First Steps to Adding Mobile Learning Options to Courses

Description

For most college students, especially those in community colleges, their smartphone is their most frequent yet underused connection to learning. To amplify mobile devices’ virtues for learning and reducing its vices, a “mobile-mindful” approach invites us to consider not only how students can learn more often with phones as one potential option, but also how they can sometimes learn better. Let’s learn to start with ourselves as mobile learners and identify simple ways to begin adding mobile-mindful options. This workshop is designed for people at all comfort levels with smartphones, but will especially benefit participants who like the learning potential, but hesitate to encourage using phones in and out of class.

By the end of this workshop, participants know or be able to:

• Explain how mobile learning options benefit students and how they can be an unique learning option.
• Identify key opportunities for mobile learning options.
• Practice key mobile learning moves, such as curating content and capturing ideas.

Plans for Audience Participation and Interaction:

After introducing the “why” and “how” of mobile learning, participants practice being mobile learners themselves, identify key opportunities for easy mobile learning options in case studies and in their courses, design a few simple mobile learning activities, and make plans for more mobile-responsive teaching. In the spirit of mobile, participants are in motion, practicing how they can learn in different contexts and actions. (Note: Activities will not rely on specific physical movement; each participant chooses how they engage.) Participants have plenty of time to write individual notes and plans while having small and whole group options for creating activities. Participation work best with their own smartphone, but adjustments will be made for those without one.