Handheld Learning

About six months ago, Dr. Tak Wai Chan, a very well-known mobile learning researcher from Taiwan, posted a message to the g1to1 forum (http://www.g1to1.org), entitled "Has the 1:1 Classroom Era Arrived". I got permission to repost it to my blog, with some comments. It's really an interesting account of the last 10 years or so in mobile learning from his point of view and definitely worth a read. Instead of reposting the entire blog post here, let me just point you to:

http://ubiquitousthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/has-the-11-classroom-era-arrived/

Let me know what you think about all of this, either here or on my blog.
Thanks!

Jocelyn,
I would agree with you on the screen size issue. It's something that we already found in the Palm Education Pioneer research we did back in 2001-2002, and has resurfaced over and over again. I would think this is an issue that will eventually disappear as the younger generations are coming of age and enter the teaching profession (which actually should already be happening).

Its true you can access the internet on a Nintendo wii but at 480p its hardly a nice browsing experience.

We have all probably had devices we were happy to work, play or socialise with because whatever defficiencies they had (screen size, battery, input method etc etc) we wanted to get something done or were intrinsically motivated to use whatever gadget it may of been.

How many of us 'men of a certain age' were happy to spend far too long in the company of our ZX 81s for example?

The key to unlocking potential for and with our pupils, that we appear to be moving towards in our school is not just 1:1 access or screen size or the quality of the VLE, although they really do help, it is in getting the children motivated and determined to get something done. The biggest impact we have had has, surprisingly to me at least, not in been SATs scores or other academic/ attainment focused tests but in pupil resillience, team work and problem solving. The last two of those outcomes almost appearing in contrast to the worry of some parents and carers that a 1:1 device provision would limit pupil interaction and increase dependency on the teachers and support staff.

So I agree with Graham that it is beyond 1:1 access, one child may work on several devices over a week. But those involved in the more academic or research based side of HHL need to remember that all the new inventions in the world will count for little in nearly all our Schools till they reliably integrate into the classroom environment as well as the home and wider one. That makes multi platform working a step to far for us.

Not sure where all this is going, but I remember not so long ago as a teacher sitting in staff meetings discussing which space lines and margin layouts were appropriate for different age children to do their maths work in. I am in the fortunate position now to be able to visit some other schools; similar discussions still go on!