Title: Teaching Without Classroom Wall: Lessons Learned Series 2 Mlearning: Teaching and Learning with PDAs
1Teaching Without Classroom Wall Lessons Learned
Series 2 M-learning Teaching and Learning
with PDAs
- Steve C. Yuen, Ph.D.
- Professor
- The University of Southern Mississippi
- steve_at_yuen.us
2006 SICET Summer Fellowship Program, CUHK and
SCNU, May 23 26, 2006
2Overview
- Background
- What is M-Learning
- Why M-Learning
- Mobile Technologies
- PDA in Teaching and Learning
- My PDA project at USM
3The Status of Learning
- The evolution in education and training at a
distance can be characterized as a move from
d-Learning (distance learning) to e-Learning
(electronic learning) to m-Learning (mobile
learning). - d-Learning e-Learning m-Learning
4What is m-Learning?
- m-Learning is the intersection of mobile
computing and e-learning, that includes anytime,
anywhere resources strong search capabilities
rich interaction powerful support for effective
learning and performance-based assessment". -
- Clark Quinn, 2000
Source Quin, C. (2000). mLearning Mobile,
Wireless, In-Your-Pocket Learning.
5What is m-Learning?
- Refers to the use of mobile and handheld devices,
such as PDAs, mobile phones, smart phones,
laptops, and tablet PCs, in teaching and
learning. - Mobile implies movement and mobility. Likewise,
m-learning implies the opportunity to learn 'on
the go'.
Source Vänskä, R. K. (2004). E4 Mobile Learning
in Europe A Multidisciplinary Approach
6From e-Learning to m-Learning
- Logical and natural extension of e-learning.
- Has the potential to further expand where, how,
and when we learn and perform in all the aspects
of our life. - Has the potential for increasing productivity by
making learning available anywhere and anytime. - Allow learners to participate in educational
activities without the restrictions of time and
place. - The Future of Learning From eLearning to
mLearning Keegan 2003
7m-Learning Era
- Over 50 of all employees spend up to half of
their time outside the office. - The average employee had less than 3 days of
training in 2003. - 1 billion wireless Internet subscribers worldwide
by 2005. - Multi-purpose handheld devices (PDA and
telephones) will out sell laptop/desktop
computers combined by 2005. - Most major US companies will either switch to or
adopt wireless networks by 2008. - The wireless market will grow at 10 compound
annual growth rate through 2008. - Global sales of smart phones will reach 170
million in 4 to 5 years, compared slightly more
then 20 million in 2004.
Source Empowering Technologies, Inc.
http//www.empoweringtechnologies.net/mobile.htm
8Why m-Learning?
- Enhance learner success
- Real world skills
- Lifestyle
- Access your learning materials from anywhere,
anytime - Just-in-time learning/reference tool for quick
access to data in the field - Interact with others
- Collaborate learning
9m-Learning
Source Ferscha, A. (2002). Wireless Learning
Networks, Grundlagenkonferenz e-elearning, Wien
10Mobile Technologies
- PDAs
- Mobile phones
- Tablet PCs
- Wearable computers
- E-book readers
- Hybrid devices
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12Windows XP Tablet Pocket PC Cell Phone
13Mobile Phones
- Originally designed for voice transfer, but has
recently also been used to transfer data such as
SMS (Short Message Service) messages, and to
access WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) pages. - Users can surf the Web pages and also send and
receive email via WAP.
14Mobile Phones
- GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
- Always-on Internet service that permits mobile
phones to access the Internet without requiring
slow-dial-up connections. - Transfer speeds up to 170 kilobits per second.
- SMS (Short Message Service)
- Allow single short messages of up to 160
characters to be passed between mobile phones,
fax machines, or email addresses. - MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
- Make it possible to deliver and receive
multimedia content such as images, audio, and
video sequences.
15SMS (Short Message Service)
- 62 of all adults across the major European
Countries now use a mobile phone. - 41 of European adults use SMS, compared to 30
that use the Internet/email. - SMS is particularly popular in the UK where 49
of adults use it, compared to 39 who are online - In Germany, 43 of adults use SMS as opposed to
29 of adults who use the Internet/email. - In France, 30 use SMS compared to 25 who go
online
Gartner Group, 2002 - In China, 33.8 billion text messages were sent in
2005. Compared to last years figure, there is a
65.7 increase. Ministry of Information
Industry, 2006
16Mobile Phone Technology
- GSM is the most common mobile phone technology
today. - Smart phone
- 3G (3rd generation) phone
- Recently been launched in Europe and Asia.
- Increase the data transfer rate up to 2 megabit
per second. - Allow users to make video calls and view
instructional and training video clips. - 4G (4th generation) Phone
- Achieve speeds of 100 megabits per second
- Enable 3 dimensional virtual communications.
- Available in 2010.
