(see also Deliver )
Mobile technologies can take the curriculum to learners wherever they are, and bring learners' own experiences into the curriculum. They present powerful opportunities for personalisation, flexibility and choice. A range of mobile technologies from have been used by a number of projects within this programme including:
MoRSE investigated the use of mobile technologies to support students on fieldtrips and on placements, with a particular focus on balancing institutional and student owned technologies. They identified several issues specific to mobile technologies:
- Mobile phone network costs on international field trips
- Rapidly changing market – needs watching
- Students positive about the use of mobile technologies in the field – including using own technologies and their own text credits for educational purposes
- Students having clear lines of which technologiess are for learning and which for social activities
- Students low expectations of using technologies for learning
The MoRSE baseline study demonstrated diversity in student technologies and concluded that an
‘appropriate mix of institutional and widely available third party and personal technologies are considered as appropriate to the learning context with recognition to those technologies that students are already using.’
Duckling trialled the use of e-book readers containing course content and podcasts of course materials and assessment feedback as a means of increasing flexibility for highly mobile distance learners. Whilst the provision of e-book readers was cheaper than providing materials on paper, the project team concluded that as students begin to invest in their own readers, the university should concentrate on producing materials for download.
‘Evidence from students of both disciplines shows that the technology functioned according to our expectations and the participants were generally satisfied with their readers. The devices enhanced student learning in a number of ways: increasing flexibility and mobility, saving money and resources, making better use of „dead‟ time, and optimising study strategies.’ Duckling
‘The use of eBooks will definitely be the way forward for many of students in Higher Education. The Psychology team has now converted all their course materials into ePub format. As new materials become available, they will be made available in e-book format on Blackboard course area for students to drag and drop onto their e-readers. In this way, students are supported to access their course materials in e-book format on whatever device they choose.’ Duckling
KUBE trialled the use of ipod Touch devices to support dispersed students through podcasts created for this technology.
‘Ipod Touch devices* have been loaned to 37 students on the first year of the two year Foundation Degree. These students study part-time whilst working full-time. They are mature students who are usually highly motivated, experienced but located over a fairly wide geographical area. Thus the use of mobile technology is a great enhancement to their learning. Podcasts have been created specifically for use with this technology as well as students being directed to podcast materials which are freely available on iTunes U.’ KUBE
Integrative Technologies Project had a focus on the use of audio podcasts in the School of Psychology which involved a dyslexic student as part of their students as change agents approach. They also investigated a range of lecture capture approaches and utilised SMS in lectures.
Other relevant Delivery project outputs include:
Further Resources
CETIS is tracking developments in the use of mobile technologies in the sector, more information is available from the CETIS mobile learning topic page.
Mobile Learning: MoLeNET
MORSE Project
Resources tagged: mobile or mobile learning
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