I’m often teaching ICT to students in a small computer LAN. Students usually out number the available desktops. For example, last years UKZN AV class had only 70 students. And we had access to only 12 desktop computers.
Edtechies assume too easily that “one person, one computer” is the norm in schools and higher ed. We know that 1 to 1 computing is a pipe dream. Initial and ongoing costs will make this unlikely. The low ratio of computers to students does have advantages though.
- Students who don’t normally have computer access, learn from each other while sitting next to their peers.
- Those on the other side of the digital divide, who are struggling with the extent of working memory and require additional support, can temporarily step away from the computers and use their mobile devices
There’s another screen in classes. I’ve read and experimented a bit with the cell phone, and feel that its time to attempt to incorporate Mobile learning in my classes.
All readings will be filed on the Social Bookmarking service Delicious and catalogued with the tag UKZNAV. For those that want to access their readings without a computer, they can also do it via the camera built into their phone. Point the camera to the QR code, and the selected readings should appear.
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My second attempt to include mobile in my teaching is to insist that all register on Twitter and then attempt to incorporate the back channel into the class. Compulsive note writers will have the opportunity to share their secret scribblings using with one man and his data projector. Again, the user will point their camera to the QR code, and the link to the backchannel should appear.
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