mLearning+Day+2010

Project Mobilise presented at mLearning Day, July 7th 2010, Waikato University
Here are the outputs from the two sessions run by John Eyles on mLearning Day. Together over 50 participants discussed their Wants, Needs and Concerns around mLearning. These are listed below. The 5 main themes that came through were //cost, quality of learning, safety, equality of access and classroom management//.

Where do we find the //means// to deliver on our //wants, needs and concerns//? [|Please join the discussion >>>]
 * Question:**

Each group also produced a 'live' two minute audio blog via mobile phone, summarising the sessions.


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WANTS:
 * When it comes to things mobile learning we want;**
 * Affordability
 * Evidence of success
 * Library resources (specialized such as IT)
 * Social justice/equality
 * Creative and critical pedagogies instead of simply transmission
 * Project and task based methods
 * Shared learning and resources
 * Critical and creative thinking
 * Individualised learning
 * Openness to potential for learning
 * More collaboration – ‘centralised space’ – helping each other with tips, problems, etc.
 * No roadblocks to innovation
 * Collaborative space for sharing stuff and asking questions for students and teachers
 * Appropriate use of technology
 * [|TELA-like Scheme]
 * Access to wifi, sites, tools, community
 * Simple to use technologies
 * Wifi for all plus a device per student that is integrated - government pays
 * Open source
 * Automatic software updates
 * Champions
 * Standards
 * 1 to 1 computing
 * Latest emerging technology

NEEDS:
 * When it comes to things mobile learning we need;**
 * To blend learning that happens outside the classroom with that which happens inside
 * Evidence of success
 * All stakeholders need to collaborate (i.e Telcos, tertiary institutes, MOE get together)
 * Champions in the organization to promote and engage
 * Software
 * Reliability and compatibility
 * Ease of access
 * Desirability for use (examples of success and attractive technologies)
 * Time
 * Money
 * Equal access for all (ubiquitous and non-monopolistic)
 * Reliable and effective storage and servers
 * Training and support – to learn how, what, through what and why.
 * How to make relevant and contextual
 * Affordability (packgage deal, subsidized for education – good + affordable data plans – tools and fast connection that is capable of quickly sending large files, video conferencing over IP - simple with high workability
 * Good broadband access nationwide and reliable
 * School policies to change
 * Directive from Ministry supporting use of mobile computing
 * Support of senior management and BOT
 * Supervised use
 * Assessment guidelines and methods
 * Professional Development – learning about, learning why and learning to do
 * Student/teacher technical support
 * To expand beyond the 3 r’s into teaching and enhancing creativity through mobile computing
 * Purpose and inspiration – teachers need convincing
 * Scaffolding – technical/pedagogical - longitudinal
 * Devices to be adaptable to needs (e.g. special needs, abilities )
 * To understand why we use and what we want to achieve in the use of mobiles to facilitate and enhance learning and teaching
 * Technical backup and offline alternatives

CONCERNS:
 * When it comes to things mobile learning our concerns are;**
 * Amount and complexity of text used
 * Correctness of data authenticity
 * Quality of learning
 * That students who are already failing in education are likely to be overlooked by mobile learning
 * That activities are linked appropriately to pedagogy
 * That there is coherence with other learning modalities
 * Information overload and not having the skills to deal with this (both student and teacher)
 * That we can show evidence that using mLearning improves learning
 * How to use in middle primary classroom and other age groups appropriately
 * Cost of use
 * Teacher development efficacy
 * Availability of devices
 * Making sure there is equal and ubiquitous access
 * Will the use decrease effective communication and human connectivity, socialization and quality of relationships (The loss of human interaction face to face)
 * Student resistance – hard shifting mindsets
 * Parental concerns – “is this real learning?”
 * How to bring others onboard who are yet to try and be convinced
 * Sufficient digital storage for resources at schools and back-up
 * Keeping up with the technology and infrastructure
 * Technology break downs
 * Children in lower socio-economic groups not having access to tools and networks
 * Unreliable technology
 * The schools already failing (administered by commissioner, etc) are likely to be disadvantaged by mobile technology
 * Lack of technical support
 * Lack of resources
 * Teacher time to learn and embrace
 * Misuse of technology
 * Safety for students
 * Control of material accessed
 * Control of networks
 * How can we measure the quality of learning
 * Privacy issues
 * Keeping students on task
 * Text bullying
 * Having appropriate software
 * Cost
 * Filtering
 * Accepting concept of tuakana teina – big brother little brother ie students teaching teachers
 * Focusing on technology at the expense of learning process
 * Creating understandings to effective pedagogy in NZ curriculum
 * Faddism
 * Who’s driving this thing? IT companies, teachers, learners?
 * Speed of changes
 * That it is only used for shallow transmission learning
 * How to manage large amounts of student data

Where do we find the //means// to deliver on our //wants, needs and concerns//? [|Please join the discussion >>>]
 * Question:**