Week 4 Moble Technology

          Moble technology, also known as cellular technology, has made a huge impact on educational practices and stratagies.  Many education insitutions are begining to integrate moble technology for various purposes.  There are many advantages for moble learning, or mLearning , with mobile technology for adult learners.  Mobile technology, such as I pads, and Iphone, can enhance mLearnnig by making content universally acceptable,  adapting to student needs, and increasing knowledge retention. (Heiphetz, 2011).

           The apple I pad is a universal device which has the capabilites of document imaging, readinr, viewer, internet capability, and word processer.  The ipad is a key feature in mobile ldearning becasue it provides to  education oppurtunities with not actually sitting in a classroom.   Adult learners have the ability to customize their on learning schecude when they are ready at anywhere anytime.  (Heiphetz, 2011).    The ipad has universal accessability which has the possibility "of creating context and location pacific, edcational modules, which can be used by students outside of the classsroom" (Heiphetz, 2011, p.3).  In additon, with universal accessability the ipad can enable adults to recieve support from the acctual university for very important moments.  Adult learners have the ability to recieve support from acential personal such as technical support.

            When using the iPad the adult learners have the capabilities to upload applications to their device.  These applications can be used for learning tools such as:  For example Heiphetz, 2011 dicusses the reference learning resourse known as Referencing Books.  This reference learning resours teaces students how to correcdtly quote APA or MLA; helping  to advoid plagerism.  

            The iPhone is a celluar communication that also have cpabilies such as , email, video conferences, documents.  Becasue it is a another product developed from iPadjk.  With the iphone capabilites students can get access to collegues and mentors when they need additional help.  Heiphtz, 2011 discuss IHG Cloud Note which is a moble app that can be purched from the phone.  Its purpose the proces, procedure, or problems.  The documen cna be edited on the iphone and instantly available to the class or team.  According to Heiphetz 2011p.5  These types of knowledge-sharing application make it easy to publish visual documednts includcing video images, and text onto a knowleg base eLearning module, webpage, or wikki.   Yuen talks about 40 quick ways to use your moble phone in the classroom.  Here is a list of the top 5 from the list.

1. Use educational apps:
   One of the simplest strategies for engaging students using smartphones involves taking advantage of the thousands of educational apps as supplements.
2. Create educational apps:After familiarizing kiddos with properly navigating smartphone apps, challenge some of the more tech-oriented ones to design and develop their own; Stanford already offers an open-source class on the subject!
3. Scavenger hunts:
   Smartphone scavenger hunts have proven a popular pastime for technophiles, and teachers have been known to use them to provide interactive lessons about everything from natural history to nature. It’s an easy concept to adapt!
4. Shooting video:
   Whether requiring short PSAs, as the linked assignment does, or another type of video entirely, students with smartphones make it easier than ever to shoot, edit, and share their digital projects.
5. Backchanneling:
   Turn the classroom into an educational MST3K equivalent by equipping smartphones with Twitter and allow students to offer up their own comments and ask questions via a real-time feed that does not disrupt the flow of a lecture.

Heiphetz, 2011 How Moble Technolgy Can Enhance Student Technolgy Workforce Training.  McGraw-Hill, Research Foundation retrieved from http://Mcharw/hillresearchfoundation.org/wp/wp/content/uploads/2012/05/Mobile_Technologywp.pdf

Yuen, S. (n.d.). mLearning – Learning on the Go. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from http://www.scoop.it/t/mlearning-learning-on-the-go

Week 3 Two types of social networks

While Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn might be the first sites that come to mind when thinking of social networking, these popular websites do not represent the full scope of social networks that exist. Learn more about the different options available for people to interact and collaborate with each other online.

This week in our course we were asked to explore two different types of  social networks that can be used to help adult learner develop.  The first online network that I chose to use was Twitter.  Twitter was chose becasue this online network would allow adults or children :  keeping in touch with friends and family members is one of the greatest benefits of social networking.  Twitter can also be a type of professional social network that is designed to provide opportunities for career-related growth.

The fastest, simplest way to stay close to everything you care about.

An information network

Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find most compelling and follow the conversations.
At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but don’t let the small size fool you—you can discover a lot in a little space. You can see photos, videos and conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a glance, and all in one place. See it in action.

You don’t have to tweet to get value from Twitter

You don’t have to build a web page to surf the web, and you don’t have to tweet to enjoy Twitter. Whether you tweet 100 times a day or never, you still have access to the voices and information surrounding all that interests you. You can contribute, or just listen in and retrieve up-to-the-second information. Visit fly.twitter.com to learn more about what’s yours to discover.

