Mobile Technology for Learning

Mobile Technology for Learning

By Daniel Churchill,

The University of Hong Kong

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Mobile TechnologiesMobile Technologies

Nowadays, handheld devices are equipped with computer capabilities, wireless connectivity, a mobile phone, a camera and a variety of add-on extensions.

This tool potentially creates a spectrum of educational opportunities and a new type of student-technology partnership in learning. Image Source:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/pda.htm

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Image source: http://www.marcrettig.com

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This is not only about Mobile Phones… This is not only about Mobile Phones…

Evac-Pack

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Interesting StatisticsInteresting Statistics

China mobile user base passes 501 million501 million mark (Source: Digitimes)

3 billion3 billion mobile phones -- half the world's population (Source: Reuters)

25% mobile phones in 2011 to cost less than $20less than $20 51%51% of mobile users interested in mobile TV More than 1 billion mobile internet subscribers 85 mil. internet users in Japan, 69 mil. access

internet via mobile phone, 21%21% access internet only through mobile phone (Source: http://www.judybrown.com/)

Mobile penetration rate in HK is at about 140%140%

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Interesting StatisticsInteresting Statistics

There are 63 millions63 millions mobile phone users in Indonesia (Suhartono, 2006)

It is predicted to reach 80 million80 million in 2007 (Jakarta Post 6 Jan. 2006).

Mobile phones are a symbol of Indonesian modernity (Barendregt, 2006)

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Functions of a Handheld Functions of a Handheld

Audio and Video MP Camera Phone / SMS On Screen Keyboard Office applications GPS Bluetooth IR SD and Mini SD WLAN

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Studies on Handheld in EducationStudies on Handheld in Education

Handhelds for teachers and students to share files (Ray, 2002)

Handhelds for students to ask questions, answer polls and give teachers feedback (Ratto, Shapiro, Truong & Griswold, 2003);

Handhelds for delivery of courseware and quizzes and as an intelligent tutoring system (Kazi, 2005);

Handhelds for dissemination of information and collection of data during field trips (So, 2004);

Handhelds as a tool that supports students’ inquiries (Sharples, Corlett & Westmancott, 2002; Clyde, 2004);

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Previous Studies with PDAPrevious Studies with PDA

…Continues from Previous Page

Handhelds in computer-supported collaborative learning (Roschelle & Pea, 2002; Zurita & Nussbaum, 2004);

Handhelds as personal tool for lifelong learning (Sharples, 2000);

Handhelds for disadvantaged young adults to improve literacy and numeracy skills (Attewell, 2005);

Handhelds for access to resources, as connectivity tool, as capture tool, as representational tool and as special calculator (Churchill & Churchill, 2005).

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Our Study of Educational AffordancesOur Study of Educational Affordances

Multimedia Access ToolConnectivity ToolCapture ToolRepresentational ToolAnalytical Tool

Multimedia Access Tool

■ Reading material as MS Word documents, PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files, and Web pages

■ PowerPoint presentation slides■ Images (diagrams, maps and pictures)■ Videos, MP3 files, multimedia

presentations■ Interactive learning objects

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Essential Interaction

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Thumbnail Preview

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Collapsible, Movable, Semitransparent

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Connectivity Tool

■ Using IR, Bluetooth, WiFi to exchange files and data

■ Phone, SMS, MMS■ Skype and other kind of connections via

internet

Capture Tool■ Taking images and short videos■ Attaching audio notes to images■ Audio-recording own observations■ Audio-recording teacher explanations■ Capturing GPS positions■ Special purpose software to assist capture■ Special purpose extensions

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Purpose of Using HandheldsPurpose of Using Handhelds

Analytical Tool■ Using calculator ■ Entering data in pre-designed Excel

worksheet and obtain certain calculations (special purpose calculators)

■ Analysis software for hanhelds

Representational Tool

■ Sketching diagrams■ Sketching information on the captured

images■ Drawing mind maps

Classroom UseAlso…

Individual StudentsIndividual Students

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Groups of StudentsGroups of Students

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Class 2Class 1

Any Level and AgeAny Level and Age

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Mobile TechnologiesMobile Technologies

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In ConclusionIn Conclusion

Mobile technology creates a spectrum of educational opportunities

Key affordances are: multimedia access, connectivity, capture, analytical and representational tool

Institution must give attention to mobile technologies

Students are coming to classes with this technology in their hands

They will expect their institutions to provide them with the opportunity to use this technology in learning

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Thank you for attention!Thank you for attention!

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG Faculty of Education

Dr. Daniel Churchill Assistant Professor

Email: dchurch@hku.hkPhone: +852.2859.1141Web: http://www.learnactivity.com

Q&A