Mobile Learning

Overview

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, allow people to experience the luxury of being connected to the internet, almost entirely wherever and whenever they wish.

Mobile learning is positioned for widespread adoption in schools in the near future. Tablets, smartphones, and mobile apps have become: “Too capable, too ubiquitous, and too useful to ignore”

At the end of 2012, the mobile market consisted of over 6.5 billion accounts.

ABI Research estimated that mobile users will download 70 billion apps in 2013- more than 10 apps per each human being on earth.

In April 2013, 148Apps reported that educational apps were the second most downloaded in iTunes of all the categories.

Apple’s App store has noted that over 80% of educational apps specifically target children.

Apps are appealing in schools because they are:

• Portable• Quickly and easily accessible• Diverse • Simple to use and understand• Conducive to productivity and

learning. • A natural way to encourage

exploration

Relevance for Teaching, Learning, or Creative Inquiry

Many schools have turned to integrating tablets into the school day.

-Cost effective (one-on-one learning)-Can use in and out of school

Many students come to school already familiar and comfortable in using the technology; those that aren’t can quickly figure it out on their own.

“At the end of 2012, the Daily Mail reported that 75% of ten-year-olds in the UK, owned a mobile device, and the global average is approaching 50%”

Perks for teachers include:

• Fewer textbooks

• Improved internet access

• Scheduling time in the computer lab

• Wide range of possibilities

• One-to-one learning

60% of U.S parents of children ages eight to 12 have provided their children with mobile phones. (Consumer Reports)

BYOD- Bring Your Own Device

Changing schools’ mobile policies and utilizing the devices that students already have.

“When they are equipped with an array of apps, cameras, sensors, and other built-in tools, students are able to explore specific locations and record their experiences via photographs, videos, and audio recordings.” (ASTD Research)

Mobile Learning in Practice

BYOD Lessons- South Middle School, Kentucky

• Smartphones, tablets, e-readers

• “We can’t keep teaching the same way we were always taught in paper and pencil. We have to continue to change with the times and engage them in different ways and this does that.” (Principal Ryan Reusch)

• Taking notes• Reading novels• Look up information (bad from good)• Presentations• Apps• Text multiple choice answers after lessons

-Internet safety test-Waiver-Ramifications

“We have to be able to monitor it and have a level of trust with the kids.” (Principal Reusch)

Ipads in Australian Special Education

The use of iPads has been trialled across Australia, most significantly in Victoria at Warringa Park School. It was used to determine whether iPads indeed could ‘reach and teach’ all students.

The trial progressed over a 6 month period.Overall, participants felt that the iPads did improve the educational outcomes of the students at Acacia Hill School.

The teachers listed the following as benefits:

• It suits a variety of needs and capabilities• Reduces prep time• A Great Visual and Auditory Tool• Allows for more realistic learning experiences• More portable• Easily tailored to students needs• Lots more resources• Engaging• More ways of approaching our teaching• Motivating• Allows severely impaired students to use

iPads

Pre trial- Most 1-2/week

Post trial- Daily

One teacher stated, “Students at all levels of ability can and do engage with the iPad. It is so instant, easy and interactive.”

New Trier’s Mobile Learning Initiative

-Pilot program

-iPad for 700 students in select courses

-Were to use them to support their learning

-Other classes/home

Teachers in the select programs integrated the iPads into the curriculum. The results were positive!

Aspects that enhanced student learning included:

-Ability to record, edit, and integrate audio/video

-Availability of resources- a huge selection of easy-to-use apps

-Increased digital communication with teachers

-Efficient feedback

-Improved classroom routines

-Improved student organization

Board of Education

- 2,300 student participants in the 2013-2014 school year

- Entire student body starting in the 2014-2015 school year.

-iPads subsidized

Further Reading

17 Ways iPads Will be Used in Schools in 2013

Replacing textbooks and transcribing lectures

-Justine Sienna High School-California-Every student will be supplied with an Ipad and accessories-Apps vs. textbooks-Notability app

Students will bring their own iPads to class

-Private school in Spokane Washington-Family purchases iPads to replace books- 16 GB

Making Old School Supplies Obsolete

-High school in Bakersfield California-iPads replace ALL school supplies-Submit homework via internet-Pay tech fee instead of school supplies

Filling Teacher Shortages in Rural Communities

-Sweden-Using iPads in rural communities-Broadcast lessons

For Low-Income Kids, Access to Devices Could Be

the Equalizer

Recent Pew report on access to devices among students

Cell phones and information

-52% of teachers of upper and upper-middle income students

-35% of teachers of the lowest income students.

Blocking sites (internet filters)

- 49% of teachers of students living in low-income households

- 24% of those who teach better off students

“For minorities and for low-income students who have these devices, it might be their only way to access the Internet, to get information about their own health, access to social media,” he said. “And they’re using that as the agent to change their social structure.”

“Access is a basic right. It’s the same as roads or clean water or electricity,” Mills said. “Those are [accessible] here in this country because we expect it. The same thing should apply to the Internet. The Internet is about empowerment. If we take away this access because we think certain people aren’t going to use it right, we’re no better than governments who take away voting rights from minorities.”

For more information on Mobile Learning see Page 19 of the Horizon Report

Attributions

Tablet photo- fsse8info

Smartphone photo- Packshot Creator

Selfie picture in bathroom- irina slutsky

Ipad with principal photo -Northern Island Executive

Ipad Boy photo-Brad Flickinger

Ipad baby photo- Ken Lee

Information- NMC Horizon Report, 2013 K-12 Education