mobile learning: a world in motion and the “learning2go” with it
TRANSCRIPT
Mobile Learning: A World in Motion
and the “learning2go” with it
• adult literacy & computer science
• Evaluator, EU mlearning Project
• Conference Chair, mLearn2008, Ironbridge
• Board, LSN MoLeNET; Panel, JISC EPED
• Director, LearningLab
• Current Projects: Wolverhampton, Africa
the first viewpoint sees mobile learning from the outside-in and explores the profound impact of pervasive and near-universal mobile technologies across most of the world’s societies and cultures on the nature and at the impact of these on notions of education and learning, and the synergy with new technologies
the second viewpoint, perhaps inside-out, looks at the growing ability of practitioners, researchers and developers to define the unique contributions that mobile learning, as currently exemplified by pilots and projects globally, can make to diverse groups
two viewpoints
mobile learning from the outside-in
the first viewpoint
• changes/increases in domestic/social use of personal wireless & mobile devices and technologies
• relentless marketing and take-up of each new gadget, network, connectivity
• new forms of commerce, commodity, employment, crime, artistic expression, political organisation; new artefacts and economic assets
Tony Blair stepped into the mobile phone era when he took part in a live text chat with thousands of callers. After admitting his texting skills were underdeveloped, Mr Blair relied on a team of helpers during the 35-minute forum set up by phone giants O2.
– http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4042963.stm
– Nov 2004
SMS Riot: Transmitting Race on Sydney Beach11 December 2005, as Sydney was settling into early summer haze, there was a race riot on the popular Cronulla beach in the city’s southern suburbs. Hundreds of people, young men especially, gathered for a weekend protest. Their target and pretext were visitors from the culturally diverse suburbs to the west, and the need to defend their women and beaches in the face of such unwelcome incursions and behaviours. In the ensuing days, there were violent raids and assaults criss-crossing back and forth across Sydney’s beaches and suburbs, involving almost farcical yet deadly earnest efforts to identify, respectively, people of “anglo” or “Middle Eastern” appearance (often specifically “Lebanese”) and to threaten or bash them. At the very heart of this state of siege and the fear, outrage, and sadness that gripped those living in Sydney were the politics of transmission. The spark that set off this conflagration was widely believed to have been caused by the transmission of racist and violent “calls to arms” via mobile text messages.
Personal Change
• discourse
• identity
• community
Ever since mobile phone services were introduced in KwaZulu-Natal some parents have named their children after some of the terms used by mobile services providers. According to Home Affairs statistics some of the children born from 1993 when mobile services were introduced in the province (and the rest of SA) have the following names:
• Network Madondo • Subscriber Zulu • Nokia Khumalo • Siemens Mdlalose • Motorola Buthelezi • Dial Magubane • Vodacom Mkhize • Call Later Ndlovu • Voicemail Ngobese • Simcard Makhathini • Scratchcard Mlaba • Talktime Luthuli • Send Ndebele
• Paging Nyawose• Cellphone Mpungose • Message Gumede • SMS Mabaso • Phonebook Dlamini • Ringtone Khoza • MTN Shezi • Prepaid Zwane • Pay as you go Mfeka • Please Call Me Cetshwayo • Contract Mabaso • Charger Ngobese • Hands Free Tshabalala • Unavailable Masondo • Switchoff Mabuza • Sim-Rejected Hlongwane • Airtime Zwelithini • Internet Mthethwa • Server Mkhize
Changes to Knowledge
access to information, data, knowledge is …..
• easy and convenient– but chunked & structured
differently– & consumed differently
• anytime/anywhere• just-in-time/just-for-me
‘dual paradigms’
Beyond constructivism?Beyond constructivism?WHAT IS BEYOND CONSTRUCTIVISM? Knowledge
“Adoption”
Knowledge “Creation”
Knowledge “Manipulation”
Learn = Study
Learn = Research
Learn = Processing / Exploring
Rote learning Active & productive learning Exploring & communicating Behaviourism Constructivism Problem solving
Processingism Explorism
“Teaching”
“Learning facilitation “Mentoring and
coaching”?
Teacher the source of knowledge [WHAT]
Teacher one of the sources of knowledge [source of What and assisted how]
Teacher the source of HOW
Knowledge creation is for some elites and knowledge is already in place
Knowledge creation is the central issue
Knowledge creation is a side/implied issue
[focus is on gaining] [focus on creation] [focus on using]
Social Constructivism
Guided research ?
Beyond constructivism?Beyond constructivism?WHAT IS BEYOND CONSTRUCTIVISM?
Knowledge
“Adoption”
Knowledge “Creation”
Knowledge “Navigation”
Learn = Study
Learn = Research
Learn = Explore / Evaluate / Navigate
Rote learning Active & productive learning Exploring & communicating Behaviourism Constructivism Problem solving
Navigationism / Explorism Evaluationism
“Teaching”
“Learning facilitation “Mentoring and
coaching”?
Teacher the source of knowledge [WHAT]
Teacher one of the sources of knowledge [source of What and assisted how]
Teacher the source of HOW
Knowledge creation is for some elites and knowledge is already in place
Knowledge creation is the central issue
Knowledge creation is a side/implied issue. The issue is to be able to navigate within the enormous knowledge explosion
[focus is on gaining] [focus on creation] [focus on navigation]
Social Constructivism
Guided research
It stores tunes and plays your favourite music wherever you go
Yes dear, it’s called the Grenadier Guards
The ‘converged’ generic handheld device
OrganiseCommunicate
CreateReference
Tools
Fun
Revise
Integration
Calender Timetable
Assignments
Addresses
Lists
To-do
Web
Ideas
Essays
Notes
Lectures
E-books
Newspapers
CalculatorsVLE
Synchronise
The ‘Generic’
PC Platform
So mobile learning is ………