Mobile learning can be surmised as: "The exploitation of ubiquitous handheld hardware, wireless networking and mobile telephony to facilitate, support enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning."
Our idea is to provide all students with a truly mobile learning solution that enables each student to enhance their learning with the wealth of online resources already available via C Space. Our latest Ofstead inspection report identified ICT as a key strength within the College stating that: "Resources to support learning are good and most classrooms are equipped with information and learning technology (ILT)… Many students benefit from the extensive resources on the College's virtual learning environment and intranet".
It is important to note that Ofstead identified that many students could access resources, not all. A Case in point: Health and Beauty students, located on the Queens Road have limited access to PC’s and the learning resources contained therein. The small size of the building limits the areas that can be converted into computer room however; with mobile learning we can maximize ICT without impacting learning areas.
It is even possible to provide learning resources in areas with no network provision by employing mobile devices that can communicate with the college over the mobile telephone network (3G, Edge, GPRS etc.).
Mobile learning can also be used to centrally manage student learning activities in that, rather than moving students from one class to a computer room, we can bring the resources to the student and therefore minimize disruption to both the class and any other lessons going on in close proximity. Mobile learning as a resource delivery agent can enable the College to provide learning resources to Students, who would otherwise go without, allow us to increase our provision of ICT and from point of view of Ofstead push our utilization of ICT around the College from good to excellent.
Scenario one: Mock Lesson using Mobile technology:
The project has three distinct phases these are:
Student Activity:
Students are to discuss the topics on politics in the 1930-40’s’s and create a presentation on the causes for WWII
L - Lecturer S - Students
Scenario two: Out of college access
A Student needs to access an assignment outside of College
Scenario three: work experience
A student is on work experience and has a question about an assignment and needs to contact tutor
Scenario four: Class Trip
A class has left the College on a trip where the students will conduct on site research to be assesed later on by the lecturer
HE Class of 15 from faculty of Media and Creative Arts, It has been determined for the trial class that the wireless network would not need upgrading but, this may need to be revisited should the scope of the project be expanded.
Initial applications (in order of priority):
What will students use to access our online resources?
There are two possible routes that we can take with regards to content delivery: We can use a high powered smart phone to provide cutting edge applications and resources but this may increase the projects overall cost or we can have a stripped down static delivery system that can be viewed on any device with a web browser.
High power route:
The High power device must include the following:
Low power route:
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