November Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

November 1, 2009 to November 30, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. eLearning report: Review of Learning 2.0 Practices by Christine Redecker- Ignatia Webs, November 19, 2009
2. The Powerful Combination of Mobile Devices and Learning Apps- The Mobile Learner, November 15, 2009
3. Spacing Effect for Mobile Learning- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, November 3, 2009
4. Lynda.com courses compatible with iPhone and iPod- Golden Swamp, November 19, 2009
5. PBS Kids go Mobile!- Cell Phones in Learning, November 6, 2009
6. Recent Mobile books for your mLearning pleasure- Ignatia Webs, November 24, 2009
7. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List- The Mobile Learner, November 10, 2009
8. Mobile Learning Jam Reflections- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, November 17, 2009
9. The scarcity of learning sources is contrived, the best stuff is free.- Golden Swamp, November 12, 2009
10. Android mLearning project- in Brisbane, Queensland (in today’s courier mail)- uLearning Blog, November 3, 2009
11. European report on 'The Impact of Social Computing on the EU Information Society and Economy' also mobile social media- Ignatia Webs, November 26, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
2. The Genie in the Bottle: Unleashing the hidden power of personal mobile devices for learning (November 2009), November 10, 2009

Hot Topics

iPhone (19)

1. Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps, November 4, 2009
2. Lynda.com courses compatible with iPhone and iPod, November 19, 2009
3. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List, November 10, 2009
4. Mobile Libraries: ACU > Chemistry Labs, Classes Combine Science With Mobile Learning, November 26, 2009

Ipod Touch (10)

1. Mobile Learning: constructing a themed approach | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 29, 2009
2. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
3. How to do mLearning Research | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 3, 2009
4. October Hot List: Mobile Learning Content, November 3, 2009

Apple (10)

1. Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps, November 4, 2009
2. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
3. Mobile Learning: constructing a themed approach | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 29, 2009
4. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009

Augmented (9)

1. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
2. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List, November 10, 2009
3. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
4. October Hot List: Mobile Learning Content, November 3, 2009

Convergence (5)

1. LearnTrends Live: Mobile Learning, November 18, 2009
2. The Future Of Learning Design, November 23, 2009
3. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
4. Miss Sophie Mac: QR codes and the mobile web, November 18, 2009

Mobile Learning Jam Reflections

Last week in San Jose I was pleased to participate at DevLearn in the Mobile Learning Jam. Thanks to Jay Cross for taking this picture and posting it on Flickr.

For two days plus there were 15 sessions -- in addition to 9 regular conference sessions -- all about mobile learning. At times the noise and commotion in the hall area made it difficult to hear and the afternoon sun caused some attendees to get out their sunglasses inside, but there was considerable interest. The questions and comments from the attendees was awesome. All in all it was very tiring, but lots of fun!

I was involved in 7 sessions plus 3 breakfast byte discussions. One of the sponsors, OnPoint Digital created a mobile app for the Mobile Learning Jam materials. If you have a mobile device and want to take a look at the app and all the presentations on your mobile, go to http://mlj.mlearning.com and self-register. You will receive an email with instructions specific to your device.

Several attendees also requested that the slides be posted online so that they can share them with their co-workers, so I have posted PDFs of the following sessions:

• Overview of Mobile Learning – Who is Doing What?
• Getting Started with Mobile Learning Planning Session with Austin Winters, Microsoft
• Mobile Learning in Government and Military - Mark Friedman and Jason Haag
• Discussion of Mobile Learning Standards, or Lack Thereof with Mark Friedman and Jason Haag
• Tools for Mobile Learning Examined
• Mobile Learning Examples Examined
• Future Directions in Mobile Learning: A Look at New Technologies and Potential

There is also a document with lots of resources available here.

Thanks to The eLearning Guild for their support, the sponsors Intuition and OnPoint Digital, the other presenters and to the attendees. You were all great!

Learning 2009 Audience Response

Last week at Elliott Masie's Learning 2009 in Orlando, Elliott asked the group of about 1300 learning professions to respond to a question on their audience response pads. The question involved over hyped learning categories:

I was very pleased that mobile learning was in a class with performance support and user generated content. Learning professionals are beginning to understand the importance of mobile access to learning and support at the time and place of need.

Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps

Apple just announced that the app store has surpassed 100,000 apps.

