Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

One of the things that has struck me from a number of presentations over the last couple of days is the excitement of the ways that pupils are experiencing learning and how the majority of the assessment system is way behind being able to cope with the way that the HH and the other mobile techs can gather a record of achievement.

Even those presenting have had to have paper based questions scanned onto the mobile tech which could then be written on. So a pixel and stylus rather than a pen a paper but pedagogically no different.

What do we need to do, in terms of evidential outcomes, to convince QCA that there is a different way of assessing learning (given their approach to student centered learning via coursework) and this is NOT the 'paper based' on-line testing that are being enable as this again is pedagogically no different.

Paul

Gerry. Yes the e-portfolio where students can show their achievement rather than teachers always assessing. This could then include a range of textual. image, video, flash, wikis, blogs, audio etc... evidence than could be referenced against competencies. It could also include individual and collaborative work as well as encouraging reflecting learning. What this does mean is (i) trust in teachers and learners and (ii) the end of crude league tables which encourage the kind of 'cheating' which has meant the end of coursework. Sadly I fear that this kind of model is too sophisticated for the politicians who prefer a crude examination model - but we can but try.

I spoke to them!  Well, I spoke to Margaret Wright, the QCA Adviser for ICT & e-learning - I am hoping to be involved with them sometime in the future.  I don't know what the solutions are but I am willing to try out new approaches to assessment with my classes.  I hate having to give kids tests that they can't get more than a C on.  Don't mind me, I had a tough day today, year 11 were making sure I earnt my money, they kicked off at the 'assessment' (mock exam) they had period 5.  Oh well, tomorrows another day 

There were some wonderful eportfolios using moblogging - lifeBlog and mediaboard, blogger, flickr and more at Mlearn06. I loved the catering students' and the bakers' creations. But what about the courses where our students cannot photograph themselves at work such as student midwives, nurses, teachers because images of unwell people or under-18s are involved?

There is no law banning the photographing of people, you just need their permission (and if they are under 18 the permission of their parents/guardians).

Create a consent form that the photographed people/parents could sign which says exactly how the images will be used and what you will do with them at the end of the course.

When creating an online photo portfolio then don't use public services such as Flickr, but use a VLE/secure system instead.

I wish I could find the link but I am sure there are a couple of m-learn projects involving medical students and their patients.

Obviously child protection issues are always high-up on a schools agenda but I really think if we want to use the devices then we will have to find ways of managing these issues and thats probably what is lacking at the moment clear guidance on how to manage the data collected and shared. This is not just an educational issue and expands beyond child protection and goes into copyright and data protection.

My fear is (and I have seen great work damaged by this) is that we get dragged down into a spiral of legislative administration, so it would be good to see some clear commitment from central government on this issue, which would give a strong mandate for positive administrative policies to be developed.