M-learning

M-learning is becoming a hot topic and real implict to a school.
With the blooming trend of iPad and Androne platform, schools are promoted to use more technology in classroom, even paperless and ebooks concept.
I recently heard a news from a lower form of secondary school that students are compulsory to use smartphone in class assignment real time online test. Students needed to use their smartphone to login school's intranet and answer the questions during class. It prevents students help others to answer questions as well as copy from others.
Teacher can monitor students progress and awareness of such knowledge by viewing their answer in this real time system.
It's really an innovative approach.

Mobile Technology - Parental involvement

Beca mentions in a mobile learning research that parental involvement is an element that may need to consider in studying student mobile learning in school.
As a parent, I will only support mobile learning in school when I understand the value of investment in mobile device and the actual benefit to our children.
Schools need to consider about parental involvement in developing the mobile learning.

http://mite.cite.hku.hk/file.php/64/mobile_learning_july07.pdf


FMY

Experimental Classroom

General Comment

The headroom of this classroom is high enough, so that let people come here feel comfortable. The high technology such as the intelligent control of lighting, projector sources and internet access make people feel confident and proud of learning here.

 

I like this room can provide a good environment for group discussion, especially the sound reduction design in which one group will not affect another.

I like teaching in this room and would like to use this room to teach. The advantage is the moving space very sufficient such that teacher in here can walk around and go through discussion of each group. Because of multiple input source of projector, teacher will not be limited to particular area of teaching. Even sharing the teacher's desk for students to use.

The projector location and position is really a problem. For human eye level, if students want to see what is showing in the screen, they need to tilt their head and it is not comfortable for long time. So, it is better to adjust the screen level and student sit position if another classroom will be designed.

For the projector resolution, a project that support higher resolution should be considered, since HD projector also available already. To allow student to use the projector to share what they want to present, wifi supported projector also suggested. If many students in a group want to present one by one and they need to plug-in the VGA cable one by one. If wifi supported projector is used, no this issue.

Power point socket outlet is not enough in individual desk, one or two more spare is very welcome.

If the desk is movable, it will be better.

Mobile Learning

This article is to share my experience on using mobile technology in my serving school. Two cases will be discussed. One of them is to apply mobile technology in a field study; another is to use mobile technology in classroom. The mobile devices used in both cases include touch screen net books and Wi-Fi access point.

1. A field study in the Hong Kong Museum of History

40 Primary 5 students learned the history of Hong Kong by using mobile technology in the visit of the Hong Kong Museum of History. Before the visit, the students were introduced to the topic. They were required to finish particular tasks according to the Web Quest website designed by teachers. Students collected data in the Museum in order to finish the tasks. During the visit, 40 students were divided into 20 groups. Each group consists of 2 members. A touch screen net book was given to each group so that students worked in a collaborative way. They were required to collect data and record them in the net books by text or webcam. Furthermore, they were also required to answer some questions which are auto-checked by computers.

At the end of the visit, each group of students presented the data they collected via Wi-Fi classroom management software. The screen of a net book can be delivered to all other net books via the software.

2. Mobile learning in Mathematics lessons

Interactive exercises were given to students in Mathematics lessons. A touch screen net book was given to each group, which consists of 2 members of students, so that students worked collaboratively. Each group presented their works via Wi-Fi classroom management software. The screen of a net book can be delivered to all other net books via the software. Feedback was given by other group of students.