"Apple® today announced that developers have created over 100,000 apps for the revolutionary App Store, the largest applications store in the world. iPhone® and iPod touch® customers in 77 countries can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. App Store users have downloaded well over two billion apps, continuing to make it the world’s most popular applications store."

Because of the sheer volume of apps, it is getting harder and harder to locate good education and training apps. I am currently exploring a new iPhone app released yesterday entitled Chorus.

"Chorus is an intuitive, fun and easy way to connect with friends to see the apps they're using, which apps they rate highly, and to stay up-to-date on the hottest new apps available. Now available for iPhone and iPod touch®, Chorus features real-time feeds from your designated friends, displaying the apps they are downloading, and what they are saying about them. You save time and money by viewing what your friends bought, and what they think about them, before you buy or download."

I'd love for us to build a group of "friends" from the learning community to share our findings. If you are looking at educational apps for the iPhone (and other devices) why not join me there? (Judy Brown)

Mobile Industry Count

Gary Hayes has created a very interesting mobile count widget shown below.

I have been amazed at the phenomenal growth in the mobile industry and this just gives you a taste of the speed. (Note that the numbers shown are since you loaded this page.) The source articles and statistics are listed here.

Spacing Effect for Mobile Learning

For some time I have been reviewing research on the spacing effect of learning for maximum recollection. This research has been documented for over 100 years. In the past with teaching at specific times and places, this has been difficult and expensive to implement, but today with ubiquitous communication devices in our pockets and purses, it is easy to accomplish.

Dr. Will Thalheimer has been reviewing the literature and writing about the spacing effect for some time. See Spacing Learning Over Time: A Research Based Secret from the June 2007 ASTD Annual Conference.

Several mobile learning products have integrated the capability to send reminders and spaced knowledge checks, but they have not been implemented to any degree yet.

SpacedEd has a Beta site called Addictive Learning That Sticks using the research on the spacing effect. You can also view their list of frequently asked questions or check out the peer-reviewed research behind spaced education in their Research section.

This is how SpacedEd has structures their materials:

• Each learner receives 2 questions every day via email.
• If a question is answered incorrectly, it will be repeated 1 week later.
• If a question is answered correctly, it will be repeated 3 weeks later.
• If a question is answered correctly two times in a row, the item is retired from the course and is no longer repeated.
• The learner completes the course when all of the questions are retired (answered correctly twice in a row).

Today MIT's Technology Review ran a story An App so You'll Never Forget: Adaptive-learning algorithms calculate how often people need to see information to remember it about a new iPhone app based in Tokyo called Smart.fm.

Spaced learning is one application of mobile learning that will grow in importance as we open our eyes to the additional capabilities afforded by using mobile devices.

October Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

October 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. Augmented Reality and On-Demand Learning- The Mobile Learner, October 17, 2009
2. Mobile Learning Tools #2- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, October 2, 2009
3. CCK09: does Connectivism want to change the world?- Ignatia Webs, October 9, 2009
4. Students Can Use SMS to Check & Post to Their Google Calendar- Cell Phones in Learning, October 6, 2009
5. M-Learning Goes Corporate and Succeeds- mLearning is Good, October 5, 2009
6. Using an iPod Touch with 8 Year Old Students- The Mobile Learner, October 3, 2009
7. Mobile University Access- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, October 24, 2009
8. TIME between TIMES: the joy of educating during a time of rapid technological change.- uLearning Blog, October 2, 2009
9. Simpsons: Goes Mobile!- Cell Phones in Learning, October 5, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. matthewbuckland.com » The future of social networking – a concept investigation, October 1, 2009
2. Text Message Reminders to Take Medication Works, October 15, 2009
3. Australian uni goes mobile!, October 22, 2009

Hot Topics

Ipod Touch (15)

1. Using an iPod Touch with 8 Year Old Students, October 3, 2009
2. You are Never Alone » From the Coal Face: iPod Touch in the Classroom, October 24, 2009
3. Essential Ingredients for the Implementation of Mobile Learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, October 12, 2009
4. Learning in Hand Blog by Tony Vincent, October 13, 2009

Handheld (12)

1. Handheld Learning 09 - still pushing the frontiers, October 13, 2009
2. Handheld Learning 2009, October 6, 2009
3. BrainPOP UK | Our Handheld Learning 09 Review | POPtalk, October 12, 2009
4. Handheld Reflections Day Two « e-Learning Stuff, October 13, 2009