Twitter for Businesses

Twitter connects businesses to customers in real time—and businesses use Twitter to quickly share information with people interested in their products and services, gather real-time market intelligence and feedback, and build relationships with customers, partners and influencers. From brand lift to CRM to direct sales, Twitter offers businesses an easy way to reach an engaged audience. Visit Twitter 101 for Businesses to learn more.

Twitter around the world

Twitter was founded in San Francisco, but it's used by people in nearly every country in the world. The service is available in more than 20 languages, and we continue to add them. You can change your language preference in your user settings with just a few clicks.

Twitter on the go

Experience Twitter on your mobile device by using one of our free Twitter apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry and Windows 7. To get the latest apps, go to twitter.com/download on your mobile device.

Twitter for SMS

Twitter for SMS is an instant infrastructure for mobile communications. Individuals, businesses and social causes can use Twitter for SMS and our Fast Follow program to connect directly to anyone with a mobile phone. Here’s a list of all the countries that offer Twitter for SMS; we are actively working to add even more.

Twitter in the Community

Twitter lends itself to cause and action. Every day, we are inspired by stories of people using Twitter to help make the world a better place in unexpected ways. Visit stories.twitter.com to learn more.
And with just a Tweet, millions of people learn about or show their support for positive initiatives that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Programs like Twitter Ads for Good offer a way for non-profit organizations to promote their efforts the same way as businesses can. As more community-centric organizations join the platform, citizens will increasingly engage with the efforts taking place to move their community forward. Follow @TwitterGood and @TwitterSF for more on these topics.

Another type of social network that selected was You tube.  This is a site of the future because people can actually see a person doing something and it being updated minutes ago.  About YouTube

Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. See our company timeline for more information on our company history.

Getting Started

We've put together a step-by-step guide to get you started on YouTube.

YouTube Essentials

A list of the essential YouTube tools and features that help you view, discover, share, personalize, and upload videos.

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Community Guidelines

Read up on our guidelines for participating in the YouTube community.

Contact Us

Find contact information for our various departments.

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Careers

Want to work at YouTube? Check out our careers page to hear from current employees and find available positions.

Merchandise

Sunglasses, T-shirts, backpacks—we've got a whole online store filled with YouTube merchandise for your purchasing pleasure.

Article to support Ipads

The positive impact of iPads for people with disabilities

October 11, 2011 | Author Beth

The positive impact of iPads for people with disabilities

Yes we know, everybody wants an iPad, they are one of the must-have items of the 21^st century and if you haven’t got one, chances are you’re lusting after one. Despite their cult status as a symbol of power and technological prowess, there is evidence to suggest iPads are actually improving the lives of those with disabilities in a number of unexpected ways. Here we discuss just a few of the ways that an iPad can have a positive impact on a person with various disabilities.

1. For Communication

Before the development of the iPad and its release on the general market, devices which use text-to-speech or touch-to-speak technology were extremely expensive, You would have been looking at, at least £1000 for a remotely serviceable device but now you can get your iPad for less than £400 and touch-to-speak apps such as Proloquo2go can be found for less than £120. This is extremely beneficial and can be life changing for non-verbal adults and children. Now, if your child with speech difficulties is thirsty they can let you know with real words. Many apps can also be customised and adapted to personally suit your specific needs with additional features such as photographs and such like.
There are apps which can be used by people with severe movement disorders and difficulty with speech. The Yes/No app allows for simple Yes and No responses and gives dignity to individuals who have may have no other means of easy communication. Such developments in technology truly are revolutionary for people who need them.

1. For Learning

There are many specific apps and programs which are designed to help those with additional needs and disabilities. Apps have been designed and tailored to suit children and adults with specifics disabilities and play to the strengths of the individual in question rather than aiming for a standard “norm”.
There is sufficient evidence which suggests that many children defined as having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder respond very well to iPads and other tablet devices in a learning capacity and some SEN schools are beginning to implement this technology to support pupil’s learning.
Applications like Stories2Learn which help in the creation of social stories and Draw Free are really great for the development of children with additional educational needs and can be a great supplement at home for what’s learnt in school!

1. For Therapy

There is much evidence which suggests that using an iPad can significantly increase the development of a child or adults fine motor skills. People born with low muscle tone sometimes find it hard to develop their fine motor skills but through consistent use of an iPad which requires very precise touch screen presses and sophisticated finger isolation these skills can slowly be coaxed and developed.
There is in fact an app called Dexteria specifically designed for developing your fine motor skills.

1. For Behaviour Management

There are many great apps designed for helping parents, guardians and teachers manage and measure the behavioural developments of children with special needs. One of the most popular apps for this particular process is Behaviour Tracker Pro which allows for all types of assessments.
There are also great apps which can help young adults with learning disabilities further their independence such as Medication Reminder which will help remind you when to take your meds and Nudge which gives you reminders to keep on top of your to-do list or daily goals.
The iPad has thoroughly enhanced the lives of many people with additional needs and disabilities and their power cannot be underestimated. To confidently and comfortably use your iPad on the move, you should also consider buying a Trabasack which is perfect for housing your iPad but also works a portable desk if you fancy using it when you’re on the move or there’s no level surface available.

