Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

It looks like you send still, pre-caught images, and real time audio - I'm now thinking of a learning and teaching application for mobile users where it adds value above skype. Anyone got some good suggestions? Fieldwork springs to mind .... would it be wonderful, snap that photo, upload and discuss ...

In terms of trying it, then why don't some of us try to arrange a test ? If some people want to look into the how bit (thinking of a technically minded person), then the rest of use to follow orders, install and away we go (ish). Any volunteers?

The home pages are: http://www.vrvs.org/?id=1 - it looks like we'll need to register !

For all those who want to discuss all about podcasts, a new jiscmail list has appeared; http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/podcasting.html

So go on ... join up ;-)

Cheers

Andy

Some hosted blogs providers include a podcast option (well Blog City do).

I'd suggest there are considerable benefits of associating the podcast with other communication software. For instance, by including the podcast with a Blog then you can use the podcast to hook interest, direct them back to the blog for more info / widen the scope of the information being provided, and then encourage comments / feedback.

An example is ... http://blackboard.blog-city.com/fireside_chat_23rd_june_06.htm

So people can leave comments, while information can be drip fed from hte podcast to the blog - including links etc.,

It will be very interesting when the VLEs start to deliver their podcast modules/building blocks, then it will open up the use of other communication tools (discussion boards) and collaborative tools (wikis). Very simple technologies, effectively deployed, and the effective is down to learning design.

I'd agree with Simone - we've been piloting profcast in the Maths Dept for podcasting some lectures. Very easy to use for the perspective of the lecturer. Some issues about lapel mics which we need to work on - i.e., getting the sound quality right. Also, allows easy publication to the web with the creation of appropriate tagging.

There are a couple of issues (which other users might be able to help with), firstly I need to work on enhanced podcasts (mainly for iPod users). So I'll need to take the powerpoint headers to build the table of contents. Should be easily achieved within the software. Secondly, to try to capture the what is being written on the whiteboard(s) etc., i.e., move away from a predefined present and talk approach.

Any profcast users got the solutions?

thanks Mark and thornuk for the thoughts.

Now a call for help - I was wondering if any practitioners could help me.

In UK HE w.r.t podcasting there is still the focus on replacing lectures. I'm trying to build up a case whereby you replace the didactic / non interactive large scale lecture with a podcast which is supported by follow up activities on a discussion board, virtual classroom, IM set up. I'm arguing that this has the potential of increasing the degree of interactivity compared to the previous stale-ish environments in a way that will scale with numbers, while adding that rather nice - mobile twist, given the tasks are relatively easily achieved on current mobile devices. While a simple podcast of the would be lecture in isolation is in fact a poor learning experience for the student - see http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com/podcasting_lectures_for_uni_students__will_it_really_work.htm

However, I was wondering if anyone is currently attempting this, and if so, what have been their experiences and would they mind if I reviewed the podcasts, discussion boards activity etc. I'm looking for a few juicy case studies :-)

If yes, then please leave a message using the messages area on this forum and I'll contact you.

Hi,

some blurb about the UK Social Science week

----------

Well, some of the issues are tackled in Social Science Week - Voices (http://www.sosig.ac.uk/voices/)

Each day during Social Science week from - Monday March 13th to Friday March 17th - SOSIG will publish a page on this web site on a topic to do with making use of audio.

"    Getting started with podcasts
"    Research uses of audio
"    Teaching and learning uses of audio
"    Marketing and news uses of audio
"    Producing audio

The articles will link to wide range of audio resources on each topic and act as a guide to using audio in the Social Sciences. Accompanying each day's article will be a short audio download on that topic.

The goal of the week is to build towards a full programme of about 20 minutes duration, which brings together the clips released in the previous few days and packages them as a whole.

-------------

Lots of these issues are transferable to other disciplines, so roll up ;-)

If you've got 5 minutes to spare while drinking your tea, then reviewing and reflecting on the following web site is really worth it … http://www.chinesepod.com

I've just been looking at http://www.chinesePod.com – Learn Mandarin Anytime, Anywhere with Daily Podcasts (to be honest they emailed me … I have enough problems mastering very basic French).

After reviewing the site, one thing which did strike me, was it is an excellent practical example of how the learning objectives can be achieved through integrating a number of different tools. In this case podcast integrate with a number of other collaborative learning tools (blogs & wikis), as well as some didactic delivery tools such as glossaries and flashcards. It is a commercial model, so some parts are password protected. However, you still get a really good flavour of the way they are matching appropriate tools to tasks. Where you’ll be using each tool in accordance to its strengths, and the art is how we, the educators, integrate these together to make a more positive online learning experience. The other thing that struck me was these tools are available within most VLEs, and accessible via our handheld devices. So, we could all follow the chinesePod model !

Out of interest, is anyone following a similar approach to the chinesePod model?  Alternatively, if you've come across other examples of similar approaches then it would be good to share - plus a bit of blurb on why your pushing it. It will help us make the connection on how we develop appropriate activities.

