mobile in the field - learning across contexts, the next generation
DESCRIPTION
This slide deck was presented at the Blackboard Teaching and Learning Conference, April 2014 - Dublin, Ireland.TRANSCRIPT
Mobile in the FieldLearning Across Contexts – The Next Generation
ADEL GORDONLearning TechnologistUniversity of Northampton
@adelgordon
ABOUT ME
ADEL GORDONLearning TechnologistUniversity of [email protected]
System Administrator for 11 years
Focus on assessment technologies, Mobile and Blackboard/SIS integration
ABOUT MY INSTITUTION
The University of Northampton has around 17,000 students (FTE) and around 1,500 staff
All students and around 75% of staff are expected to use Blackboard.
The Learning Technology team have responsibility over all things related to Blackboard…
Learn | Community | Content | Connect | Mobile | Mosaic | Turnitin | Kaltura | Panopto | WizIQ | Edublogs | Xerte
WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT…
• Interdependencies when learning across contexts
• Geographers’ use of mobile in the field
• Lessons Learned
• Future plans
OUR CHALLENGE #1
Lecture Theatre
LaboratoryThe field
Personal workspaceSeminar room
Online / VLE
WHY MOBILE?
“Mobile and wireless technologies support learning designs that are personalised, situated and authentic...”
“mobile learning should aim to innovate and to discover what is gained through having portable tools that support observations, interactions, conversations and reflections, within and across various contexts of use...”
(Kukulska-Hulme, Traxler & Pettit, 2007)
OUR CHALLENGE #2
Mapping“Desk based” Survey
Identify & DelineateOverlay key
Plan Data Collection
Assignment
BE ORGANISED!
Students are required to:
OUR SOLUTION
Tablets
Image source: www.apple.com & www.tesco.com
OUR SOLUTION
Skitch
Image Source: www.evernote.com/skitch & Holmes (2014)
OUR SOLUTION
FieldTrip GB
Source: http://fieldtripgb.blogs.edina.ac.uk/
FIELDTRIP GB FORMS
HERE’S HOW WE USED BLACKBOARD
Mobile Learn
• All materials are mobile friendly with options for viewing
• Discussion board for collaborative work
WHAT THE STUDENTS SAID
Like having access to the forms before the
fieldwork
I like the bigger screen on the iPad mini – makes it easier to use the maps
Being able to sync data once connected is great, and the FieldTrip GB app facilitates data collection
really well
I really like the iPad mini and having a 3G version makes it even
better in the field
FieldTrip GB is Great!
LESSONS LEARNED
• Can increase engagement and support activities that are central to learning
• Be clear about the aims and manage expectations (especially of internet availability!)
• Importance of preparatory work
FUTURE PLANS
Oculus Rift – pre fieldwork activities to enhance the usefulness of data capture and gathering in the field.
In trials on generic maps and 3D environments student have commented that…
DO THIS NEXT
Have a chat with staff and students about their practice. Particularly in subjects where field, lab, studio work etc is carried out.
Consider the contexts in which learning takes place, and how the gap between them can be bridged using mobile.
Get some mobile devices!
REFERENCES
Brown, E. (ed) (2010) Education in the Wild: contextual and location-based mobile learning in action. A report from the STELLAR Alpine Rendez-Vous workshop series. University of Nottingham: Learning Sciences Research Institute (LSRI).
Downward, S., et al. “Podcasts and Locations”. In Salmon, G. and Edirisingha, P. (eds) (2008) Podcasting for Learning in Universities. Maidenhead: Open University Press, pp. 57-69.
Gordon, A., Jackson, J. and Usher, J. (2014) Learning across contexts - mobile for fieldwork in environmental sciences. In: Mobile Learning: How Mobile Technologies Can Enhance the Learning Experience. Oxford: UCISA. pp. 2-5.
Holmes, N. (2014) Lake at Delapre. [Skitch image].
Kukulska-Hulme, A., Traxler, J., and Pettit, J., (2007) Designed and user-generated activity in the mobile age. Journal of Learning Design, 2(1), pp. 52–65.
Blackboard Mobile – http://www.blackboardmobile.com/
FieldTrip GB - http://fieldtripgb.blogs.edina.ac.uk/
Oculus Rift - http://www.oculusvr.com/
THANK YOU!
Adel Gordon
Learning Technologist
University of Northampton
@adelgordon