INTRODUCTION

For the past 4 years, the Horizon report has listed cell phones and mobile computing as a technology and factor that will have a major influence on education and learning. In 2006 and 2007, the report listed cell phones on the 2-3 year horizon. In 2008, mobile broadband entered on the 2-3 year outlook. Now, the 2009 report places mobiles on the 1 year track. The implication is that mobile computing is well positioned to have major impacts on teaching and learning. Looking at the other items on the list for 2009, you get a sense that the convergence to a small handheld device for almost all communicative computing is a reality in the next 4-5 years.

This adventure will introduce you to a horizon technology. While much of this is still in the future, it is a near future. Most of the adventures here leverage technologies and software that is already available and could be implemented in the classroom today. The only limitation will be our ability to see its uses in education.

Adventure 1: Collecting polling data with phones in class
Adventure 2: Get your fact questions answered by Cha Cha
Adventure 3: Podcasting with your phone
Adventure 4: Mobcasting
Adventure 5: Other things to explore (There is some cool stuff here)
Adventure 6: Explore a "Complete" Directory of Web 2.0 (it does seem very complete)

ADVENTURE 1

Objective: This adventure introduces you to the use of a cell phone to collect data from a class- Clicker or student response system

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

Perhaps you have heard of them- “clickers” (Audience Response System)? These are devices that allow you to collect data from a group during a presentation such as a lesson. These polling questions can be pre-determined or can be created “on the fly”. Now you can leverage the fact that most if not all students have cell phones available (or soon will). Those who don’t have a cell phone can use a laptop if it is available. Welcome to Poll Everywhere. The best thing is that this is something that can be implemented immediately!

Take one of the polls listed below simply using your cell phone. After you vote, check out the results. This was designed using a free account so the poll will close after 30 votes. We will open new polls throughout the conference. The data remains available after the poll closes and can be viewed online or downloaded as an image to be included in a presentation. http://www.polleverywhere.com/

Question 1:

 

Question 2:

 

Question 3:

Create your own sms poll at Poll Everywhere
 		    

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ADVENTURE 2

Objective: Explore a service that allows you to use your phone or computer to get quick facts

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

Have a question? Just ask Cha Cha. Cha Cha is a questions and answer service that can be used with either a computer or a cell phone. During this adventure, you have several options for exploring Cha Cha

Simply click on the link below and log in with the following information to ask Cha Cha a question with the CoF account. Cha Cha will return your answer to a cell phone in the CoF area. If you find Chris Bigenho, the answer to your question will be waiting on his phone. Now, set up your own account and the next time you need a quick fact to settle an argument and you are not near the Internet (Like that would ever happen), give Cha Cha a call. However, you should remember that this is only one source. As with all good research, verify the information with other sources.

FROM A COMPUTER
Cha Cha: http://www.chacha.com/login

Login: cofdemo1@gmail.com
Password: naiscofdemo

FROM YOUR PHONE

Text Message from your phone
Send text to: 242242

    

 

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ADVENTURE 3

Objective: Explore ways that you can use your phone for podcasting

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

This adventure makes use of a podcasting sandbox. This is a space that has been created for this conference where you can experience the simplicity of podcasting with your cell phone. Using the information below, you will dial an 800 number for Gabcast and enter the channel number and password provided for this sandbox. Follow the directions on the phone carefully remembering to press 2 at the end of the entire process to post your recording on the Internet. Go ahead!

Posting a Podcast with Gabcast (www.gabcast.com)

  1. Call 1-888-887-3127
  2. Enter Channel Code (16846#)
  3. Enter Channel Password (1111#)
  4. Follow directions on phone to Record Message
  5. Enter # when done recording then listen to instructions
  6. Press 2 to Post Message or follow directions on phone for other options.

Now that you have made your first podcast, I am sure you would like to hear your message on the Internet. Welcome to the Conference Podcasting Sandbox. If you were the owner of the account, you would then be able to log into this page and add additional information regarding the recording.

So now that you have a way to podcast, how will you use it? Just to start the ideas flowing, imagine the following…

  • You teach poetry… contact a contemporary poet and invite them to use the posting information below to read one of their poems and provide a brief commentary related to the reading.
  • You teach English…have your students use a phone to read in their voice, original poetry
  • You teach government…contact a senator and invite them to share a brief (5 to 10 minute) lecture on how a bill is passed, branches of government etc.
  • You teach history…invite your students to create a 2 to 3 minute radio spot in the style of NPR on the history of their family.

The possibilities are endless…

Other tools: GCast: http://www.gcast.com

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ADVENTURE 4

Objective: Explore the world of Mobcasting

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

Andy Carvin’s 2005 blog entry reflecting on what it would be like if anyone could post a podcast or video to the internet with only a cell phone. Enter Mobcasting. He and others were ahead of their time but it works. I tried this as group at a technology conference on the trade show floor. Now, with smart phones showing up everywhere, it is easier than ever. Read Andy’s 2005 post to get a feel for the origins of Mobcasting. It seems almost quaint as the citizen journalist is alive and well today. Why don’t we see this also used in our schools?

Andy’s Blog on Mobcasting: http://www.andycarvin.com/000712.html

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ADVENTURE 5

Objective: Explore other phone applications

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

While these are not set up with the CoF accounts, you can explore any of these and more by following the links below. Using your phone and this computer, feel free to set up accounts and test any that sound interesting to you. Some of these tools have possibilities with use in alternate and augmented reality games developed as learning environments. Others have reference or reflective possibilities. The only real limit on these is that of creativity. If all you did with a paint brush was paint one color with one stroke in one direction on one medium you would not have much of a picture. Art is born out of the creative use of media and medium at hand. Let your creative juices flow and imagine the possibilities

  • SENSEable city lab- Wikicity Rome. This was a project out of MIT that used cell phones and other mobile devices to collect georeferenced data during a festival in Rome. This data was then placed over a map and animated showing the progression of the festival over a 24 hour period. This is a form of Mashup- another emerging trend.

    http://senseable.mit.edu/wikicity/rome/

  • Twitter: Visit the reflective technologies station for adventures with twitter.

    http://www.twitter.com

  • Microsoft Tag: The Microsoft Tag instantly connects you to information and long URL's simply by snapping the Tag with your mobile phone.

http://www.microsoft.com/tag/

 

SAMPLE CODES TO TRY

NAIS Conference Site  
NAIS Communities  
     

 

iPhone: If you have an iPhone, you will WANT to go here...

http://iphoneapplicationlist.com/

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ADVENTURE 6

Objective: To become more aware of what else is out there

DIRECTIONS/BACKGROUND

This is simple. Click the link below and explore. But WARNING-you could be here for days exploring these links

GO2WEB20.net: http://www.go2web20.net/

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