Blogging from inside the MTeam!
Aug 13th, 2007 by annepaterson
We all feel privileged to be part of the Learnscope MLearning Leadership Network and are making the most of the opportunity!
The statement below very much sums up an underpinning philosophy of the MTeam:
Particularly the idea of the learner being the user/producer - or “produser” as described below.
“Mobile learning technologies and the move towards ‘user-led education’
Recent advances in media technologies are deeply intertwined with an overall shift towards more user-led content production models in a large variety of fields – some observers describe this as the move towards a ‘Generation C’ of active and intercreative users (Trendwatching, 2005), or towards a hybrid user/producer or ‘produser’ (Bruns, 2005),replacing traditional production/consumption models.”
- Axel Bruns, Rachel Cobcroft, Jude Smith, & Stephen Towers – Mobile learning technologies and the move towards ‘user-led education’ - proceedings of Mobile Media 2007, an international conference held at the University of Sydney 2-4 July 2007.
Our noticeboard on the MTeam wiki is a trail of tools we have examined and trialed, and papers of interest.
My MTeam colleagues know I have a thing about Twitter and we have explored its use in teaching and learning at some length, so I love this extract from Seven Things you should know about Twitter:
“As a tool for students or professional colleagues to compare thoughts about a topic, Twitter can be a viable platform for metacognition, forcing users to be brief and to the point—an important skill in thinking clearly and communicating effectively. In addition, Twitter can provide a simple way for attendees at a conference to share thoughts about particular sessions and activities with others at the event and those unable to attend.”
Dot Waterhouse is on our team too so we have had links with the Txtme 07 project and have had a chance to look at “the very easy to use telstra sms program”
Padmini Sampathkumar is on our team and is working on “getting audiovisual stimulus/preteaching material delivered to the students to get their attention and interest and engage them in learning before they get to class”.
Viv Evans has been out and about and posts this link History and infor via mobile at Cowra Japanese Gardens
Finally, the MTeam is encouraged and supported by the knowledge that we are on the right track, as evidenced by this quote:
“Students want to feel engaged, to be connected, and to learn and grow. But they prefer tools that are convenient and comfortable and fit their mobile lifestyle. The opportunity to engage students is there for the taking. Fewer opportunities have presented such wide-ranging potential—if higher education institutions can learn to reach students using their preferred communication methods.”
Educause
Volume 30 Number 2 2007Viewpoint
Always Connected, But Hard to Reach
By Raju Rishi
Seize the Opportunity: Mobilize!