Safari (5)

1. Learning in Hand Blog by Tony Vincent, October 13, 2009
2. Handheld Reflections Day Two « e-Learning Stuff, October 13, 2009
3. Mobile learning in a military context « e-Learning Stuff, October 1, 2009
4. Doc’s Blog » Blog Archive » how do you use your mobile computing device to support your learning?, October 18, 2009

Augmented (6)

1. Augmented Reality and On-Demand Learning, October 17, 2009
2. Mark Power » Augmented Reality - A Game Changer in Mobile Learning?, October 21, 2009
3. matthewbuckland.com » The future of social networking – a concept investigation, October 1, 2009
4. M-Learning Goes Corporate and Succeeds, October 5, 2009

iPod (17)

1. Using an iPod Touch with 8 Year Old Students, October 3, 2009
2. You are Never Alone » From the Coal Face: iPod Touch in the Classroom, October 24, 2009
3. Essential Ingredients for the Implementation of Mobile Learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, October 12, 2009
4. Learning in Hand Blog by Tony Vincent, October 13, 2009

Commercial Mobile Learning Content Examined

I have been looking at some commercial mobile training modules recently and have found some excellent examples -- as well as some lessons learned.

The first one is Presenter Pro for the iPhone ($.99 in the iTunes store). The content includes presentation skills techniques with supporting graphics, audio, and video; hundreds of quick tips accessible by shaking the device; a checklist feature to capture and email any content for later review; notes capability; practice exercises; and knowledge check quizzes.

There is a lot of information and it is organized for quick retrieval. Overall the UI is quite good, however when arriving at the end of the knowledge check, there is only a previous and next. The next does not work, so the user needs to assume that they have finished and need to go back to the main menu. How much nicer it would have been if QA has caught that and added text either with the score or some text like congratulations you have completed the knowledge check, press here to return to the main menu. In addition, a nice feature would be to offer to return to the applicable content for review when missing a question rather than just saying sorry, try again.

Understanding Photoshop Quick Fixes ($1.99 in the iTunes Store) includes three modules plus an introduction and help section. Each of the modules has videos, tips and a quiz. Favorites and a search feature are included, plus an included recent Twitter feed from @rhedpixel. The quiz feature is quite nice with the results, as well as a link to the video for missed questions. Unlike Presenter Pro, there is no easy access overview of the content, but there is the search feature. The videos are well done. By submitting your email address you receive a link with the examples from the video. These are only available on a computer -- not an iPod or iPhone and must be downloaded separately for each module.

Thanks to an email from Dr. Davide Terranova fom Italy, I checked out his new site medicalearning. Currently there are four care and management modules featured for asthma, diabetes, hypertension and influenza virus H1-N1. The modules use Flash Lite and are available for a large number of phones (and even larger following the recent Adobe announcement of upcoming partnerships and availability of the Flash player on mobile devices.) The catalog, store and clean user interface are quite nice. Check it out.

Mobile Web Best Practices

You may be familiar with the W3C Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0 for delivering Web content to mobile devices (July 2008). It is an excellent reference resource.

Thanks to MAMK's recent posting, I found a great condensed reference of the same in a flipcard format (PDF).

Included are:

• Design for One Web
• Rely on Web standards
• Stay away from known hazards
• Be cautious of device limitations
• Optimize navigation
• Check graphics & colors
• Keep it small
• Use the network sparingly
• Help & guide user input
• Think of users on the go

Check it out...

Mobile University Access

For those in higher education looking for examples of a campus that is providing mobile access, you might want to check out a very nice solution at Australia's Curtin University of Technology CurtinMobile.

They provide students and staff with the access and information they need via their mobile devices. The application automatically provides both an icon-based layout for current higher-end phones or a text format for older phones.

You can view it on your mobile at m.curtin.edu.au or see a video demo here.

