Learner Bytes

I’ve been thinking lately about the impact of mobile devices in education and wondering what some of my colleagues are thinking about using an iPad. There’s been a moratorium at my workplace on purchasing the iPad with university funds. We haven’t really heard the reason for this, but understand some work is being done on how they can be implemented. I just want one to test, evaluate, and use at work with the aim of determining their usefulness for supporting professional development and learning and teaching. While initially acknowledged as a brilliant tool for consuming content, I’m coming to understand that the third party apps available for the iPad will make it just as useful for content creation and collaboration.

So, I’m waiting for one – but there’s quite a few of the devices appearing and they been purchased by individuals who are using them at work. I did chat to one person who was struggling trying to keep the device going during a meeting. It seemed the bluetooth keyboard was using more power then the recharger could supply (I’ll have to ask some more questions about that). Someone else was going paperless and saving all their attachments (meeting agendas, minutes, reports etc.) to iBook as pdfs and reading them off the bookshelf. There might be other ways to do this and maybe converting to epub would be better for reading. Need to do some experimenting for myself I think.

Academics are finding that students are bringing their iPads to class and using them as an instant research resource. There may an issue of distraction etc. but could be useful if managed correctly for specific class work for either individuals or groups. They can also be used with a document camera (& the optional vga connector for TVs/projectors) to share what’s on the screen. Nice way to show capabilities and demonstrate apps such as interactive books, google earth, and discipline specific applications such as maths & science.

I recently read an article by Louisa Burnham, iPad Travelling Cold Turkey, where she reflected on using an iPad exclusively while travelling for 6 weeks in Europe and doing academic work. This gave me a good insight to what to expect and what’s possible with regard to working without a fully featured laptop. I’ll also be interested in the result of Dean Groom’s project underway at Macquarie where they are asking staff to evaluate their use of an iPad for a couple of months.

The iPad might just a step or two away from a device that will be the ultimate tool for learning (amongst other things). I haven’t been able to do a lot of testing myself yet, and look forward to being able to put one of these through it’s paces. I’m finding it hard to imagine that something might replace my MBP, but recognise that it’s going to happen sooner rather then later.

PS. and then there’s the new iPod Touch. Upgraded to include the new Apple iOS4, now features a camera and ability to capture HD video, do video chat/call via wireless using FaceTime, and has the 3 axis gyro built in. Cool!