Assignment 2 week 2

H. Byrd Post

      Emerging Technology Problem Technology

 

During the 2011-2012 school year, the school I taught was challenged to integrate our disabled students into society. This learning objective was a long term goal that involved teachers to use technology to help prepare the students for Standards of Learning (SOL) test.  Our schools used augment devices to help our students become better learners.  Recently there have been a need for technology improvement with in the adult community.  However, this paper is going to focus on adults with mental disabilities and they lack the skills needed to survive in society.  Knowing that some learners are visual and some learn through repetition I decided to use two emerging technologies to bridge the gap between society and adults with mental disabilities.  The two technologies are the ipad and podcast.

 

An iPad is a tablet computer designed and developed by Apple and launched in April 2010. It is particularly marketed as a platform for audio and visual media such as e-books, e-newspapers, movies, music, games, and a wide range of applications. The main features include mail, web browser, photos, videos, YouTube, iPod, maps, contacts, calendar, notes and application store. Current limitations of this first device include the lack of a camera, USB port, Adobe Flash support, multi-tasking capabilities, SD memory slot, only 64GB internal storage (tiny for “terabyte days”), and the fact that it is not a stand-alone device, depending on a PC/Mac to install updates via the iTunes interface. 

In my experience with using iPad’s I believe that it will make the task of searching, studying and reviewing easy.  I also believe that the I pad will help adults develop information in notes, articles, and books will be organized on the device. “This will make studying to be more ubiquitous than ever. The iPad could provide students with the chance to take better care of their educational resources. It may also promote individualized curriculum, and applications could be developed to customize the learning experience of individual students” (Reyna 2010, p.1). Courses could become more independent of a teacher. Students could begin working more or less at their own pace as educators help each student to progress individually

Even with all of the technology  capabilities the I pad is not being used in different communites for various reasons.  One the iPad is expensive and not a lot of adults with disabilites make a lot of money.  Another problem with iPads is when it is used at work it can

bring usability issues that can impact IT departments. “For instance, if iPad-toting workers can't open PDFs or Microsoft Office files on their tablets, they may seek assistance from busy IT staffers. Luckily, there are several easy and cheap software applications, including Good.iWare's GoodReader, that enhance the iPad's weak file-viewing capabilities. And another app, SlideShark, allows iPad users to view and show PowerPoint presentations” (Bertolucci, 2012, p.1).

One of the oldest technologies used was the tape recorder.  Now a podcast has been developed to help act as the tape recorder by recording different information such as television shows, books, and classes.  As a teacher there are some adults that learn through repetition.  By using a podcast my adult learners will be able to stay current with information around the world, and develop information to help organize their daily routine in life.  “Available 24/7 -The basic advantage of podcasting in education is the portability and convenience of listening to learning resources anytime and anywhere without requiring extensive technical knowledge. Podcasts can be downloaded to all kinds of mobile devices, such as MP3 players, mobile phones, PDAs, and mobile computers. Learning materials downloaded into mobile devices can be listened to by learners in their own time and place”(Pittman, 2012, p.1).

The problems with podcast are that most people prefer reading and not listening.  Most adults with disabilities have short attention spans so they don’t want to listen to a long book or movie.  Adults also want to have their day free to do whatever they want to do.  “A podcast needs to immediately grab a person's interest and then hold onto it. Depending on the content your podcasts, that's often easier said than done. Text is an effective source of content, because people can scan each section to find what they want and what interests them. That's more difficult to do with video. If you appear nervous or don't have a clear, engaging voice, it's much easier for a person to exit your podcast and go search for other content” (Miksen 2012, p.1).

            In conclusion both technologies have great potential to help adults.  Even with great technologies come issues and problems that can also prevent a person from taking advantage of a device potential to take an adult learner to the next level no matter what issues he or she may be facing.

                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Bertolucci, Jeff.   (2012).  10 iPad Problems Solved.  Retrieved

           http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/10-ipad-problems-solved/232600935

 

Miksen, Chris.  (2012).  Disadvantage of Podcasting.  Retrieved: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-podcasts-businesses-34095.html

Pittman, Alison. (2008).  4 Benifis of Podcasting in ELearning.  Retrieved:             

            http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Benefits-of-Podcasting-in-Elearning&id=1739326

Reyna, Jorge.  (2010).  Ipad Enhancing Learning in the Digitial Age: 21^st Century Learning  Retr

Retrieved:  http://learning21c.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-ipad-enhancing-learning-and-teaching-in-the-digital-age/