Featured available include:

• OASIS: Access Student Email, Official Communications and more!
• Maps: Browse the campus map so you never get lost!
• News: Find out about the latest exciting news & events at Curtin
• Library: Opening hours, browse the catalogue and more
• Facilities: Information on the the gym, food and drinks and much more
• Support: Having trouble with student life? Get helpful information here
• I.T.: Find an available computer on campus
• Transport: Courtesy bus schedule and Transperth information
• People: Find Curtin Staff members
• Emergency: Emergency information and phone numbers

Google Wave and Mobile Learning

I have been experimenting with Google Wave and so far am pleased with what I see. I am not certain how much this will be used for mobile learning, but was pleasantly surprised that it works on the iPhone (although there is a warning that that browser is not supported.) It can tend to be a little slow, but usable.

Here are a couple screen shots from my iPhone.



If you have a Google Wave account, please join me on a new public Wave I created to discuss mobile learning. You should be able to find it by title "Mobile Learning" or creator Judy Brown or judycb. I have not yet figured that out. ;-) UPDATED: I just added some tags and you should be able to find it by entering "tag:mobile learning" (without the quotes) into the search box and choosing Mobile Learning Public Wave. Hope to see you there.

Update 10/15/09: I have received emails that none of the comments work to locate this Wave. I just received assistance (thanks taylorkirk) and found that the following does work.

Mobile Learning Tools #2

In January I posted a listing of tools for mobile learning and received some great comments. (Thank you)

Now I am working on presentations and workshops for upcoming conferences this Fall and Winter and have been updating a much longer listing. I know that there are several missing in the content and K-12 areas, but what else? Are you using any tools for mobile learning development or deployment that are not listed on this new listing? If so, please leave a comment below. Thank you in advance.

I hope to meet many of you in person at the upcoming conferences.

September Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

September 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. The Future of Mobile and Mobile Media- The Mobile Learner, September 26, 2009
2. Why did I just buy new Nano’s to use with students?- uLearning Blog, September 18, 2009
3. Clever Use of Twitter for Mobile Learning- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, September 7, 2009
4. 3D animations for mobile devices- Ignatia Webs, September 4, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. Learn 4 Life » What happens when you give a class of 8 year old children an iPod touch each?, September 18, 2009

Hot Topics

Mobile Learning (34)

1. 3D animations for mobile devices, September 4, 2009
2. A Mobile Learning Round Up of Sorts « Ubiquitous Thoughts, September 5, 2009
3. Clever Use of Twitter for Mobile Learning, September 7, 2009
4. Mobile learning – keep taking the tablets, September 8, 2009

Education (32)

1. Direct observations about where Educator’s are at., September 9, 2009
2. A map of my possible future (in 5 years time) as an educator…, September 9, 2009
3. learning elearning: PSP2 - play station portable in education, September 14, 2009
4. Learn 4 Life » What happens when you give a class of 8 year old children an iPod touch each?, September 18, 2009

Blog (23)

1. Aga Khan Development Network - AKDN Blog, September 18, 2009
2. Pontydysgu – Bridge to Learning » Blog Archive » Going mobile, September 21, 2009
3. Pontydysgu – Bridge to Learning » Blog Archive » Using mobile devices in schools, September 21, 2009
4. Panlibus » Blog Archive » Oxford University 2.0, September 24, 2009

Technology (23)

1. Learn 4 Life » What happens when you give a class of 8 year old children an iPod touch each?, September 18, 2009
2. Mobile Phones - So Much More Than a Phone | New Learning Playbook, September 6, 2009
3. Direct observations about where Educator’s are at., September 9, 2009
4. Aga Khan Development Network - AKDN Blog, September 18, 2009

Devices (21)

1. 3D animations for mobile devices, September 4, 2009
2. Pontydysgu – Bridge to Learning » Blog Archive » Using mobile devices in schools, September 21, 2009
3. Learn 4 Life » What happens when you give a class of 8 year old children an iPod touch each?, September 18, 2009
4. Mobile Phones - So Much More Than a Phone | New Learning Playbook, September 6, 2009

Clever Use of Twitter for Mobile Learning

One of the most clever integrations of social learning into mobile learning I have seen comes from Transparent Language's Byki Global for iPhone.

As with many other flashcard type language learning tools, there are screens with the word(s) plus audio, quizzes and stats, but they added a Twitter link. When pressing the Twitter icon at the bottom of the screen, the most recent tweets using that word or phrase are shown in that language. How cool is that?














If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone you can download this app free from the Apple App Store. Included are essential words and phrases in 15 languages including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Tagalog.

For the serious language learner, there are also single language apps available for $7.99.

