Even though I don't have mobile technology, I was excited about this assignment. In August or September, I am going to reevaluate my cell phone plan and am considering upgrades. I didn't know much about any of this, and I have certainly learned a lot, but I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's blogs to help me make some sense of all of this! The problem with the decisions that have to be made is that I will be in a two-year commitment, so I want to make the right choices.
Mobile technology, according to Wikipedia, has to do with cellular communication. Besides being a phone, it can be a GPS navigation system, web browser, Instant Messenger client, and a gaming system. Many think that future computer technology rests in mobile/wireless computing.
There are many types of Smartphone operating systems including Android, Blackberry, WebOS, Apple iOS, Windows Mobile Professional (touch screen), and Windows Mobile Standard (non-touch screen). Two of the most popular are the Apple iPhone and Android. Android is Open Source and free to any cell phone carrier, but the Apple iPhone is the most popular because of its customizable OS which you can use to download applications made by Apple. Business Link reminds us that examples of mobile IT devices include laptop and netbook computers, palmtop computers or PDAs, mobile phones and smart phones, GPS devices, and wireless debit/credit card payment terminals.
According to Wikipedia, Android is an operating system for mobile devices, which includes middleware and key applications. Android has a large community of developers (Open Source) writing apps that extend the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 150,000 apps available for Android.
The pros of mobile technology, in my opinion, would be the convenience of it. You become familiar with the phone and all of the apps; and as the need arises for another app, it is likely that you will be able to find one that will meet your needs. I was talking to a teacher that has an ATT I-Phone, which is probably what I'd be interested in because I have ATT. She said that she would be lost if she didn't have her phone. I asked her what apps she had, and her first enthusiastic response was a bar code scanner (free) called Red Laser. She says that if she is out and sees something that she'll scan the bar code and then check and see if she can get it somewhere else at a better price. Immediately, another teacher at the table found the app and added it to her phone!
One reason that I didn't do anything besides my cell phone almost two years ago was that I wasn't sure of the dependability of the internet in various locations. What I would like to do is get a smart phone that I could dependably use for internet wherever I am, including at home. I also like using my keyboard, rather than the small phone, even if it is a QWERTY board—that would be a drawback for me as far as using my phone for the internet, and the cost of the portable internet would not be worth it to me unless it would also work for my needs at home.
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple, primarily as a platform for audio-visual media. Its size and weight falls between a smartphone and laptop. It runs the same operating system as the iPod Touch and iPhone. A drawback is that it will only run programs approved by Apple and distributed via its online store. It is controlled by a multitouch display.
Hotseat is a software app (Web 2.0) that captures student comments about a class and allows everyone in class to view those messages, including the professor and teaching assistants. Students can post messages to Hotseat using their Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter accounts, or they can send text messages or log into the Hotseat Website. It is currently being pilot tested in two Purdue courses, and has become a favorite of both instructors and students. One of the instructors believes that students are engaged and interact more with the course and ask relevant questions that they wouldn't ask out loud in class. 73% of 600 students enrolled are participating even though it is not a class requirement.
Another lesson I found uses a mobile phone and special software, Scratch, to engage third grade students in creative writing. The students will create their own greeting card and send it to a friend. With the software the students will be able to track how their greeting card was spread among their friends.
AskMobi is another tool that can be used in the classroom to make a survey, analyze the data and share their results. Students can engage in finding out different views on one topic.
I am looking forward to reading everyone else's blogs. There is so much information to process!
Wow Karen, that was great background information. If I could have and iPhone I would, but our plan is with T-mobile so that wasn't an option for me, but I do love my android phone (MyTouch 4G). It is very much like an iPhone and I have an iPod touch and access to an iPad so I have used both systems. I like having both, I use my phone for some of its features and then I use my iPod for my music and its features, it works really well for me. I only wish Warrensburg would get high speed mobile internet (I know AT&T have it, but not T-mobile, we still have Edge, but when I am in the city, it is awesome how quickly it navigates the web). Most of the time, I am using wireless internet and not my mobile internet, but when I am riding in the car I do lots of reading and research, so I really feel like I am using my time wisely.
ReplyDeleteI think the creative writing assignment would be fun using the app you found!
ReplyDeleteKaren-
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing so much informatin. I had never heard of Hotseat before. It would be interesting to see what kids have to say about the classes!
I think Hotseat would defiantly work. I know I comment more in our class discussions because they are on Facebook. It does take the micro-discussions out of Blackboard. I usually check only my post and the posts I have commented on in Blackboard. I read the Facebook discussion in our class at least daily.
ReplyDeleteKaren I don't have a smart phone either but as you, I am considering it this fall.
ReplyDeleteThe Red Laser sounds awesome! It would eliminate impulse buying. :)
Nice job! You shared some good background information on portable devices. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, LOTS of GREAT info!!! You did quite a bit of research here! While I love many of my Android apps I do love the barcode scanner too. Like your friend, I like to see if I can find something cheaper. What I hate though, especially on base, is that when I'm in the deep part of the commissary, I have no Internet. There goes my barcode scanner!!! It only happens on base, in the US and UK. I don't get it!
ReplyDeleteWhichever way you go I think you'll love having a smartphone + Internet plan. I can check emails on the go, read the class discussions on Facebook when I'm at the park, or order groceries (it's common in the UK to do that and delivery's free). I still hate typing on the phone though. I have a touch screen on my Google Nexus phone. It really is nice... iPhone is similar... but I just love using a keyboard. So when on the phone my messages will be short and on the computer, I can write like this :)