Update on mlearning resources

Doing a catch up on mlearning resources this morning. A copy of paper presented at efest / teaching and learning conference at Ucol in October last year now archived along with several others via Ako Aoteoroa. Ones pertinent to mobile learning include Kathryn McCallum’s paper on ‘student characteristics & variables which determine mobile learning adoption’ and Thom Cochrane’s & Roger Bateman on their mLearning journey.

In addition, Thom has provided an overview of the Unitec mlearning projects in developing eportfolios using social networking sites using mobile phones as one of the many interesting projects to enhance student learning in the Ako Aoteoroa ' good' practice ebook.

Always good to check up on web based educational resources on Jane Hart's site.  There is a compendium of mobile learning tools which provides a good list for use with iphones/ipod touches, blackberrys and windows mobile phones.

A more theorectical aspect on mobile learning, which I have recommended our library purchases is a book on mobile learning:structures, agency & practice edited by Norbert Pachler, Ben Bachmair and John Cook. There is a preview of this book on Google books.

Mobile learning is no longer seen as being something which is still emergent.  There is now greater recognition of the advantages in investigating the use of mobile technology in enhancing learning opportunities for students. Part of this is the greater access everyone seems to now have to mobile phones. Using increasingly sophisticated mobile phones does assist educators in becoming more familiar with the use of this form of technology and awakens awareness of it's possibilities for learning.

ePortfolios - direction and ways to use

Ray Tolley’ blog discusses the many issues which influence the how, why and what of using eportolios in education. He has summarised a google doc version of a summary of a mindmeister mindmap of work being done at Unitec in Auckland by Hazel Owens and the Centre for Learning & Teaching Innovation.

I am looking forward to touching base with Hazel later this month at efest in Palmerston North & next month at the eportfolios in VET showcase in Melbourne. I am hoping that the conversations with Hazel & many others will provide firmer direction for building a case for the use of eportfolios both for our tutors and for students. In particular, how we will set up the institutional eportfolio structure. Will we use Mahara or will we also promote the possibilities provided by cloud computing?