Catching Up on Reading

This long weekend I have been trying to catch up on some of my reading. Following are a few sources I found that may be of interest regarding mobile learning:

• There is an interesting discussion taking place here regarding "Why use an iPod Touch instead of a netbook?"
• If you missed the Five Myths of Mobile Learning by Abhijit Kadle, you may want to add it to your reading list.
  
• If you are using an iPhone or iPod Touch in education you will want to check out the shared resources from Jonathan Nalder in Queensland. Be prepared to spend a lot of time there. Thanks Jonathan.
  

August Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

August 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. The Strengths and Challenges of Mobile Learning: A Live Discussion- The Mobile Learner, August 16, 2009
2. Homework Quizes Via Phonevite- Cell Phones in Learning, August 8, 2009
3. Education’s reductionist flaw is like the digesting duck- Golden Swamp, August 22, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. ACU's iPhone initiative: a year later, August 3, 2009
2. Maths and Science mobisite for “SmartLearners”, August 19, 2009
3. Using Mobile Technology to Influence Health Care Reform, August 21, 2009

Hot Topics

Mobile Learning (27)

1. The Strengths and Challenges of Mobile Learning: A Live Discussion, August 16, 2009
2. Five Myths of Mobile Learning, August 24, 2009
3. Addressing Some Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 7, 2009
4. Addressing Some More Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 21, 2009

Conferences (15)

1. The Strengths and Challenges of Mobile Learning: A Live Discussion, August 16, 2009
2. ACU's iPhone initiative: a year later, August 3, 2009
3. Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, August 16, 2009
4. Addressing Some More Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 21, 2009

Mlearn (12)

1. The Strengths and Challenges of Mobile Learning: A Live Discussion, August 16, 2009
2. Addressing Some Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 7, 2009
3. Maths and Science mobisite for “SmartLearners”, August 19, 2009
4. Addressing Some More Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 21, 2009

mLearning (12)

1. The Strengths and Challenges of Mobile Learning: A Live Discussion, August 16, 2009
2. Addressing Some Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 7, 2009
3. Maths and Science mobisite for “SmartLearners”, August 19, 2009
4. Addressing Some More Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 21, 2009

Utilities (5)

1. Five Myths of Mobile Learning, August 24, 2009
2. Addressing Some More Critiques of Mobile Learning, August 21, 2009
3. Michael Yeap...potential PhD Candidate: Aug 28 - Definition of Usability & Mobile Learning, August 29, 2009
4. M-Learning for Students - Is It Possible? - Daydreamer, August 22, 2009

Mobile Learning K-12 Chat

Last week I participated in a "chat" for Education Week entitled "Emerging Mobile Technologies for K-12 Classrooms". Unfortunately the co-presenter had technical difficulties and was unable to connect until half way so I typed as fast as I could. ;-)

The questions were great! CoverItLive was used and the transcript is now available at http://www.edweek.org/ew/events/chats/2009/09/03/index.html.

After the session I received several requests for further information about mobile learning and disabilities which is not my area of specialty, but an interest. Recently I read a couple papers addressing this issue, but they were for conference proposals and not yet available. I went back through some of my notes and responded with the following:

• JISC in the UK has conducted a lot of mobile learning research including research on disabilities. A good place to start is http://www.techdis.ac.uk/index.php?p=9_5
• EU project including accessibility - http://motill.eu/
• Another UK initiative - http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/acl/eMagArchive/RSCeMag2008/May08/accessibility_and_mobile_learning_project.html
• Also http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=ferl.aclearn.page.id958
• Several years ago there was even a Braille reader for Pocket PCs. Take a look at the potential for those with sight issues on this YouTube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUUxGvDqok4
• Also look at QR codes and the potential demonstrated by Nokia at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1wM6nlcALA
• There are also some articles on http://mlearnopedia.com easily found by searching for disabilities.

If you are aware of other resources for mobile learning and disabilities, please add your suggestions in the comments. Thank you.

Forum Mobile Learning: Are we there yet?

Last Friday I participated in a Mobile Learning Forum at the 25th Annual Distance Teaching & Learning Conference along with Richard Culatta and Gary Marrer. It started at 8:00 am and continued through both the first and second sessions. Most of the attendees were in discovery or planning stages for mobile learning, but the questions and discussions were excellent.

I have posted my opening and closing slides as one presentation in Slideshare. Richard has information on his presentation and spoof mLearning ad here. Gary's slides are also on Slideshare.

