Friday, December 10, 2010

The Future of Mobile Computing and Education




According to Wikipedia, mobile computing is a form of human- computer interaction where a computer is expected to be transported during normal usage.  Mobile computing has three aspects: mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software.   Mobile computing is 'taking a computer and all necessary files and softwares out in to the field. It is being able to use a computing device even when being mobile and therefore changing location.  Portability is one aspect of mobile computing.



One of my favorite quotes as I mention in one of my previous blogs, "Learning is not static it is dynamic." School Districts will have to get on board with technology, more so mobile technology. Not all will be where they want to be at the same time, but they will be revampting their technology plans to include more than they presently have.

The Gartner, Inc. identified 10 top technologies that will be strategic for most organizations in 2011.
  • Cloud Computing
  • Mobile Applications and Media Tablets
  •  Socal Communications and Collaboration
  • Video
  • Next Generation Analytics
  • Social Analytics
  • Context-Aware Computing
  • Storage Class Memory
  • Ubiquitous Computing
  • Fabric-Based Infrastructure ans Computers
With these projections by Gartner a leading company in IT research and emerging trends, school will want to educate students to be equipped for the world of work. After all what would our role be if we are not equipping students with the necessary skills to function in society.  However, some students are presently using these outside of the classroom.  The graph below shows how mobile devices are used for learning.  School Districts will have no doubt but to venture into this lanscape of the rapid changes in technology.

As technology continues to infiltrate every corner of the K-12 educational space, administrators, teachers, and students are undoubtly curious about what's coming around the bend in 2011.   Will more school embrace students-centric mobile devices? Will the cloud continue to reign?  To get the answers to these questions the Journal spoke with a handful of technology experts and came up with a short list of top tech trends you will want to watch in the new year. According to The Journal - IT Trends Feature:
  1. There will be more momentum for mobile devices in classrooms with an eye toward affordable alternatives to traditional 1:1 rollouts.
  2. Web-based instruction will gain more traction at the K-12 level
  3. More tech-based monitoring and assessment tols will be incorporated into the instructional mix
  4. The cloud will help ease the finicial burden on schools while helping to expand technological capabilities
  5. Teachers will have access to expand professional development programs
 According to Roland Rios, director of instructional technology at Fort Sam Houston Independent School District in San Antonio, TX. "Schools are smartening up and letting students use their tools in innovative ways," said Rios, who added that he expects such initiatives to be centrd on concepts like,"ubiquitous learning" and 24/7 access to technology. He went on futher to say that " the schools that "get it" will be the ones that stay ahead of the tech curve. "As educators, we really need to stay on top of this stuff, instead of just catching up."

Another educations commented about the clickers and she said " take the classroom clickers for example, which teachers use to engage studnets, even in the most srowded of classrooms. Combine the assessment tools with the clickers,  and teachers can quickly ascertain whether a lessonhas "sunk in "  or determine whether futher instruction is needed." This technology device gives teachers ral-time data instantly, instead of having to wait for the graded papers and tests to come back.

Advantages of mobile computing in the classroom
  1. Improves the delivery of instruction
  2. Caters to diversity of learners
  3. Students can be actively engaged even from thier seats(Clickers)
  4. Conserves on time
  5. Readily available information for tecaher and students
  6. Global learning
Disadvantages of mobile computing in the classroom
  1. Cost effective
  2. Unavailablity of Web 2.0  tools
  3. Distracting to students
I will conclude my blog with this YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnh9q_cQcUE




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9 comments:

  1. Visionary LeaderDecember 11, 2010 at 10:04 AM

    Excellent. I watched with pleasure as you expressed yourself through your blog posts; each one more dynamic than the one before. This one is no less. Thank you for sharing and always leaving us with something to think about. The education system is more enriched for having educators such as you. Wonderful post!

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  2. SOliverDecember 11, 2010 at 10:34 AM

    Thank you Janet. It was a pleasure sharing my views weekly in this world of blogosphere.

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  3. UnknownDecember 11, 2010 at 5:09 PM

    You are so right Janet. We have all grown and we should be proud. Just as how technology is changing for the better so are we :). As we can always see, there are always negatives in any situation, but we need to see ways and means of deleting the negatives and turn them into positives.
    I have used the clickers too, and they are awesome. We had a family night at my school and we use the clickers to see if the parents were smarter than their kids. It shows the results right away . Parents lost just to let you know:).
    I really like them though because you can see which child got it wrong instantly and you can remediate right there an then without giving worksheets. Awesome technology. Great post

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  4. UnknownDecember 12, 2010 at 9:58 AM

    I love your word cloud that highlights the negative and positives of technology in the classroom. It is jsut one more representation of how students (that is waht we are now) learn and integrate what they have learned.

    Great blog!!

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  5. tendyteacherDecember 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM

    Not sure I agree with disadvantage #2, of course there are some web 2.0 tools that could be used with mobile computing.
    In the link below judy brown has been working on mobile learning and tools specific to mobile learning.
    http://www.judybrown.com/tools.html
    Good job

    ReplyDelete
  6. Britt WatwoodDecember 12, 2010 at 2:24 PM

    For those of you whose schools have not bought clickers (and they can be pricey), check out Poll Everywhere (http://www.polleverywhere.com/). It turns text-messaging cell phones into instant clickers. I have used this in some classes and on the road at presentations.

    ReplyDelete
  7. EduardoDecember 12, 2010 at 4:17 PM

    What a research!
    Pretty good Post!
    I like the first video, then talking about mobile computing, your data analysis and the Pros and Cons.
    Moreover, Mobile Timeline, its climax in 2017 and many more up to 2020. Excellent video.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Supergirl4thgradeteacherDecember 12, 2010 at 6:09 PM

    Very well thoughtful and detailed post! I enjoyed your video and also your top 10 technologies. I also found your advantages and disadvantages of mobile computing very interesting. I can wait to see how technology will expand in the next 5 years. Again very well done my friend!

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  9. redrosesDecember 12, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    Top ten technologies... Very interesting. I also liked the advantages of cloud computing. Great job Shornette.. as usual!:)

    ReplyDelete

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