There were three jobs I had for this week if this mobile learning project with learning support students was to get off the ground:
1. intro the personalised learning approach to students
2. explain concept to staff
3. physical setup of space and devices
Here’s some reflection on each of these:
1. very silly of me, but introducing the philosophy of students taking responsibility for their learning (via personalised learning using the iPod touch) was probably the area I found I had least through through. Selling the use of the devices was easy – but helping students grasp what would be expected of them learning-wise is a bit harder to do. My first intro sessions (with students in levelled groups of four) didn’t go so well at explaining this – I had to create a short keynote and incorporate a group mindmapping exercise before these sessions started to achieve what I’d been after. Live and learn. – I must say that being able to use a projector has also transformed this intro. I project up an image (say of a mindmap) which shows students instantly what me drawing and talking about would take a few minutes to do as well.
I’ve also now compartmentalised the steps involved in this first part. Students have just completed part 1 where they are introduced to the personalised learning challenge and have chosen their focus area. Next week is hitting the app store to find an app that will fit with their chosen focus.
2. This has gone well – staff are used to me trying new things etc. And all are supportive of creating self-motivated learners
3. This is proving to be the hardest area as it relies on others… Not that that is a bad thing, and in fact the other staff involved are great. But getting one thing in place (say a lockable cabinet) involves many steps and I’m not even sure if I can get the devices in students hands until next week even though they are here! – I have been able to get a special email account setup (thanks Kate!) so we can open an App store account. – Need to get the devices security coded and get some furniture supplies sorted…
I aim to keep reporting on our progress, good and bad! Love to hear from others also seeking to add personalised and challenge-based ubiquitous learning to their school environs.
9 responses so far ↓
We are starting a similar project using Ipod touches in the classroom as part of a deewar ICT integration project. We have purchased 6 ipod touches to use in a year 6 classroom and a year 1 classroom. We have highly motivated teachers who are keen to see what possibilities the ipod touch could offer a primary school class.
We have recently aquired the devices and one teacher has selected applications that students can use for their learning.
I would like to explore online quizes using google docs and blogging and wikkis, as well as student produced podcasts and read a-long story books.
look forward to keeping up to date with this blog
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jnxyz Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Hi Geoff and thanks for your interest. Would love to more about how your project goes! Do you guys have a blog/ site at all yet?
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geoffderry Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 12:52 am
I have a blog on Edna as part of a deewar project and a blog on here
http://gderry.edublogs.org/2009/10/20/hello-world/
We are just starting out but the initial response is quite good – both teachers and students. We are still at the using applications stage, but will be soon getting students creating and sharing
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jnxyz Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 7:39 am
Great, ta Geoff – heading over to check out and RSS the blog now!
geoffderry Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Thanks Mate,
I think I have added the RSS feed all sorted.
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Hi Jonathon, Thanks for sharing your progress, sounds a very interesting project. I only have 2 ipod touches and my iphone, but I am not ready to unleash children in itunes yet. However, they love the ipods and apps, we are using them to test reflexes in the morning and then the afternoon, collecting data and then analysing to see if there is any trends.
I am hoping to have a heap more next year and I am currently preparing a video that my students this year are putting together to show how great they are. Hoping to get support for a similar project.
Good Luck!!
Bob
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jnxyz Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:18 am
The potential really is unlimited – I love that kids can search the app store but not download (I do that later). They save screenshots of their chosen apps for me to review…
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How exciting! I’m glad to hear that it seems to have “set up” quite well. I understand your challenges regarding the other things you need to do to physically support the learning with these devices though.
Having a supportive staff will also be invaluable to you as sometimes I think that is half the battle in introducing new ideas to a school.
Do you have a document camera to project your iPod Touch work on? We’re trying to work out how we can get one. I did see Wes Warner using a neat video camera hooked into the laptop and then into a data projector instead of an expensive document camera though and I thought that was a neat solution to the problem. Itching to try it myself!
Well done – exciting stuff isn’t it!
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jnxyz Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Yeah still a few setup issues, but pretty smooth really considering – its great to be able to build on others experience! I don’t have a document camera sadly.. just using screenshots to demo things, and as my groups are only 4 kids they can mostly see the screen of an iPod touch also. Ok, ta for stopping by!
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