17PDAs in Teaching Learning
- Course management
- Content Delivery
- Assessment
- Communications
- Calculations
- Research
18Leadership Functions of Handheld Computers
Teaming and
Collaborating
Sharing
Wireless Communication
Team Planning
Project Scheduling
Presentation
Communicating
Beaming Information
Email
Faxing
Electronic
Business Cards
Paging
Learning and
Self-Improvement
Diary and Journaling
News Web Pages
Professional
Articles
Gathering and
Tutorials
Analyzing
Evaluations
Budget Analysis
Expenses
Surveys
Reference
Information
Network Logons
Staff and student Information
and Passwords
Policies
Pownell-Bailey Leadership Model of Handheld
Computing
Organizing and
Planning
Scheduling
Task List
Addresses
Notes
Reminders
19PDAs in K-12 Education
- Northline Elementary School, Houston, TX
- Sherrard Elementary School, Wheeling, WV
- St. Vincent Ferrer School, Cincinnati, OH
- Forsyth Country Day School, Winston-Salem, NC
- Consolidated High School District 230Oakland
Park, IL, Illinois - Derby High School, Derby, CT
20PDAs in Higher Education
- University of South Dakota
- www.usd.edu/palm/
- Indiana State University
- odin.indstate.edu/mercury/
- Central Carolina Technical College
- www.sum.tec.sc.us/wireless/wireless.asp
- University of Pennsylvania
- www.wharton.upenn.edu/spike/
21PDAs in Higher Education
- East Carolina University
- www.ecu.edu/handheld/
- Carnegie Mellon University
- www-2.cs.cmu.edu/pebbles/
- Penn State Abington Campus
- www.palm.com/education/studies/study10.html
- University of Minnesota at Duluth
- www.d.umn.edu/itss/computing/ipaq/
22PDAs in Higher Education
- Harvard Medical School
- avantgo.com/products/customers/demos/harvard/harv
ard_casestudy.pdf - Pepperdine University School of Law
- www.palm.com/education/studies/study2.html
- Kansas State University
- www.palm.com/education/studies/study11.html
- Stanford University
- palm.stanford.edu
- Wake Forest University
- www.palmone.com/us/enterprise/studies/study9.html
23My m-Learning Project at USM
- Funded by the Title III Faculty Technology Mentor
Program, LEC and Summer Instructional Grant at
USM - Purposes
- Integrate PDA technology to foster active and
collaborative learning experiences in the
classroom. - Explore ways in which PDAs can be integrated
seamlessly into the courses. - Provide students with valuable insights into
real-world applications of handheld technology.
24Project Activities
- Re-design curriculum, instructional and learning
activities - Distribute class news, handouts, lecture notes,
assignments, and collaborative projects with PDAs - Manage attendance, assignment tracking, grades,
and lesson planning - Enable classroom communications -- email and Web
access through WIFI or EthIR LAN - Develop the class Mobile Web Channel using the
AvantGo mobile Internet service.
25Mobile Web Channels
- Provided by AvantGo Mobile Internet Service
- Enable the student to subscribe class channels,
or Web pages, to download at regular intervals
and store to read at a more convenient time - Free for limited use
- Access instructor information, course
information, class schedules, calendars, syllabi,
assignments, lecture notes, resources and
reference materials
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27AvantGo
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29Web Channels
30Sample Mobile Sites
31Sample Mobile Sites
32Sample Mobile Sites
33EthIR LAN
- Clarinet LAN ESB301/3011b
- Infrared network connectivity in the classroom
- Support Palm, PocketPC, and Windows notebook
- SNMP, DHCP or static IP address configurable
- Up to 4Mbps, Wire and Wireless (802.11b )
- Provide dedicated network access through IR via
TCP/IP/PPP for PDA and laptop users - Allow students to use their PDAs to
- access the Internet
- sync their PDAs with the class Web channel
- send and check email
34EthIR LAN
Clarinet LAN ESB301/3011b
35IR Information Broadcasting
- Clarinet LAN ESB1000
- Onboard memory to store large amount of data for
content beaming - 550 KB local storage
- Content beaming
- on-demand by using a push button
- programmable constant broadcasting at predefined
intervals - Deliver static contents such as application
software, instructional materials, class
schedule, map, menu, etc. in the classroom
36IR Information Broadcasting
Clarinet LAN ESB1000
37Project Results
- Data collection is still ongoing
- So far have been positive from both students and
instructor perspectives - PDAs provide students a dynamic and interactive
learning experience - Students found that PDAs give them more
flexibility in where, when, and how they interact
with the learning materials, and allow them with
different learning styles to learn successfully - The use of PDAs enhances the classroom learning
experience and allows students to participate and
collaborate in a ways that would not be possible
in a traditional classroom
38Lessons Learned
- Problematic of delivering multimedia
- Security issues
- Low bandwidth
- Could be a threat to classroom order and student
integrity - The strengths of m-Learning lie in a
communication approach rather than a content
approach - Not all courses are suited to the m-Learning
environment
39Lessons Learned - Continued
- Purely technical and practical courses are not
suitable. - Short courses and mainly theory and information
type courses are suited to the mobile learning
environment. - The learning environment can be enhanced by the
use of quizzes to test knowledge, summary of main
learning points, and interaction with other
students and the teacher via mobile learning
devices.
40Conclusions
- m-Learning may currently be most useful as a
supplement to ILT, online learning and more
traditional learning methods, but can do much to
enrich the learning experience. - As devices become integrated, and mobile phones
combine PDA functions with cameras, video and MP3
players, and as tablets combine the portability
of PDAs with the functionality of desktops, the
world of learning becomes more mobile, more
flexible, and more exciting. - The success and impact of m-learning does not,
however, solely depend on the technological
developments and the possibilities they provide.
The ability of educators to design and develop
didactical sound m-learning opportunities and
environments that enhances learning is
imperative.
41THE END
Questions or Comments?
This presentation is available on the Web at
dragon.ep.usm.edu/yuen/present/sicet/summer06.pd
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