Today, in fact right this minute, I am on a train to Preston. During the journey so far I have read and responded to forum posts, tweeted some of my H800 colleagues, downloaded readings and started work on this wiki. All of this has been done on either my laptop or my smartphone. If i did not have the facility to use this mobile technology I would have wasted the three and half hours it will take me to get to my destination. How wonderful then, that our students would have access to mobile technologies that will enable them too to access learning resources any time, any where.
These new innovative tools are a way of engaging students, giving them the flexibility to choose when and how to access learning. A range of these tools are being used by learners every day, and as the edges between personal and professional uses blur students will possibly not even notice that they are participating in an educational activity. This point is illustrated perfectly by the example described by Pettit et al (2009, pg2):
"S/he had asked pupils to send SMS messages in Spanish as homework while s/he was visiting Spain. The teacher reported that pupils added personal messages asking about the weather and food, and s/he concluded that some “believed it was a personal thing, not homework – somehow they do not link the idea of mobiles with classwork"
Giving students these choices empowers them and gives them ownership of how, when and where they learn and as Pettit (2009, pg773) states "students increasingly seek such ownership". As a teacher i would find it refreshing for students to take responsibility for their own learning, too often they attend courses expecting to be spoonfed information, taking responsibility is a skill that they will require throughout their life and learning it at this stage is rewarding for both the teacher and the student.
I see your point Clare, and also admit I use my laptop and Blackberry on trains and at conferences. However, how many learners spend 3 hours on train or bus journeys daily?
ReplyDeleteNot many I suggest. Also, who is going to pay for the devices and the data charges?
As a student representative I do not know of many sutdents who have such a lengthy daily commute. I really like the idea of being able to use all of the new technology to make learning easier. I would worry though about the cost of this technology, it costs money to use mobile Internet and the devices themselves are expensive. Most students do not have agreat deal of disposable income, I am concerned that such technology may be beyond the financial reach of all but the privileged few.
ReplyDeleteI take both your points about commuting time for students and I wasn't intending to suggest that students would spend three hours on a train. My experience as a teacher however shows me that students 'hang out' together a lot outside the education environment and as bizarre as it seems to an old person like myself who enjoys conversation, they spend much if this time on their mobile smart phones. Apparently they use their phones to access Facebook etc. whilst also chatting. I suggest that they could use this time to respond to messages of an educational nature just as easily. When sitting in the park with their friends they could be downloading documents or participating in a collaborative online activity.
ReplyDeleteIn summary it isn't where they are wasting time that is important but the point that they do waste time that we as educationalists could harness.
(teacher - against)
ReplyDeleteI'd really challenge the assumption you make that those 3 hours would have been 'wasted'. There was a time before computers and mobile phones etc. and I had a long daily commute from Southend to Knightsbridge and back. During that time I read some great literature and philosophy. If our students want to occupy themselves on trains I think there are a lot of other uses they would put modern technology to to pass the time. Even they might read a book!
If they choose to read a book via mobile technology as you suggest then that's education and I as a teacher for the use of mobile technology in this debate support your suggestion.
ReplyDeleteIsn't a book 'mobile technology'?
ReplyDeleteCR said:
ReplyDelete'When sitting in the park with their friends they could be downloading documents or participating in a collaborative online activity.
In summary it isn't where they are wasting time that is important but the point that they do waste time that we as educationalists could harness.'
When they are sitting in the park with their friends they are doing something social that they have chosen to do - you may see that as a waste of time, I see it as part of life. Time away from formal education isn't wasting time, it's living, making friends, discovering themselves, relating to the wider world. It's romance and emotional pain, dealing with the joys and kicks life brings. With 5 hours a day in class, probably 7 in school plus homework, should we really be invading yet more of their time?