Mobile Technology in Training and Education

On this page I will try to collate information on developments with m-learning - using mobile technologies such as smart phones and tablets in delivery of education and training. 

To kick off, I would like to share this website which contains the proceedings of a conference, "mLearning 2012:  Mobile and Contextual Learning."  There are numerous academic research papers to browse through about recent research into using mobile technology for delivery.

For a website that has all about mobile learning - what it is, best practice, and more, go to JISC InfoNet

Here is a link to a UNESCO page on ICT in education, that deal with mobile technology, providing discussions and examples from around the world.

The NSW Rural and Distance Education unit has an excellent overview of the "why" of mobile technology in education

More will be added here along with an overview of mobile technology in VET and some summaries of key information - watch this space!

Using QR Codes in Education and Training

One way to use mobile technology, in particular, phones, is with QR codes - those strange looking squares you sometimes see on posters and ads.  Anyone can download a QR reader to their smart phone or iphone, point it at the code, and it will take them to some information which could be a website, or a list of facts, an image, or some other form of information.

Here is a link to a useful presentation on the uses of QR codes in the classroom, and resources such as QR code reader and code writer apps:  QR Codes

Here is a link to an excellent resource with further information about QR Codes for teachers, and links to video tutorials:  Teachers Guide to QR Codes

I have created this QR Code using an app called QR Creator for iPhone from the App Store:

Try downloading a QR reader from the App store, or Google Store if you have a smart phone, point your phone at this code while in the app, and see where it takes you.

When you create the QR code, you have the option of creating a URL, text, address, or contact QR.  So for your students, you can give them information to help them with a project, or you can create hints for a scavenger hunt around a physical locality, as well as websites to explore.