Handheld Learning 2009

Tuesday 6th Oct,  14:30 -16:00

An anything goes session featuring the latest mobile technologies and how they may be applied to, or inform, new teaching practice.

Confirmed speakers:

- Neil Milliken, Head of Mobile Development, Iansyst Ltd, United Kingdom - “Enabling Mobile Inclusivity for Dyslexia & SPLD”

I have been working with a number of education institutions ranging from primary through to higher education to develop strategies for aiding inclusion for people with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties through the use of Windows Mobile devices. We have developed software (Capturatalk) that allows users to capture text using the camera on their mobile phone and have it read out to them using a high-quality text-to-speech voice. Users can also use the software to access and read tasks, reminders of notes and Word documents as well as the Internet via pocket Internet Explorer. They can also use the software to proof read written work that they have composed on the phone and gain understanding of the words they don\'t understand as the software contains the Oxford English dictionary and will read out the definition of words that they select. The software really becomes useful when it is used in conjunction with other strategies for organisation and distribution of course materials, recording lesson & tutorials. People with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties often suffer from short-term memory issues and organisational problems; using a mobile device helps them stay on top of their work and aids inclusion. Learners engage with their mobile phones and the technology is discrete and ubiquitous. I intend to demonstrate this and support my findings with pictures and videos of the technology in use.

- Ian Haynes, Director, Cimex Media Ltd. & Social Care Institute for Excellence, United Kingdom - “Mobile learning for care workers”

Cimex and the Social care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) have been developing innovative e-learning resources for many years now – initially as traditional SCORM based learning modules and more recently working on a new video on demand platform “Social Care TV”. A key feature of care workers working lives is they are not desk bound - often on the move between clients or several care homes in typical working day. As a result care workers make an ideal potential audience for e-learning solutions delivered to mobile platforms. The aim of the project, therefore, was to create a prototype Social Care TV platform to test the feasibility and effectiveness in the delivery of e-learning in this way. Working in close collaboration with Cimex’s in house User Experience team and the Social care Institute for Excellence the prototype platform is tested on a team of social workers to investigate how effective mobile learning is compared to traditional delivery via desktop/laptop and to answer question around the technical limitations (handsets, screen size, bandwidth) and how best to design an effective user interface for this audience with the aim of informing future development. The project goes on to look at future potential opportunities mobile delivery will offer this audience. From the use of wireless access points in care homes to improve content accessibility to the use of GPS enabled learning applications capable of delivering highly personal and location specific learning.

- Laurie Wiseman, Founder & Publishing Director, Primal Pictures Ltd, United Kingdom and Dr David Davies, Reader in Medical Education, Warwick - “Mobile 3D Anatomy: Innovative Medical Education”

Clinically integrated anatomy teaching requires cadaveric material, radiological images and simulators. Unfortunately, it is difficult for students to access all of these resources in a non-academic environment. In a collaboration between the Medical School at Warwick University and Primal Pictures, a software package for the iPod has been designed that would integrate these teaching tools, whilst at the same time being portable, affordable and accessible worldwide. Results: A series of anatomy Video Podcasts, compatible with multimedia MPEG-4 players were designed, taking advantage of high resolution digital imaging and three dimensional animations combined with narrative and visual explanations. 500 word multimedia packages were created incorporating 3D simulations, clinical and radiological images. These were complemented by audio and on-screen text explanation, as well as digital highlighting techniques. Clinical integration was achieved by linking regional anatomy, to pathology and radiology in a clinical context, and in particular focusing on surgical diagnostic and operative procedures. Early studies show a significant increase in short-term recall of anatomical concepts through use of the Podcasts, compared with text-based and traditional learning. Further studies are required to show long-term retention of concepts and data.

- Dr. John B. Stav, Associate Prof., Sør-Trøndelag University College, Faculty of Technology, Norway - “Student Response Services for iPhone and iPod”

A new type of Student Response Services for next generation wireless mobile handheld devices with pressure sensitive screens, iPOD Touch and iPhone, is demonstrated. They are constructed for use in vocational education and training, and in engineering courses. This is achieved through easy and flexible integration with interactive touch screen blackboards by utilizing Flash in combination with Flex. The European Commission cofounds the R&D during 2008-10. The services are based up on XML-based standards and web authoring facilities for the contents available on web pages, by providing XML-based universal notation and interface including visualization of scientific and engineering drawings and graphs. The search facilities retrieve the postulates of the instructor through a service-oriented architecture that integrates semantic web into the system for retrieval of information from the knowledge base system. iTunes Store is not used. Pedagogical challenges related to the new roles of teachers and students in the educational process will be demonstrated. This includes opening up for new classroom communication, e.g. formative and summative assessment purposes. The services provide session control, a flexible framework for generating questionnaires, and easy and fast to use interfaces for teachers and students. The services will during the summer and fall 2009 be tested and validated in training of staff from industry in Norway, UK, Sweden, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia.

- Walter Patterson, Project Coordinator, Microsoft/SQA Partners in Learning, Scotland, UK - “Mobile diary room in a box - listening to learners”

The Microsoft/SQA Partners in Learning projects support innovative teachers in the adoption of ICT in learning and teaching. The projects and their outcomes are conventionally transcribed to a Powerpoint template (the Microsoft Virtual Classroom Tour (VCT)) and then made available online to share with other teachers. However,it was recognized that in promoting good practice through the VCT there was no means of capturing the “dynamic” of each project – what made it exciting or what the quality of the learner experience was. This led to a collaboration with the creative design company 55degrees, who had already established a track record of capturing user experiences (ie vox pop) through the use of technology. This involved the piloting of a “video studio in a suitcase”, and the deployment of two portable units (VOXUR) to schools across the ten LEAs participating in the PIL project. The videos were used to evaluate the projects. VOXUR consists of a secure yellow suitcase containing a laptop, lighting rig and speakers. The system is fully automated and can be used without any technical expertise. This presentation will describe the concepts that underpin the system design, and how they have been realized through the portable video booth. Some of the user experiences will be used to exemplify how pupils and teachers have benefited from using an automated system to capture the learner voice. Examples will include primary, secondary and adult education.

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