Enjoy.

July Hot List: Mobile Learning Content Communily

Here is the monthly top ten list for cc.mlearnopedia.com from July. Enjoy...

Top Posts

The following are the top posts from featured sources based on social signals.

1. Collecting visual information mobilely- Golden Swamp, July 23, 2009
2. Wikipedia Mobile Officially Launches- mLearning is Good, July 17, 2009
3. What I believe about learning- uLearning Blog, July 4, 2009
4. New Learning in India & Africa: Student Cell Phones- Cell Phones in Learning, June 30, 2009
5. Cell Phones in Education Part 3: Capturing the Moment- The Mobile Learner, July 20, 2009
6. Testing students as nodes releases them from class notches- Golden Swamp, July 22, 2009
7. Mobile Learning Assessment – same…different then other course assessment?- MobileDot, July 16, 2009
8. Gathering of Educators using ubiquitous devices- uLearning Blog, July 16, 2009
9. New Stats on Mobile Usage Continue to Reflect Mobile as Gateway to the Web- mLearning is Good, July 15, 2009
10. Let others find your most read blogposts via PostRank- Ignatia Webs, July 7, 2009
11. The Blue Brain waves patterns to educators- Golden Swamp, July 14, 2009
12. June Hot List: Mobile Learning Content Community- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, July 5, 2009
13. Mobile Phones vs. Computers- The Mobile Learner, July 4, 2009

Top Other Items

The following are the top other items based on social signals.

1. Futures of Learning, July 1, 2009
2. Go Mobile! Interview with Steve Vosloo, July 1, 2009

Hot Topics

Mlearn (14)

1. mLearning at the Tipping Point, July 16, 2009
2. Go Mobile! Interview with Steve Vosloo, July 1, 2009
3. Gathering of Educators using ubiquitous devices, July 16, 2009
4. Mobile Learning in India, July 25, 2009

mLearning (14)

1. mLearning at the Tipping Point, July 16, 2009
2. Go Mobile! Interview with Steve Vosloo, July 1, 2009
3. Gathering of Educators using ubiquitous devices, July 16, 2009
4. Mobile Learning in India, July 25, 2009

Mobile Devices (16)

1. Wikipedia Mobile Officially Launches, July 17, 2009
2. What I believe about learning, July 4, 2009
3. New Stats on Mobile Usage Continue to Reflect Mobile as Gateway to the Web, July 15, 2009
4. Futures of Learning, July 1, 2009

Future (15)

1. Futures of Learning, July 1, 2009
2. What I believe about learning, July 4, 2009
3. Education Online Now » Blog Archive » Are Mobile Classrooms The Future?, July 1, 2009
4. Mobile Learning in India, July 25, 2009

Devices (19)

1. Gathering of Educators using ubiquitous devices, July 16, 2009
2. Futures of Learning, July 1, 2009
3. Wikipedia Mobile Officially Launches, July 17, 2009
4. What I believe about learning, July 4, 2009

June Hot List: Mobile Learning Content Community

Here is the monthly top ten list for cc.mlearnopedia.com from June. Enjoy...

Top Posts

The following are the top posts from featured sources based on social signals.

1. New online book on mobile learning -available for free download- Ignatia Webs, June 12, 2009
2. iPods in Education Part 12: Customized Learning Using Apps- The Mobile Learner, June 29, 2009
3. Time to Teach Students How to Bank via Cell Phone- Cell Phones in Learning, June 9, 2009
4. Mobile Augmented Reality – A Brief Overview- mLearning is Good, June 25, 2009
5. New Mobile Augmented Reality browser- mLearning Blog, June 20, 2009
6. Opera Unite for Windows/Mac/Linux gives you immediate access to group or personal learning spaces- Ignatia Webs, June 16, 2009
7. #eden09: educational shift in Japan, using ubiquitous learning by Haruo Nishinosono- Ignatia Webs, June 15, 2009
8. Lessons learned on a massively multiplayer online game- Golden Swamp, June 10, 2009
9. The Future of Learning- The Mobile Learner, June 7, 2009

Top Other Items

The following are the top other items based on social signals.

