Dear Followers:

I believe mobile technology including iPads and Smart phones is a great way to enhance learning in the classroom, as well as sustain learning outside of the classroom environment.  Not to mention, some schools, specifically private schools, are finding iPads a more cost effective alternative to hardcover books. “More and more schools are moving toward mobile learning in the classroom as a way to take advantage of a new wave of electronic devices that offer portability and ease of use on a budget” (Wylie 2014).

Two years ago, my team and I started working on a project to take our workshop learning environment paperless.  We knew we would be able to recover the cost of building a training portal and the price of the hardware in less than two years.  Yes, we were spending that much money in paper materials, administrative, printing and fulfillment costs – but, more importantly, imagine being able to provide your learners the opportunity to explore the learning landscape via an iPad and the Internet.  In the workshops we facilitate, this is what we do.  There is nothing more exciting for an educator than to see a 60-something using an iPad for the first time and seeing an entirely new world open up to him.  However, no matter how good the curriculum is or exciting the environment, tools, and technology are, there is always that nagging thought about sustainment.  So, to reinforce and sustain the learning our learners can take full advantage of our Mobile Learning and Resource Environment via a Smart phone, tablet, or PC, post workshop.  Within this environment our learners can find the same resources provided to them during the workshop, along with additional tools and resources that will support their learning and help them be the best they can be on a day-to-day basis.

Social Media is another learning conduit that I have a passion for.  There are so many ways that Social Media can be used to engage learners.  Some examples are: “Tweet or post status updates as a class or to your class, blog posts about what students are learning, connect to other classrooms, create Twitter accounts for special interest projects, ask questions to engage your students in authentic learning, communicate with other classrooms and learners…”, and create communities of learning (Davis 2014). My team and I are preparing to launch a Facebook page that will provide our learners a place to go and share ideas, challenges, and Best Practices.  In addition, it will also provide us a place to post additional learning resources and tools of the trade.  We are excited about the pending launch and expect that our Facebook page will be quickly accepted and embraced.

 References

Wylie, J. 2014. Mobile Learning Technologies for 21st Century Classrooms. Retrieved from:
                http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3754742.

Davis, V. 2014. A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from:  

                http://www.edutopia.org/blog/guidebook-social-media-in-classroom-vicki-davis