Mobile Learning Blog

Introduction to Mobile Learning (20 min)

• Introduction to the current research on mobile learning and sharing of a list of resources available on the workshop blog

Mobile Learning PowerPoint Presentation

Mobile Learning Showcase (20 min)

• Overview of 3 courses designed for mobile access using WordPress 3.1, YouTube, Dropbox, JotForm, Engrade and iSpring QuizMaker ($150). All tools are free with the exception of the quiz making tool. Also, if your school does not host WordPress on the school servers (SCC does), you will have to pay for hosting service ($5 month)
• ENG101 Online is a Freshman Comp I course designed in WordPress 3.1, a blogging platform designed to run hundreds of thousands of blogs with a single install of WordPress. The site is optimized with plugins to help mobilize the content provided on the site. The first essential plugin used is WPTouch plugin that optimizes the site for viewing on mobile devices. The video below showcases the site on both the iPod Touch and a Blackberry Storm. This site also utilizes a popular plugin called BuddyPress that embeds social networking features into the site. These features are not easily accessible via mobile devices however.

• ENG102Online.com is another mobile optimized course created in WordPress 3.1.
• ENH295Online.com is the third mobile optimized course created in WordPress 3.1. Again this site is the same with the exception that every student in this course has their own blog attached to this one. The man class blog is the hub that connects all the others.

This is a quick overview of some of the features of a mobile course developed in a WordPress blog. I cover assignments, forms, quizzes, and private discussion, viewing on both the iPod Touch and the Blackberry Storm.

Below is a quick look at the mobile course in traditional blog form on the web – what it looks like not on a mobile device. This is the same website that is shown in the Mobile Learning Course Overview (Mobile Gadgets) video above. The site is built using WordPress MU. I’ll be demoing the updated version live in the workshop and will replace the video that was here soon.

Reflect:

How can you demonstrate learning in a photo? If you can think of a way, snap a photo with your cell phone and email it to: showed*******@photos.flickr.com Title your photo: MobileMCCD. Then on your mobile device, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/professorcooper/ to see our workshop reflection photos.

Current Mobile Devices and how best to use them (30min)

• Participants all choose their current mobile devices to research. They will fill in a matrix online to share the features, pros/cons for mobile learning for each device. Discussion about which devices are most appropriate follows.
• The New Generation of Smartphones
• Comparison and reviews of currently available smartphones
• Comparison chart for netbooks
• eBook Reader Comparison Chart
• Top Tablet Comparison – Visual Comparison
• Chromebooks Information
• Choose your current smart phone/pmp/netbook/mp3 player/cell phone/etc. and on the form, write the name, cost, service provider, features, pros/cons for use in education for that device.
• Fill out your form here: http://bit.ly/mobilemccd or scan the QR code to fill out the form on your mobile device

http://goo.gl/6vSn8

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Creating course content for mobile delivery (30 min)

There are many different options for creating content for mobile delivery, and most of those option don’t require doing any more than what you might currently be doing. For instance, if you already make videos, audio recording, pictures and text as part of your multi-media lesson, all of these items can easily be provided in mobile format by simply using a blog. Above I showed you how I use WordPress to create mobile content, and in this activity we will get a little taste of how easy it is to use.

• Participants will join a WordPress blog to play in.  Appropriate plugins needed to make the blog mobile accessible are already installed, and they will experiment with uploading different kinds of content to the blog: video, audio, text, quizzes, forms.
• Go to ZonaFun.com. Log-in and create some posts.
  • Group A: Add a Post with a Photo and Text. Right click on the photo to the right to download the photo. Use this photo in your post.
  • Group B: Add a Post with a YouTube video. Click here to get the embed code. <–My student made this video. Or find your own video.
  • Group C: Add a Post with Audio. Paste this audio link into your post: http://eng102online.com/podcasts/eng102m4w13s11.mp3 and add a hyperlink to it.
  • Group D: Add a Post with an embedded Google form. Go to: http://goo.gl/Lp4Hk . Click on Form on the top menu bar. Scroll down to Embed Form in a Webpage. Grab the code and paste it in your post.
• View your blog on your mobile device. Go to http://zonafun.com

When creating content for mobile learning, organization is key. Accessing the content on a mobile device will be limited and having clear categories and tags will help. Also consider pages for content, as well as posts.

Alternatives Ways to Create Mobile Content:

• Mobl21.com: Experience Mobl21 for Yourself
• iTunes U:  Using iTunes U to Create and Distribute Content for Mobile Delivery

REFLECTION: Respond via Cell Phone Using Google Voice: Answer the following question by calling (602) 466-7097 or click the Call Me button below.

Questions: What would be the most challenging part of your course to adapt to mobile learning or what would be the easiest?

After the workshop, check back to listen to your response. They will be posted on the Reflection Responses page.

Accessing course content Using Apps (40 min)

• Participants will view a demonstration of the Blackboard Mobile Learn App which allows students to access course content in Blackboard on their mobile device. This technology is currently being piloted at the Maricopa Community Colleges.
  • To learn more about the Blackboard Mobile Learn App visit the following sites:
    • Blackboard site on the Mobile Learn App
    • iEAR Review of the Blackboard Mobile Learn App

• Participants will search, download and install apps for their smart phones or iPod Touches. They will explore how each app provides access to different types of course content. Apps include ereaders, CMS access, homework trackers, Web 2.0 apps for Facebook, Twitter, Animoto, UstreamTV, YouTube, Google, Skype, Evernote and various blogs.
  • iPhone/iPod Apps from Apple iTunes Store. You can search online, via iTunes, or on the device (App Store).
  • Android Apps from Android Market. You can search online for education apps or all android apps or you can search directly on the device (Market).
  • Blackberry apps from Blackberry App World. You can search online or on the device (App World).
• Top iPod Touch Apps for Education
• I Education Apps Review (IEAR)

Participate in a survey: Share a new app you learned about today. To participate:

• Text 54644 and your message to 37607, or
• Tweet @poll 54644 and your message, or
• Go to http://poll4.com from your mobile device and type 54644 and your message in the box.
• If you don’t have a mobile device, visit: http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/LTE5Njc0NTkyMDQ/web

Engaging students in course content (35 min)

Participants will actively participate as students in class activities using iPads and their apps.

Activity 1: Research, background information, and interview

Step 1. Using one of the news service apps, ie. CNN, USA Today, BBC, etc find a current event that has to do with your subject matter.

Step 2. In groups of 2, share your news article with your partner. The person reading the article will gather information and write down 2-3 questions they have about the article, topic, etc.

Step 3. Using the sound recorder app, conduct an interview of your partner, asking questions about the article, topic, etc.

Next steps. Share possible next steps that students could do with this activity.

Activity 2: Finding resources

Often we find it difficult to vet the numerous resources that are available to us through the Internet and apps. One of the things that we can do is have students find, share and critically review resources that could be used in class.

Step 1. Using the YouTube app on the iPads, search for a video that may be applicable to your instruction. Review the video and evaluate it to determine if you think it could be viable as a learning resource for your students.

Step 2. Think about how you might use the resource, would it be used in class or would you have students access it via a mobile device? What do you think the benefits could be to having students evaluate the resources? What could be some challenges? Share the YouTube video and its possible use with your partner.