1. The Innovative Educator: Ideas for Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Cell Phones Even in Districts that Ban Them, June 16, 2009
2. Exploring Educational Technology, June 20, 2009

Top Keyword

• Education (31)
• Mobile Learning (25)
• Blog (24)
• Technology (23)
• University (22)
• Future (20)
• Tools (20)
• School (19)
• Social (19)
• Research (18)
• Devices (17)
• iPhone (17)
• Phone (17)
• Course (14)
• Support (14)
• Video (14)
• Conferences (13)
• Google (13)
• Presentation (13)
• Resources (13)

Mobile Live Video Streaming

I have been looking at live video streaming tools for mobile and have tested several in preparation to writing a blog, but yesterday found that Robin Good had published an excellent guide of 11 such tools along with side-by-side their key features and options.

His is an excellent overview with a comparison chart plus individual product descriptions.

Be sure to check out the comments and related articles at the bottom for additional information.

Yet Another Global K-12 Success Story

Elliot Soloway and Cathie Norris recently blogged Hong Kong School Leads the World in Cellphone Computer Use after visiting Pui Ching Middle School in Hong Kong. Students are currently using cellphones to help learn English and current events, but are also moving to use them for math and Chinese.

Pictures are available here. It is easy to see how engaged and happy the students appear to be.

The good news is that now when I talk with organizations about mobile learning, the questions have moved from "why?" to "how?" It seems to be a given that we are all moving in this direction, but the questions are what can we learn from others who are already "there?" This may well be a great example for K-12 to follow.

May Hot List: Mobile Learning Content Community

Here is the monthly top ten list for cc.mlearnopedia.com from May. Enjoy...

Top Posts

The following are the top posts from featured sources based on social signals

1. Facebook Classroom Management & Projects with Student Cell Phones- Cell Phones in Learning, May 12, 2009
2. Barcodes Offer Interesting Opportunities for Mobile Learning- mLearning is Good, May 20, 2009
3. Challenge Based Learning w’ Marco Torres- uLearning Blog, May 18, 2009
4. Current Events: Anytime, Anywhere Via Cell (No Mobile Internet Required)- Cell Phones in Learning, May 4, 2009
5. iPods in the Classroom- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, May 29, 2009
6. Images that Speak Volumes- The Mobile Learner, May 30, 2009
7. #ela2009 workshop George Siemens: social networking technologies for teaching and learning transformation- Ignatia Webs, May 29, 2009
8. #ela2009: Proof of concept for mLearning for formal education for mathematics in South-Africa- Ignatia Webs, May 28, 2009
9. Sky Map Mobile Planetarium for Android- mLearning Blog, May 24, 2009
10. What If?- The Mobile Learner, May 24, 2009
11. Task.fm: Text and voice reminders for students and teachers---EASY! EASY! EASY!- Cell Phones in Learning, May 15, 2009
12. 6 Queensland Educators talk about the iPod Touch- uLearning Blog, May 19, 2009
13. Mobile ESL- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, May 17, 2009
14. Hashtags in Twitter and walls, fountains, ways to keep everyone's remarks in the picture- Ignatia Webs, May 15, 2009
15. Learning Objects for Mobile (MLOs)- mLearning is Good, May 9, 2009

Top Other Items

The following are the top other items based on social signals.

1. Erik Duval’s Weblog, May 4, 2009
2. The Mobile Learning Engine (MLE) for Moodle, May 18, 2009
3. Another Mobile Round Up of Sorts « Ubiquitous Thoughts, May 28, 2009
4. Mobile Libraries: Mobile Apps For Virtual Learning Environments, May 4, 2009
5. Create mobile learning materials « Innovation in Teaching, May 30, 2009
6. MOBILE LEARNING - eLearning Tour Part 1 - Hosted by Corporate Learning Trends and Innovation, May 21, 2009
7. "The students don't think of it as learning" | Education IT | ZDNet.com, May 20, 2009
8. TheEngTeacher: MOBILE ESL LEARNING, May 17, 2009
9. A “Starbucks Locator” for the Rest of Us, May 15, 2009
10. EduPOV, May 7, 2009
11. Mobile learning saves lives, May 30, 2009
12. The Mobile Generation « NWP Walkabout, May 18, 2009
13. Text messaging for collaborative learning in South Africa | Tony Bates, May 13, 2009
14. My Learning Blog: Elementary Mobile Learning, May 13, 2009
15. The Future of Mobile Media and Communication, May 7, 2009

