Handheld Learning 2009

A celebration of innovative mobile learning projects involving City Learning Centres in Building Schools for the Future areas across the country.

09.30 – Sheila Crew, Manager, City Learning Centre, Bristol - Bristol Mobile Learning project
09.55 - Andy Fisher, Manager, Middlesbrough City Learning Centre - 3D online worlds supporting transformational improvement
10.20 – Paul Matty, Manager, Townley Park City Learning Centre, Burnley, Lancashire - BBC Springwatch Project

10.45 - Panel discussion – chaired by Steve Moss, Strategic Director, ICT, Partnerships for Schools.

Presentations and interactive discussions from the some of the leading UK agencies, policy makers and practitioners who are facing the challenges and opportunities presented by mobile technologies and the connected learner. The panel will include
- Debbie Forster of Vital,
- Steve Moss of Partnership for Schools,
- Tim Tarrant of the TDA,
- Zoe Goodwin of Academies Enterprise Trust
and colleagues from the primary and secondary sectors. The session will give an opportunity to test the panel on current policy on Building Schools for the Future, CPD in ICT, teacher training and related areas and to discuss how policy and practice might develop over the next 10 years. The presentations will be brief – the emphasis will be on discussion.

Chaired by Jill Attewell, Manager, LSN Technology Enhanced Learning Research Centre and MoLeNET Programme Manager

With 20,000 learners involved to-date MoLeNET is one of the biggest mobile learning initiatives in the world. Participating educators and researchers have learned many valuable lessons about how to introduce, support and maximise the returns from mobile learning. This session, designed to share some of this valuable information, includes presentations from the LSN MoLeNET programme team and from some of the MoLeNET projects.

Last year’s session looked at some of the pilot work going on in schools exploring the potential for mobile learning using a range of devices. This year’s workshop moves on to look at some of the real impact mobile learning with various devices is now having on aspects of education at the school level. New ways of learning languages, school-wide ICT strategy and approach, inclusion and transition issues using devices from iPods to netbooks will be described in a series of sessions delivered by practitioners from schools, CLCs and PRUs.

Participants in this breakout session were invited to apply for a competitive opportunity to showcase their handheld learning practices through the ICT Register - a unique programme operated by the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust [and supported by Becta] capturing and sharing ICT and eLearning expertise in cutting edge primary, secondary and special schools, academies and learning centres around the world.

- Lesley Hagger-Vaughan, Director of Strategic eLearning Services, Shireland City Learning Centre, Sandwell - Language Learning “to go” with iPod Language Lab.

The Shireland CLC is now working in collaboration with Heathfield Foundation Technology College and AT Computers to develop the use of an 'iPod Language Lab' to support language learning “to go”. The iPod Lab is a 21st century Language Lab, offering personalised learning and supporting language learners to extend their speaking and listening skills.

- Alan Enfield, Federation Vice Principal, New Line Learning Cornwallis, Maidstone - Putting all the pieces together.

Cornwallis has changed spaces that students learn in to plazas, large spaces that are technology rich and enable students to learn in a variety of ways and the blue prints for the design of our new school which is being built now. All students have mobile devices, and we have cut back the number of desktops and are now developing a totally integrated approach. Cornwallis will share the learning from our journey so far.

- J Freeman, ICT Co-ordinator, Parkside Pupil Referral Unit, Ipswich - Using iPods to support transition.

We are working with a group of year 11 students exploring the ways that handheld technology can support the transition from school to college. One group of students with ADSL and Autism have been trialling the use of iPods and looking at ways the devices can assist in the move to college.

- Jenny Wong, Class teacher, St Paul's Convent School, Hong Kong - Mobile Learning - teaching Chinese as a Second Language.

This activity was designed to teach non-Chinese speaking students Putonghua and Chinese - covering listening, reading, writing and oral skills. Students followed specially prepared and selected podcasts and vodcasts. It broke the barrier of language learning to non-Chinese because students learned and practiced the language at their own pace with the help of the iPod touch.