Aloha All -
This week, we were
tasked with the exploration of mobile learning and how we personally use mobile
technologies. Identified in the
2012 Horizon Report with a near-term horizon of one year or less, mobile apps
and their use have become pervasive and almost commonplace in society. Most of my family and friends use their
devices for communication - phone, text, email and to access social media -
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. In my
own personal experience, I have used my own mobile devices (iPhone and iPad) as
an alternate way of collaborating with team members through the use of various
apps including Google Hangouts, Skype and Collaborate. In fact, just last week, I was returning from
Oahu to the Big Island and landed just as class was starting. I logged into Collaborate as I exited the
plane and was able to attend class, meet with my group members, while viewing
our shared Google Doc on Google Drive all while walking to the curb while
waiting for my ride. That alone
showcases the advances in technology and mobile learning that have occurred
within the last decade.
Mobile devices such
as laptops, smartphones, and tablets enable mobility and allow teaching and
learning to extend beyond traditional classroom walls. It helps to provide
anywhere, anytime learning, allowing accessibility of resources at a student's
convenience. No longer are students
tethered to a desktop and a landline as the use of mobile technologies allow
increased flexibility, the lessening of geographic limitations and the
facilitation of collaboration among students in various locations.
Although, I think
the potential of mobile learning is great, I also feel that currently, most
people use their devices as an anytime, anywhere means of communication rather
than a true tool to enhance learning. I
do feel, however, that we are moving towards truly incorporating mobile devices
and apps as significant factors in enhancing learning whether through the use
of apps that help you to network and collaborate with others in your field and
share information or apps that help students with content creation or
curation.
I think the example
using mobile inquiry-based learning that we read about in the SMILE project is
a good one of how mobile technology can be integrated into learning. Having students create and share questions
amongst their peers helps them to contribute to knowledge creation, stimulate
their own recall and understanding of the particular topics. This can serve as a mobile means of
assessment as well, with teachers having the ability to add to the question
back as well as monitor progress and success of students. As we move toward more effective integration
into education, mobile devices has the potential to become true tools of
connected learning.
As far as my three
favorite apps, I have to say that it would have to be the following:
Pinterest: A social
media content curation site that allows users to organize and share images and
information to different boards. I love
curating various information and resources whether it be recipes, quotes, ed
tech tools or bucket list vacations. My
problem is that sometimes, I spend way too long on the site.
Find My
Friends: Allows you to easily locate
friends and family using your iPhone.
Okay, I admit, I do call it the stalker app, but it's an agreed
stalking, right? It saves time as we can use it to see if someone is on their
way home or how long it will be till someone will be there to pick you up. It gives me some piece of mind as a parent,
but I try to use it only as needed, not to be the stalker Mom.
Pandora: Listen to free internet radio based on your
preferences. I use this app when I want
to listen to music on the go. I'd rather
listen this way because I get to hear a wide variety of music rather than the
same ones in my music library. Good to
use at the beach, while exercising or on the go.
What's your favorite apps?
A hui hou,
Terri
Buckner, E. &
Kim, P. (2012, February) A Pedagogical Paradigm Shift:
