Title: Mobile Devices and Apps
Course: Dev_TOPKIT_SAMPLE_COURSE_Bauer_S_67 > Section: Week 6 - Enhancing Your Course with Emerging Technology

What is Mobile Learning?

Mobile learning is defined as any learning that happens whenever the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location. Mobile learning can also mean that the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies (MLearning, 2009). As a basis for this module, we will use the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative definition of mobile learning:

Leveraging ubiquitous mobile technology for the adoption or augmentation of knowledge, behaviors, or skills through education, training, or performance support while the mobility of the learner may be independent of time, location, and space.

As you begin to explore the possibilities that mobile learning may afford you and the students enrolled in your courses, understanding the mobile device and ecosystem will become a key component in the process.

The video below is a brief talk by Dr. William Rankin from ACU. The video helps illustrate the concept of mobile learning and what it can do for your students. Transcript for Video.

Mobile learning provides the student the opportunity to learn “in the moment.” These devices typically follow the student everywhere they go beyond the desktop computer or classroom; leaving a unique opportunity to reach students in a variety of settings while facilitating authentic learning. Common devices used for Mobile Learning include:

- Smartphone: Apple iPhone, Google Android, Windows Phone
- Tablets: Apple iPad, Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Tablet
- Internet Communication Devices: Apple iPod Touch
- E-Readers: Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony Reader

Mobile Learning @ <Replace - Institution Name>

Listed below are a few ways for you to be informed and be involved with mobile learning at <Replace - Institution Name>:

<<Note: This content is provided as an example. The content should be updated with your institution's LMS materials.>>

Designing with Mobile in Mind

If you are interested in creating your course content in a mobile friendly format, you will want to design content pages with mobile in mind:

http://learning.instructure.com/2014/05/designing-courses-with-mobile-in-mind/

Canvas Mobile for <Replace - Your LMS>

Canvas offers four mobile apps: Canvas by Instructure (iOS and Android) and Speedgrader (iPad and Android).

The Canvas by Instructure mobile application will allow students and faculty access to <Replace - Your LMS> through Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) and Android devices. Even though these applications do not match all the features of the desktop computer, they contain most of the common features students can use on the go, e.g., discussion boards, announcements, calendar, viewing module content, assignments, quizzes, and grades.

For information and to download Canvas by Instructure for iOS visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canvas-by-instructure-cloud/id480883488?mt=8

For information and to download Canvas by Instructure for Android visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instructure.candroid

Speedgrader is a mobile app that allows faculty to grade assignments while using their Apple iPad, Android smartphone, or Android tablet.  This application includes rubrics, audio and video feedback, and support for many typical assignment file formats.

For more information and to download Speedgrader visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedgrader-for-ipad/id418441195?mt=8

Optional Further Reading

- Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Mobile Newsletter: http://research.adlnet.gov/newsletter/mobile/
- 7 Things You Should Know About Mobile Apps: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7060.pdf

References

MLearning. (2009, July). Retrieved February 25, 2011, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLearning

TOPKit Sample Course was prepared by the University of Central Florida (UCF). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.