Mobile Learning

While laptops fall outside of my personal definition of “mobile learning,” due to their size, the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project does help to inform much of the strategy and pedagogy of mobile learning and is therefore noteworthy here.

The project was originally aimed at putting cheap but highly practical laptops in the hands of the world’s most underprivileged children in developing countries. While the laptops are cheap to manufacture at around US$150 each (a price expected to fall by almost half in the next three years), they provide a full computing platform that supports the latest in social, constructivist, and connected learning theories and activities, including ad-hoc wireless networking, webcam, microphone, SD memory card slot and built-in speakers.

With such great functionality at such a low manufacturing price, there have been thousands of people in developed countries interested in buying an OLPC for their own private use. However, the OLPC has maintained strict adherance to its core mission, and combines design features to prevent the devices from being used by anyone other than children, for any purpose other than education; to prevent them making their way to the black market, for example, the devices can be remotely disabled to render them useless.

While Australia ranks among the world’s developed countries, there is no doubt, however, that some of our regionally located indigenous populations live in conditions of poverty equal to those in third-world countries overseas. Happily, out first-world status as a country will not deny our neediest children access to these machines, and according to The Age, Rangan Srikhanta, a treasurer with the United Nations Association of Australia, is liasing with local governments, universities and the OLPC group to organise local trials:

He asserts that there are many children in “developed” countries, such as Australia, that are exposed to conditions typical of those expected in developing countries.

“We are working to get this laptop to the Northern Territory, where we feel that it could be very beneficial,” he said.

“There are numerous other areas in Queensland, WA, SA, NSW, Vic and Tas that hold equal potential.”

This is an excellent outcome.  Let’s hope that mobile computing continues to support opportunities for education for the world’s most needy children, everywhere.

technorati tags:news, olpc, laptop, aborigines, indigenous, australian, australia, mlearning, m-learning, mobile learning, mobilelearning, mobile-learning

From Sue Waters (“Good Sue”) and her friend “Evil” Sue Hickton, a fun and interesting video review of the Xtreme MicroMemo – a plug-in attachment for iPods that allows users to record audio in high quality or low quality modes. The included microphone can be substituted for a better microphone, and the plugin also incorporates an external speaker for instant playback and sharing of audio files. Recorded files are automagically saved to iTunes upon docking the iPod, and can then be edited.

Apparently, the iPod’s battery runs down pretty fast with this external device plugged in, but this is apparently the trade-off of the MicroMemo vs the Belkin TuneTalk (which apparently doesn’t record with comparable quality, but conserves battery power). The Two Sues also debate the convenience and portability of an iPod with plug-in vs. a PDA with a built-in mike.

Great stuff, ladies!

technorati tags:audio, recording, ipod, xtreme, micromemo, mlearning, m-learning, mobile learning, mobilelearning, mobile-learning

RemTech have announced an innovative new product aimed squarely at supporting mobile learning activities – with particular attention to support for socially constructivist/connectivist pedagogical approaches.

The S-XGen (which is unfortunately mis-labelled a UMPC on its product page when it’s really a PDA) includes a big 20GB hard drive, an integrated fold-out QWERTY keyboard, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11b), and GSM/GPRS telephony. Education essentials such as audio recording and an integrated camera are there (albeit at a lowly 1.3 megapixels), and a big 8-hour battery (though this estimate probably doesn’t include continuous wireless use).

All of this functionality makes the S-XGen a bit on the bulky side.  It also strikes me as a little strange that the device includes a 10/100 CAT-5 Ethernet port, but apparently only supports the slower 802.11b wireless specification rather than the faster 802.11g specification – particularly when it’s touted as including 4-way video teleconferencing capability.

Even so, if this video conferencing capability is up to scratch, it’s one aspect of this device that seems to strive for good support for social and connected educational activities, which are widely upheld by educators as vital to the learning process and the “construction” of knowledge.

The other new feature that supports this social, connected learning is the device’s apparent support for encrypted, peer-to-peer connectivity (specified on this page which contains more information and commentary).  Having the ability to easily share resources and ideas between handheld devices using a wireless peer-to-peer approach would be a big winner for a mobile learning device, as this could facilitate better communication, social interaction and knowledge sharing.

It’s got pros and cons, to be sure; but if you’re considering a set of mobile learning devices, this one is certainly worth a look into.

technorati tags:remtech, pda, eda, S-XGen, m-learning, mlearning, mobile learning, mobile-learning, mobilelearning