Having grasped an understanding of what mobile learning is and how mobile learning devices cater to current students learning styles I investigated some resources for teachers. These resources are readily available and are catered for teachers who wish to encompass a mobile learning pedagogical approach.
I took a look at MiLK...
Designing Events Using MiLK (Mobile Learning Kit)MiLK 'connects students and teachers through simple and effective technology and pushes the boundaries of the teaching and learning beyond the classroom into the other environments students inhabit both now and in the future.'
Learning activities for phones are designed by the teacher and aim to engage the students in educational experiences like discussion and excursions.
Students also have active participation which is key for full engagement. They can create their own learning profiles, hold discussions on ideas and thoughts, post photos and comments and design. An element I found to be of interest was the use of a reflective journal built in. It provides an opportunity for student's to assess how they carried out an event and enables discussion on what they learnt giving a social and thoughtful dimension to the resource.
An example of effective use of this resource is on an excursion. An event can be designed by the teacher with checkpoints with each checkpoint consisting of questions for the students to answer through SMS before moving onto the next point. It turns the experience into an educational and interactive game. No longer are they passively viewing or focused on the thought that excursions means going to McDonalds for lunch!
I also checked out the Apple Education webpage for ipods, iphones and mac books seeing as these devices are becoming the most common for students to own. They are familiar tools that students use outside of the classroom, enabling an engagement with learning inside the classroom. Apple Education is using their technology of computers, movile devices, software and prgrams to make mobile learning a reality.For example, they have developed educational applications for iphones. They have also developed iTunes U which is a collection of over 200, 000 free educational media available for teachers to distribute digital lessons to students mobile devices. Whilst this aim of generating widespread use of mobile learning they may actually be excluding learners that don't have their products. This may result in teachers not implementing what is on offer due to an awareness of cost.
I also found a fantastic blog that reviews, critiques and reflects on new developments in mobile learning. It is kept up to date and highly informative, check it out: An Online Reflective Journal on Mobile Learning Practice
Also check out this site that shows how mobile learning can be used to engage learners. Provides examples of practical use, videos, books, tutorial guides and more: Mobile Learning
