the potential learning curve that will occur. Read the article mLearning and Accessibility by TechDis, a JISC-funded Advisory Service ( Joint Information Systems Committee) that discusses these issues in more detail.

mLearning in Action

Hot Lava Software and the Kauffman Foundation made an announcement on Feb. 12, 2008 that they will be holding a competition that will showcase science, technology, and math mobile content (http://www.1888pressrelease.com/global-telephony-competition-pr-448ms2hl0.html). The idea is to engage students in the learning process using a mobile device in a real world setting. Hot Lava Software is the leading provider of mobile authoring software and the Kauffman Foundation is a non-profit organization who provides grants, among other things, to further the initiatives of education.

The press release article indicated that the first content would be provided by a Singapore company. The organizations hope by holding this competition that more people will become interested in developing content for mobile devices and also generate interest to what mobile content has to offer. By the time the competition is over, Hot Lava Software and the Kauffman Foundation will have statisical data that will show how many people actually accessed and used the content. They will also be able to prove that creating rich content for mobile devices is possible. If you would like to see what has been developed for the first phase of this competition, visit http://hdwap.com/sport7 preferrably using your mobile device. If you have a wireless data plan that allows you to access the internet, enter the URL in your web browser. If you don't have a data plan with your mobile device but would like to see how the content looks on a mobile device, you can perform a PC pass through to view the content (i.e., connect your mobile device to your computer via a USB connection, make sure your computer is connected to the internet, and type the URL in the mobile device's web browser. ).

mLearning is Slowly Catching On

In the article published on The Journal website (http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21526), the author published statistics generated by a research firm (Ambient Insight http://www.ambientinsight.com/Default.aspx). The article indicated that the use of mlearning games will triple by the year 2012. The projected increase shows that there is a market for this type of product. If the projections are accurate, there will be a significant shift in the software and mobile device market as companies attempt to position themselves for a potential increase in revenue. As demand for mlearning increases, software companies (i.e., Adobe, Microsoft, etc.) will be driven to develop more tools and applications to assist software developers in their efforts to create applications on the mobile device platform. Also, mobile device manufacturers may be forced to come up with a standard platform for devices. It is going to be exciting to see how this plays out.

The Future of mLearning

I am currently employed as a training and learning specialist for a small software company that specializes in developing data collection software for mobile hand held devices. I've always thought, "Boy, wouldn't it be great if we could develop educational software for the hand held device." People who use the software can learn any time and any where at their leisure. Instead of using that smartphone or PDA for texting and reading emails, it could be used to educate. Other countries outside of the U.S. have embraced this concept more so than here in America. Over the course of the next 7 weeks I want to investigate why this trend hasn't caught on more in the U.S., why in other industrialized countries it has caught on quicker, and what can be done to move Americans towards mlearning. Mlearning holds a world of possibilities, and I can't wait to investigate them.