Author: Kristy Conger

Table of Contents

“Today, approximately 79% of all teens (17 million) have a mobile device - a 36% increase since 2005" From: Harris Interactive Online Study

Marc Prensky coined the term "digital native" to describe today's students who have grown up immersed in the world of technology. According to Prensky, the current generation of students actually think and process information much differently than previous generations. Instructors are finding that they must rethink their teaching methods and strategies in order to engage this group of students.

With the growing number of students who possess a cell phone or smart phone, teachers are beginning to explore ways to incorporate these mobile devices into their lesson plans and classroom activities. This module contains resources and information on this emerging trend within education.
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Mobile Learning

Definitions of Mobile Learning

• Definition of mLearning or mobile learning - From Wikipedia
• Mobile Learning versus E-Learning-Is There a Difference? - From OPEN EDUCATION
• A mobile learning definition for my campus - From Mobile Dot
• Mobile Learning-Towards a definition - From 2Learn2Gether

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Smart Phones and Cell Phones in Education

Cellphones as Learning Tools - YouTube Video

• Posted by Dean Shareski
• "Craik School in Saskatchewan Canada is exploring the use of cellphones as learning tools. This video highlights the work of Carla Dolman and Gord Taylor and the grade 8 and 9 students of Craik School."

Articles, Presentations, and Blog Posts Regarding the Use of Cell Phones and Smart Phones in Education

• PDAs and Smartphones in the Classroom
• Barnes and Nobles Opens eBook Store With 700,000 Titles - Accessible from several mobile devices
• One Cellphone per Child?
• Websites for Smartphones
• Making the Case for Mobile Computing
• From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning - Blog site dedicated to cell phone use in education
• Schools Slowly Add Phones, PDAs to Curriculum
• Mobile Devices Seen as Key to 21st Century Learning
• Mobile Phones for Learning
• Cell Phones in the Classroom - ustream video: Susan Hope (Waukee Community School District) and Crista Carlile (Des Moines Public Schools) demonstrate how they use cell phones in the classroom.
• Please Turn on Your Cell Phone

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Applications for Mobile Learning

Digital Image / Video Applications

• Qik - Share live video from your mobile phone
• Flickr - Mobile version of the popular online image sharing website
  

Audio Recording

• Yodio - Add an audio recording to pictures or presentations
• Gabcast - Podcasting and audio blogging by phone
  

Information On The Go Applications

• ChaCha - Have a question? Text ChaCha for the answer. (Free service)
• KGB - Have a question? Text KGB for the answer. ($.99 per answer)

Survey / Polling Applications

• Poll Everywhere -Text Message Polls that integrates with PowerPoint (SMS)
• Text the Mob -Text Message Polls (SMS)
  
• MicroPoll -Web polls that incorporates text message responses (SMS)
  

Productivity and Collaboration

• drop.io - Allows private file sharing and real time collaboration
• SugarSync - Share, access, and backup files from a mobile device
• Toodledo - Stay organized with an online to-do list that is accessible from a mobile phone
• Jott - Converts voice to text creating to-do lists, reminders, etc.
• Evernote - Allows notes to be created, shared, and accessed from a mobile device
  

Social Bookmarking

• Mobilicio.us - Access del.icio.us or Ma.gnolia bookmarks from a mobile device

Teaching and Learning Applications

• Mobile Study - Create quizzes and educational content that can be downloaded onto mobile devices
• StudyCell - Create and share flashcards with students
  

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Share Your Ideas

This section is dedicated to sharing your thoughts and ideas as to how cell phones and smart phones can be used in teaching and learning. Feel free to add to the list below.

• Field trip - Each student should think of a question based on an educational aspect of the trip (example: exhibit viewed). Using their mobile phone, the student can text ChaCha for the answer. After returning to the classroom, students can share their questions and answers with the rest of the class.