Mobility is trending upwards in the
educational community in the form of m-Learning and e-Learning. “Ninety-seven
percent of students enter college with cell phones, yet few universities
leverage this ubiquity for teaching and university life.” (Abilene Christian
University) As more and more people are realizing the benefits of mobility and are
purchasing smartphones, universities are discovering that
they can utilize these tools as powerful learning aids in the classroom.
In addition to Boston University, other schools embracing this technology (but not as integrated as BU) include the University of Michigan, University of Florida, Texas A&M University, Northeastern University, Stanford University, University of Illinois, Abilene Christian University, and Harvard University.
If we look at all these applications from a distance, we can see five different
approaches that schools have taken to create mobile apps:
1. Informational – purely used as a promotional tool including non-personal university data (maps, events, campus information)
2. Connected and Personal Content – adding personal school information to the first approach (my classes, my grades, etc.) as well as social media like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare
3. Mobility in the Classroom – integrating the mobile device into classroom learning exercises
4. Whimsical, creative - using mobile devices in ways never imagined like the Mobile Orchestra
5. Community – linking students with their communities by publishing guides, restaurant ratings, security information, business promotions, and events
Let's take a closer look on approach number three - mLearning. Using mobility in the classroom allows students to interact with their environments and each other while learning. For example, consider an art student at a university. The
student is assigned to attend a gallery opening and take pictures and comment
on their favorite pieces. In the past, this would involve using a bulky camera, developing film and taking notes in a notebook. With today’s
technology, a student
can snap a photo with a smartphone, attach a few comments and submit it to their professor all from an integrated application.
In a past blog entry
regarding BU’s mLearning initiative, we discussed the use of smartphones in finance. In that case, BU students were able to replicate the role of financial analyst with a special mLearning application designed to track company information, news and market data.
As a former marketing student, I know that many of
the tasks my professors assigned for us could have been simplified by mobility.
For example, many of my classes had students compare in-store advertising to
internet, print, commercials, and advertising on the streets (i.e. taxis and
bus stops). Professors would typically
want pictures of what you found, a record of where you found it, and an explanation of how it compares to the other
advertisements. With the use of an mLearning application and GPS, pictures would be tagged with GPS location and comments, then added to an album that would
allow for side by side comparisons.
In addition, in any
coursework involving a group situation, mLearning allows for simplified group
discussion within the application. It allows them to share files and discuss
group assignments wherever they are.
Another great feature for
professors is the integration of GPS. Professors have busy lives. Organizing an entire class to attend an event like a conference or exhibit at a specific time - and being there to take attendance - takes a lot of time and logistical planning. Inevitably, in a class of 40, some students won't be able to attend and others will have to forgo other commitments. And yes, some will always show up late, delaying the rest of the group or missing the boat all together. By using a GPS feature, students would have the ability
to "check in" to an event virtually with their GPS location, allowing them to attend the exhibit, conference or event on their own time. Since the professor receives a GPS time and location stamp, no one needs to bother taking attendance and counting heads - and students get to learn with friends and classmates in a way that works for them.
What opportunities do YOU think present themselves within the classroom setting using mobility?
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