Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

An excellent analysis of the issues, and what looks like a valuable scheme.

I feel that podcasting has significant potential in the "teaching and learning" context, but with reservations.

First, it is a medium primarily accessible to the "auditory learner", and whilst that comprises a valuable group, it does not necessarily include the majority.  Further, without a proficient structure to the podcast and effective "delivery" by the speaker(s), it will have little more impact on learning, even for auditory learners, than background "musak" - the eyes of the listener have, potentially, too many available distractions, and only if their attention is fully retained will the "message" be absorbed.  However, a podcast does have the advantage that it can be "wound back" and replayed, either to cover those parts missed through distraction, or not fully understood.

Secondly, as a learning tool, it could be useful for instructional material - the content could be step by step instructions which are followed sequentially, with the option to step back and re-run the stages if necessary.  The content is instructor focussed; how it is used is learner focussed.  Appropriate learning is dependent on the learner interpreting the instructions correctly. There is no opportunity for dialogue between the two, so misunderstandings and misperceptions are not correctible. It is therefore critical that the script of the podcast is able to be understood in only a single way.

A further use in learning would be for the podcast to pose questions that provoke investigative thought, so the learner considers alternatives and draws conclusions;  these conclusions may be the basis of further actions or analyses.  However, unless there is later scope (eg: in tutorial) for discussing these conclusions, they will be undirected (possibly misdirected, assuming certain definitions of the "right" view).  As learning is normally associated with assessment of some type (whether formal or informal), it is axiomatic that there will be a perceived view of what is the "right" learning outcome.  So this application of podcasting could either release a new level of thinking, or be simply misleading.  Leaners appreciate feedback, and this is lacking in the podcast medium - but then, so it is in the traditional learning medium - books !

(That's a start to the responses, so sit back and await incoming fire !)

Some good thoughts there, Mark.  (I was responding to Prof Tom O'Brien's correspondence with Prof Dr. Heinrich Bauersfeld, but the response didn't come up on the same thread for some reason.)

That correspondence resonated with me because I've been thinking about a "library" of auditory reference podcasts that pupils /students can access whenever they need to develop a new technique or revise one they've not used recently (my thinking is coloured by the subject I teach ["Design & Technology"]).  They can then download the appropriate file(s) - if they don't already  have them on their mp3/4 device - and listen to it at whatever pace they chose (using the pause button at each stage, and re-run sections as they need).  So the choice on what is studied, and the pace at which it is studied are entirely pupil/student centred.  In this context the learner could be seen as "lonely".  However, they may be solitary (insofar as following their own study needs of the moment), but within the context of a whole class, each similarly occupied with the opportunity to break from their solitude to discuss issues with others and seek help, whenever they feel the need.

Certainly vodcasting would be an advantage, as they could see the process under instruction as well as hear it.  However, as you say, the development time for this is significant - I have edited instructional VTs, and getting (eg:) 8 minutes run time from 40 minutes raw video is reckoned to be good going - the editing took many hours !

Whilst the concept of pupils/students creating the podcasts is an exciting approach, I have reservations about it being an efficient use of time in the context of the acquisition of techniques in the focussed area of D&T.  My interpretation of the scenario would be that they would discover how to do something and make a podcast to summarise their experiences and their conclusion of the best way to so it - a very sound learning method in some arenas, but could lead to the loss of several fingers if learning how to use machinery !

We are at the dawn of a new era in learning, and (for the exact reason you mention) we will undoubtedly discover new (and, hopefully, better) ways of using technological developments to present learning experiences to the pupil/student.  However, that discovery may be (if history is to be any indication) a stumbling affair, with numerous obstacles and false tracks !

- But the more we seek, the more likely we are to find !

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.