mobile devices for learning: the yin and the yang · 2012-11-16 · mobile devices for learning:...
TRANSCRIPT
Mobile Devices for Learning: The Yin and the Yang
Memorial University Community Provincial Connections in Teaching and Learning
Friday November 16th, 2012 Dr. Valerie Lopes
Image by: blakespot
Image by: billerikson
Ways to participate: 1. Type a message in Elluminate Chat 2. Tell us how you are using smartphones in your course: http://t.co/DtyoMlrO 3. Suggestions or ideas? Post them here: http://wallwisher.com/wall/smartphones_learning
Agenda
• Overview of the research study • Impact of smartphones on students' everyday life • Relationships that students have with their
phones • Ways in which students are using smartphones • Ways in which the students perceive smartphones
may be used for learning • Unique challenges of using mobile devices in the
classroom • The Yin and the Yang
Image by: Generationbass.com
Applied Research Project Experiential learning
Image by: James Sarmineto
Why “Yin and Yang”? Wikipedia definition: • Yin and yang, "literally meaning 'shadow and
light,' is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn in relation to each other."
• Yin and yang are not opposing forces
(dualities), but complementary forces….
Image by: Vectorportal
“I truly believe that we are simply beginning to uncover the revolutionary potential for these devices to further impact education. It’s no longer about if mobile devices can be used for education, but it’s about how we can use them.” - Absalom, 2011
Setting the Context
However: It’s only technology if it happened after you were born.
So what we see as technology isn’t so to them. (New York Times from an interview with Arthur Levine, head of the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation.)
Consider the attachment/relationship • The ethnographic perspective • The distraction conundrum • The challenges of use
Image by: Jason Clapp
Student use of Mobile Devices
• What we did NOT find is an important finding
• It is just as important to reflect on what was
NOT said by the students as much as it is to reflect on what WAS said
Image by: Leo Reynolds
Smartphone Use
Smartphone Use
The Yang It’s an electronic – Swiss Army Knife
Role of Smart phones • Manage, organize and keep track of
information
• Access information, dictionaries, translators, resources
• Work in the same ways as a social media platform – not as a social media platform
Image by: TempusVolat
The Yin
• Protection of Privacy and Personal Information
• The complexity of “Bring your own Device” • Divergent and varied skill/competency with
technology use • We don’t know how and they don’t know for
what • Wireless connectivity on campus
EDUCAUSE Centre for Applied Research 2012 Report
Key findings: • Blended-learning environments are the norm; students say
that these environments best support how they learn.
• Students want to access academic progress information and course material via their mobile devices.
• Technology training and skill development for students is more important than new, more, or "better" technology.
• Students use social networks for interacting with friends more than for academic communication.
Unique Challenges • Myriad of types of phones/mobile devices • Access and accessibility
Image by: CeBIT Australia
Image by: samsungtomorrow
• Wi-Fi infrastructure must be stable and ubiquitous to support use of mobile devices.
• Across each campus, the wireless network must provide an unbroken connection and be strong enough to support the entire community at any given time.
Student researchers concluded: “The time is ideal to begin implementing mobile learning”
What did they mean by that?
Image by: samsungtomorrow
We must commit to implementing “mobile devices” for educational purposes
It’s all about access to information, tools, resources ...
It’s not a magic bullet
Image by: zeligfilm
• Professors/educators must become more comfortable and familiar with smartphone technology
• Smartphones, like other mobile technology tools, are essential elements of the learning landscape – students see them as an integral tool – an “appendage”
Image by: Rsinner
Generation is not the issue; Context is… “Digital learners in higher education – Generation is not the issue” – Mark Bullen, Tanis Morgan, Adnan Qayyum – Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology
Image by: samsungtomorrow
The student research team recommended shifting from researching students’ perceptions and attitudes to exploring the various ways that each program can specifically incorporate Smartphones for educational purposes.
Image by: Rosaura Ochoa
The use of mobile devices in classrooms? It’s the never-ending debate – BUT while the tools have changed, the reasons why are the
same
Image by: Thomas Hawk
There are none
Image by: Thomas Hawk
Directions for the journey – How, what, where, when….
Questions?
Mobile Devices for Learning: The Yin and the Yang
http://smartphonesforlearning.wordpress.com Let’s discuss:
Email Valerie Lopes – [email protected]
Tweet - @valerielopes Skype – valerie.lopes