Top Posts

• Mobile Learning (40)
• Education (33)
• Course (25)
• Video (25)
• Devices (24)
• Technology (23)
• Tools (23)
• Blog (23)
• iPhone (21)
• iPod (20)
• Resources (20)
• Social (19)
• Research (19)
• School (18)
• Phone (18)
• Development (17)
• Google (16)
• Mobile Devices (16)
• Presentation (16)
• Classroom (15)

Mobile Learning Reading

It is great to see some new books on mobile learning. Recently there was a lot of buzz about Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training edited by Mohamed Ally (March 2009). I had read a couple chapters and got back to it this last week on my Kindle while travelling.

While useful, I was disappointed that most of the examples were from the early and mid-2000’s.

Having followed and participated in mobile learning since 1996, I see very clear stages and believe that we should now be looking forward at the potential of this very powerful opportunity.

We began with standalone devices (PDA) that could be connected to a single computer for a single person. Once these devices were combined with a cell phone, communication opened up. With today’s capabilities to seamlessly move from cellular to Wi-Fi, collaboration opens many more doors. Location-based context and tagging, sensors and feedback, recognition and specialized apps now open up our imaginations and provide powerful learning opportunities not even available on a desktop.

There are three new books just published that appear to be current and looking ahead. I have just started reviewing them, but wanted to share in case you are looking to add to your reading lists on mobile learning:

• New technologies, new pedagogies: Mobile learning in higher education from the University of Wollongong includes faculty development, specific discipline examples and design principles. This is available as a free PDF download.
• Mobile Learning Communities: Creating New Educational Futures by Patrick Danaher, Beverley Moriarty, Geoff Danaher, a Routledge publication covering communities, along with other topics such as globalization, lifelong learning, multiliteracies, and sustainability; concluding with creating new educational futures.
• Researching Mobile Learning: Frameworks, Tools and Research Designs from Peter Lang Publishing Group, which sets out the issues and requirements for mobile learning research and presents efforts to specify appropriate theoretical frameworks, research methods and tools.

What have you found? What are you reading about mobile learning? Please share in the comments.

iPods in the Classroom

Just discovered a publication with lots of good information and suggestions for using iPods in the classroom. Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More technology

Catching up over the long weekend

In preparation for 3 upcoming workshops the first week in June, I have been reorganizing and reviewing my various notes during this long weekend. Thus just some random entries on my mind...

If you missed the LearnTrends e-Learning Tour last Thursday, you can access the recording here. Our mobile portion is the first video. You will see various types of mobile learning, hear an interesting podcast option, and learn about the iPhone/iPod Touch initiative at Abilene Christian University. It appeared that we had about 125 attendees and lots of good questions and follow up since then.

Any of you researchers with iPhones available who are crunching data and looking at different ways to visualize it, check out RoamBi. There is a TryMe application on the site to view from a desktop if you don't have an iPhone. Oh, did I mention that the app was free?

I have been excited about 2D barcodes for learning for some time, but now that they seem to have almost arrived in the U.S., there may be other options as well. This week there was an article in USA Today entitled "New '2D barcodes' puts info at the tip of your camera phone" which discussed some 2D initiatives with companies such as Nike, Sears and Hardee's. I have thought that once these readers were readily available on phones that it would be much easier to utilize them for learning. These codes are very popular in Japan and certainly could make it much easier to access specific content.

The USA Today article cites InfoTrends/CAP Ventures stating this year 89% of new mobile phones shipped to the U.S. will have cameras.

What else is there just around the corner for what I have been calling Point and Learn?

• You may have seen Mobile Search by petitinvention. If not, check it out here.
• There is also Wikitude here.
• This month Nokia rolled out their Point and Find project in a limited area, but it could have a lot of potential uses for learning.
• Check out the iVisit real time object recognition for the blind YouTube video for some very powerful capabilities.

Background video is available today even on the first generation iPhone that I have. A new app entitled Email 'n Walk was created for those who are engaged with their phones and don't look where they are going. Thus a view of one's surroundings through the working screen (see screen capture above.)

Not utilizing the camera, but GPS is an interactive 3D map from UpNext (UpNext NYC) to explore and search Manhattan. The app is available for the iPhone as well, and includes connections to Twitter and Facebook. Something like this could be used for new student or employee orientation to a campus.