Thanks Graham ;-)

Just to mention I’ve released a new update, which includes 2 new features;

1. Top tips - area for us to share any tips we have on creating and distributing podcasts
2. Home grown podcasts - this are is to allow people to share the podcasts that they have created. I thought this might be a nice way of getting under the hood of educational podcasting

As you can see, both these features are re-aligning the resource a little more towards supporting people in creating their own educational podcasts, as opposed to being a simple list.

see the podcast hotlist at .... http://www.ltss.bris.ac.uk/ole/pod/hotlists/page_01.htm

Hi,

I've just set up an rss feed to improve the way I inform you of additions to educational podcast hotlist (via the mobile learning blog - http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com). I don't want to keep adding replies to this list ;-)

The rss feed is http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com/read/podcasting.rss

Graham - would it be possible to add it to the rss feeds on this site? I've added to the links, although it might appear in the other section. A new section, educational podcasts would be nice ;-)

Cheers

Thanks Mark, I've added Tony's ;-)

I've updated the podcast hot list and added a new feature .... shock horror, new feature !!! There is a podcast quiz, everytime I update (which is determined by the speed you log them) I add a new question. The idea is to use the formative feedback to help all of us understand a little more about podcasts and their educational application.

If you have a question that you want added then email me (andy.ramsden@bristol.ac.uk), it has to be about podcasts ;-) and include good quality feedback

So ....

hot list is available from http://www.ltss.bris.ac.uk/ole/pod/hotlists/page_01.htm

submit your suggested feeds at http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/ltss/podcast_hot_list

Cheers

Andy

Hi,

I've uploaded the first list of those sent to me - there are a few to be added, thanks PeterB ;-)

http://www.ltss.bris.ac.uk/ole/pod/hotlists/page_01.htm

Couple of comments ... come on you 'orrible lot, lets have some more feeds    and also, what about the subject / discipline specific ones, chemistry? history? etc.,

Cheers

Andy

If you get a chance could you give a bit more info, what is FlexiPad? what does it let you do? can you add your own fields or is it all pre-set out of the box?

Thanks

Andy

David - thanks, I'll add it to the list. If any others have podcasts they'd like to add, then don't hold back ;-)

You do raise some very interesting questions with respect to the userability of podcasts within teaching and learning. I don't plan to answer any, just muddy the waters a little, and see if anyone has an answer.

The first issue is the length and structure of the podcast. Something I've been muttering about is the washing up test, if I can listen while washing up and remember anything at the end then it must have been engaging (please note - I'm not known for my skills at multitasking). As people who create podcasts we need to be aware of what will engage the listeners, I shouldn't take it for granted that because I'm the lecturer who creates the podcast, then you the student will be interested. Secondly, you raise an important point with respect to is the material appropriate for the delivery mechanism, i.e., it might be much effective as text in a newsletter, or on a blog. This type of questioning is important when you shift from a didactic (teacher centred) model to a more learner centred approach. How / where does podcasting fit into this model? Where does it add value compared to other learning technologies? Where do peer to peer interactions occur? Or are podcasts implicitly a "1 to many" tool that adds value for a small number of students?

As I say, no answers, but a few questions.

With respect to Dan's observations, that is far too scary ....... 

Hi,

This will start me off (again  )

I take the view that most registration type software will leave you wanting because it simply will not meet your needs. You'll finish up needing to adapt them for the type of things that you actually want recorded and what you'll want to create reports on. Therefore, you should be looking for another solution. I'm rather in favour of using a database such as Handbase to create these on, this is for many reasons, including, its much more flexible and you can use it outside a registration functionality. Normally people get very very very scared about databases (me included) but it is very simply to create tables and forms to collect the data, and then import it into Access or Excel, or other databases.

I think that this is a great opportunity for us the community to help each other out, and have in the past on this forum "gone on about" this being a real benefit of being part of something like this. For instance, if people started to develop Handbase templates they could share them, or help those new to handbase develop or tweak registers. And before you know it, for little money you are getting what you want.

So Elizabeth, before you either rush out and buy handbase, or completely ignore what I've been ranting about, it would be good if you just jotted down exactly what you need, the type of information you want to capture, and the type of reports you want generated. Then we can see if it's do-able via Handbase (or Excel), or someone else has an off the shelf solution (boo hiss boo).

If you (or others) want to know more about handbase then I've written some stuff my blog - http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com/read/mycurrentholygrail.htm - it was one of my previous holy grails ;-)

Dear Simone,

I'm not 100% what observational record keeping is, and the format you are capturing you observations in, and then how you plan to archive and analysis them ... however, if its something that will allow you to capture an audio recording, and then link text markers to this all using a PDA, and finally transferring it all back to a PC for some serious analysis. In other words a dictation and transcription system on a PDA (pocket pc or palm) then the following might be worth a look;

Audacity for PDAs - http://www.audiost.com/products.htm

I've made a few initial observations from just looking around the web site - http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com/dictation_and_transcription_system__audacity_on_pdas.htm - I've a few reservations. However, if you evaluate it then please tell the world ... it will save me the time. I might get round to using this in March/April when I've got a few focus groups to run 

Finally, where did I find out about the software ... well all the credit goes to Andy Black - thanks :-)