Learning Technologies Four

The iPod - Mobile Learning:


I am one of those people who are constantly attached to their phones - and these days, honestly,  who wouldn't be?  I search the net, I check my emails, text people, I have the choice to facetime people, I can make my calls, check the weather forecast, read newspapers, play games, learn and find directions from one place to another.. and that isn't even listing everything!  I have an iPhone and for the past 7 weeks I have been using an iPod touch as well to explore the benefits of mobile learning, and I must say.. there are so many positives!!


What wonderful, amazing devices! I mean honestly, they are a tiny computer that fit in my pocket meaning that wherever I am, at any point of the day, I can jump online and search anything I need too!  After a while of exploring I have created the following SWOT anylsis chart about iPods:

Strengths
- Pocket sized computer
- Can be carried anywhere at anytime
- Have an impressive battery life
- Are easy to charge (in the car/through the wall/linked to a computer)
- Have a lot of room to hold information
- Can record your voice and save for later - Particularly good if you are practicing a speech as you can record yourself and play it over and over to you before bed, or in the car.
- Have a notes section where you can type any notes you may need to refer back to
- Have cameras that are great for capturing information you need to revise or memories from school trips or science experiments
- Have the ability to face time - an amazing way to connect with students in other schools around the world (permitted they have the technology too)
- The multitude of apps that are downloadable... textbooks that children can have for when they are on holidays and cannot afford to carry the extra weight.  Apps that teach mathematics.  Apps that teach spelling and literacy skills


Weaknesses
- Small screen can be hard to type on.
- Some apps can cost money
- Screens are quite easily damaged when dropped

Opportunities
 -Students would have access to a mobile computer
- Students would be able to pre-record speeches or information they need to revise for exams and play it back for themselves
- Students could take videos and photos of school trips/science experiments
- Facetime and connect with other students around the world (permitted they have access to the same technology)
- Easily upload and download information to the computer


Threats
- Ethical and legal issues of how the device is used
- A device being lost or damaged.