Week 4 - Mobile Evironments for Learning

Flip video cameras

URL: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/03/20-ways-to-use-flip-cameras-in.html#.UVOohGfT43g

Flip video cameras are mobile devices no bigger than a smartphone that have multiple uses to enhance learning in the classroom.

According to Patrick Black's blog, Flip cameras are cheap and easy to use in the classroom. Tom Barrett created a short slide show titled, "45 interesting ways to use your pocket video camera in the classroom"  that is a compilation of ideas from numerous educators from around the global. Suggestions include 1) recording and posting science experiments on a classroom blog, 2) filming a demonstration of a step-by-step procedure for student review, 3) recording students performing a procedure for self-evaluation, and 4) recording class activity or field trip events to share with parents. Rowell (2009) shares how biomedical engineering students at Duke University used Flip cameras to support their projects for a capstone course and how Bill Wolff used Flip technology in an upper-level writing and research class. Phillips (2012), in "Lights, Camera, Learn," offers five tips for using video in elearning classrooms. Flip cameras are mobile devices that offer a multitude of learning possibilities in the classroom.

References:

Phillips, V. (2012). Lights, Camera. Learn!: Five tips for using video in eLearning. eLearn Magazine. Retrieved from http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=2206721

                                                                                          

Rowell, L. (2009). How tiny camcorders are changing education. eLearn Magazine. Retrieved from http://elearnmag.acm.org/archive.cfm?aid=1631260

Poll Everywhere

URL: http://www.polleverywhere.com/

Poll Everywhere is a software program that allows students, or audience members, to answer questions using a variety of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets like ipads, or any device that can access the web, Used as an assessment tool, educators can imbed questions within a presentation, for example a PowerPoint presentation, and students answer using their mobile devices. Responses immediately show on the screen, similar to clickers. Some authors refer to the technology as live audience polling. Maybe you have even used this technology to respond to an Awards Show or something like American Idol. Twitter can also be used to post audience comments. Poll Everywhere is one method to actively engage students in class by asking questions to assess their learning. No hardware is required or program installation is required since the technology is accessed through the web. This link will take you to a two minute video that demonstrate Poll Everywhere: http://www.polleverywhere.com/#video

 One drawback is cost. There is a fee for classes or audience size larger than 40. Audience size less than 40 participants are free. So, if you have a larger class, pose a question, have students "Think- Pair-Share," come up with an answer and then one student can texted in the answer. Businesses and educational institutions can purchase a plan based on the number of participants.