M learning ?

College opens door to cellphone learning

By Elizabeth Binning
4:00 AM Friday Apr 30, 2010

Students can study their lessons at any time on a range of mobile devices

Most schools have banned mobile phones in the classroom - but Howick College isn't like most schools.

The college not only allows mobile phones, it is encouraging a group of students aged 15 and 16 to use them as a learning device in a project that could change the future of learning.

The project is the brainchild of teacher Nathan Kerr, who was named the most innovative teacher in the world at Microsoft's international awards in 2008.

While the concept of m-learning may sound confusing to people who remember lessons with only pen and paper, Mr Kerr said it was about encouraging students to learn in a way that interested them.

The reason is that then they can walk away with these lessons and they can review it anytime, anywhere.

On top of functions like calculators, clocks and software uploads, cellphones are often free or available at very reasonable prices when compared with a laptop or computer.

With all that in mind Mr Kerr started "zapping" students' lessons into their mobile devices using free applications such as Powerpoint and Movie Maker so they essentially had their notes or learning resources with then all the time.

Students are now creating the learning movies themselves - something that makes learning fun.

The result has been that students can't wait to view their lessons and are looking them up on their phones as soon as they get on the school bus or during their breaks.

"Howick College prides itself on producing innovative thinkers who are future focused on leading education in the 21st century," he said.

"Students have been very positive about using mobile technology because it is part of their everyday experience."

By Elizabeth Binning

This is an interesting idea. The complete article can be viewed here.
NZHerald