Group items tagged

Defining mobile learning

The start of a conversation about teaching and learning with mobile tools.

I do think of my phone as more of an output device than the tablet or pc. Now It is becoming a bit more of an "input also" device!

This is a 360 degree viewpoint of The Maker Movement inspiring a reemergence and metamorphosis of art and STEM in the classroom. The focus of learning can be on inventiveness and creativity rather than being so heavily on standardized testing that is devoid of engagement. Mobile learning is a part of this movement. This is of high interest to me because I think it will give our culture a positive new energy that will uplift our economy and increase production. This will be production not focused on consumerism but production grounded in meaning. The future needs people that can create solutions to world problems.

Published in March of 2011, this article reports on the results of a survey conducted of students at the University of Scranton on the strategies used by postsecondary students to gather information using Internet-capable cell phones, or smartphones. The article concluded: Information literacy instructors should become familiar with new search methods (such as quick response codes) to help students use them effectively and efficiently. Students should be encouraged to review a range of search results, particularly when searching for academic information. Information literacy instructors should help students understand how to evaluate information, especially when it is presented in a nontraditional form, such as a native app. Students may need assistance from educators in applying information literacy skills they have learned while searching on a laptop or desktop to the mobile environment.

Pin board created to collect ipad/android apps. One that caught my eye was "conversation builder teen".

The apps are leveled in to three groups: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

This whole week I'v tried to find an article I thought would best show the transformation of learning through mobile tools, but I kept going back to the idea that it's not about the technology it's about learning. As I pondered with the idea of how to do we help people understand this concept, and I keep thinking that it needs to be a change in pedagogy. I came across this diagram that would help support this idea of learning and what 21st century pedagogy looks like. Although it is kind of broad, I can easily see where mobile technology fits in and how it could support the transformation of learning. I feel like we need to have this kind of vision in order to understand how the technologies will transform the learning.

This very short and concise article has been in my thinking as I've worked with students especially recently and pulled together other resources on Common Core. Amidst the glut of information and feeding frenzy tendencies, structure and guidance is needed from all of us to be deliberate. As we design instruction, consider learning expectations, select tools and resources and raise the bar for students, "re-impress upon digital natives the importance of thinking in absence of endless - and endlessly accessible - data sources." I urge you to shake up completely the animal, planet or country report. (I doubt that you are doing this cookie-cutter work, but spread the word). If a simple Google search can answer the question, throw out the assignment.

Librarians have been called by many titles but this article pens a new one to me - innobrarian. It might grow on me, or not. Reflect on the degree to which you and you librarian might be on the same page as change agents in your setting. Here is the direct quote from the article ;Not only can we be innovators ourselves, but in doing so, we can support the dreamers, the players, and the innovators in the building, both students and teachers. We can help them embrace their creative ideas, harness them for the classroom, bring in supporting materials, and provide that open-minded partner that innovators need. Libraries can become the places to "seed" new ideas that can spread throughout our campuses. Our role provides us with tremendous flexibility to self-define what we want to be for our campuses." Note to self - figure our how to link words so that "new technologies" and "change agents" aren't separated. Yay, one task done. Whoops, how to now tag it with Mat622???

I needed a simple info graphic, something easy on my eyes, after such a text-rich first week of class

I am a proponent of pushing the envelop in education and the idea of MOOCs as conceived of by George Seimens and Stephen Downs. And still we need to talk about the disasters and learn from them. Whenever we try a new recipe, there is always a chance that we won't be eating in that night.

This is kinda, esoteric, but I'm sharing this only because it is directly related to me. Though, since many of you guys have special needs students in classrooms, this is certainly an interesting read. 

Here is a site with lists of additional apps that can assist people with special needs. I looked specifically at apps for the visually impaired, but there are many more app lists to look at on this site.

Here is my Podcast about learning to snowboard! My goal is to provide a mobile audio guide that will lead students to learn beginner snowboarding skills. I hope that by leveraging mobile using the Podcast medium students will find this learning very accessible, convenient, and adaptable to their individual learning needs.

"Everything you need to create your own digital publications - for free!" Also figures, tables and examples can be displayed with all references being automatically renumbered if you move them, MP3 audio files and YouTube videos can be embedded, you can add bookmarks (by clicking on a heading and once again on the star icon that appears), and do a lot more besides. But, most importantly, the eML Reader application has been written using cross-browser JavaScript, so it functions on all major platforms and web browsers, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux-and it runs very well on the Apple iPad, Iphone, and iPod Touch, and on Google Android devices too.

iBooks Tutorial

Here is a video tutorial for those who need an orientation to iBooks.

includes a link to a 2 hour audio Global Education Conference via Blackboard Collaborative

Awoke to an NPR interview of a most remarkable woman telling her story of living with Lou Gehrig's disease. With considerable assistance of her husband during this interview, who must translate her strained speech, I learned how she wrote a book using an iPhone (or iPod) with the use of one thumb only. Compelling, inspiring. Grateful for my life and limbs today, going out for an invigorating ski and thinking of her.  Apologies to Frank, an English teacher, for the disjointed sentence starting with "with considerable assistance....., needs editing.