Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

Both articles interesting.

Getting it into the mind of younger users (and FE and HE's future 'customers') that they dont have to use microsoft products or operating systems all the time could have far reaching consequences. If only we could get more corporates and management in some areas of HE :-) to open their mind to such alternatives.

I like my eeePC but wish there was still a decent palm sized device available that I could carry in my pocket.... (that should open the door to a deluge of "why dont you uses a....." )


Jon

Good article Dave!

On the George Cole piece; I'm sure that there haven't been many trials using the miniBook / EEE PC given that they were only launched at the Handheld Learning Conference in October. They did start shipping soon after in small quantities in November and in larger quantities from December onwards, mostly without manufacturing defects and on time  Since then nearly 30,000 units have entered the UK education market and many more I'm sure in the casual/business user market given that Asus claim to be selling a unit every 6 seconds.

Handheld or not it's interesting that the EEE PC has virtually outsold every brand of PDA device combined in the UK schools sector within a few months of release and show's no sign of slowing down. One has to ask the question why and what does this mean?

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of full trials using these devices when they've been out a while and kids realise that they really can take them home, these can then be compared against the trials being conducted in Scotland with game based learning and then together with the PDA/Smartphone/UMPC initiatives we should get an interesting picture to discuss by the next Handheld conference.

 

Hi Michael


Is this turning into a this device vs that device competition?

I recall that the original stated benefit of the PDA was that it too would achieve a simple and cheap solution to 1:1 access. But with bloated operated systems and shrinking markets they ended up costing more than £400.

I would imagine that in the case of these category busting laptops with their Linux operating system and the support of a bouyant Open Source community, learners will not be short of some excellent software for the purposes of creating and evidencing learning. Much of this software is also free as are the development tools but for those wanting to stick with Flash there is a good player and browser support for Linux also.


I'd say that devices don't offer anything to teaching or learning, 25 years of investment in ICT has proven that. It's the willingness to accept change and embrace without fear that will affect teaching.

In the case of learning, well, I'd say that the kids are already discovering it for themselves.

G

i am with Dave re the importance of a device 'in hand' at your side for teaching and learning as opposed to 'on lap or desk' and in your face.

It is true though that how teachers implement teaching and learning will weigh more heavily than the device (whichever one ) affords. What I am not seeing is teachers in secondary education with time and space to develop teaching and learning strategies to utilise the flexibility of the PDA. I also see Graham's point about willingness however, when teachers can see what's on pupil's devices eg I gather data projection displays from mobiles and PDA wi-fi control of the classrrom data projector are both feasible or through software like  Synchroneyes I think attitudes will change