Mobile

As a parent, you always feel the need to educate your children about keeping themselves safe when they are online. In addition to the parental control software, like Mobicip, available in market today, promoting critical thinking for kids about appropriate behavior on cell phones and the internet is essential. These are some of the useful websites that provides valuable tips on online safety.

www.safekids.com

www.ncpc.org

www.netfamilynews.org

www.cybertipline.com

www.cyberbullying.us

www.csriu.org

www.netsmartz.org

www.wirelessamberalerts.org

At Mobicip, we have been involved in education pilot projects that use smartphones for mobile learning in the classroom. At the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference last fall, we had a chance to interview several US education technology experts about the use of mobile devices in the classroom. There seemed to be quite a mixed reaction to the concept, with the majority feedback from US education technology leaders being lukewarm. Notably, the buzz from experts outside the US was anything but.

Dan Costa's column in PC magazine argues for why "One Cell Phone Per Child" is more likely to win over OLPC. An excerpt below:

The buzz at CTIA 09 this week is all about the BlackBerry App World, the iPhone 3.0, and the imminent arrival of the Palm Pre, but those are all primarily U.S.-focused stories. There is a bigger story unfolding, however—one that has been largely overlooked by the tech press. That story is the phenomenal effect that widespread cell-phone proliferation is having on the developing world. Once upon a time, PCs were the primary tools for connecting to the Internet, with programs like One Laptop Per Child being conceived to harness their power. Globally, the mobile phone is now the primary communication tool. This shift has had a stunning impact on developing nations, the wireless industry, and even the Internet itself.

Jason Kincaid at TechCrunch writes

With gigabytes of storage, dimensions comparable to traditional note cards, and a full color screen, the iPhone is the ultimate study companion. And, unlike many of its smartphone competitors, the iPhone and iPod Touch have huge appeal for the younger crowds that generally flock to study materials.

Several educational technology bloggers have been writing about how the iPhone or iPod Touch can be used to aid learning. Tony Vincent, a former teacher who writes the Learning in Hand Blog, wrote a series on "12 Days of iPod Touch and iPhone". Interestingly, he compared the iPod Touch as a learning platform to netbooks, and concluded that while each has its unique pros and cons, he would like to use both as aids in his classes.

It is an exciting and frustrating time to be in educational technology in the US. Exciting because there is lots happening, frustrating because schools are struggling for funds due to the economic situation.

Many schools have banned the use of cell phones and devices like the iPod touch while on campus.  However, there are some that feel mobile learning is not that far off in the future, including Mobicip founder and CEO, Suren Ramasubbu.  In fact, I just recently read an article where the iPod touch has been used as a mobile learning device at school in Australia.  In the latest edition of Converge Magazine, Suren shares his thoughts, along with his mentor, regarding the educational opportunities afforded by the iPod touch.  Here's the beginning portion of the article:

Angela is tackling a conundrum presented by the game she is playing on her smartphone. Only in this case, the game isn't for leisure even though it feels like it. It was assigned by her teacher as part of her algebra class. She flicks her finger to review the class lecture again, and now understands the problem better. A couple more attempts, and the game ends with Angela scoring at the level she was shooting for. She sends an instant message to her teacher to submit the score and receive credit for the assignment. He thanks her for being prompt, and notes that she is still outperforming the class and is only two points away from being District Algebra Champion.

The following morning, while riding the bus to school, Angela retrieves a few assessment items the District Accountability Officer has broadcast to users in her fifth-grade level. In a few minutes, she reviews the items, scores them and submits the responses in real time. Moments later, Angela receives a note indicating her responses keep her in the 99th percentile and on track to end the year, mastering half of her course objectives.

For some people, smartphones are the coolest mobile gadgets on the market; for others, they're just a fad. What most don't realize is that they have the potential to revolutionize education technology. These new devices are slowly but surely shifting the dialogue from laptop learning to mobile learning.

To read the rest of the story, you can access it here.  Congratulations on your first publication!

You sign a 2-year contract agreement, you receive a discounted rate.  This is something that has been prevalent in the cell phone market for almost a decade.  Now you can get the same type of deal with the next hottest tech-toy, the Netbook!  A couple of days ago, E-Commerce Times reported that Radio Shack announced that it would sell their Acer Aspire One Netbooks for $100 provided you sign a 2-year service plan with AT&T for their DataConnect Mobile 3G data service plan.  You can read the entire article by clicking here.  Similar to the iPhone or iPod touch, mobile browsing on the go is just going to get easier and easier.

These netbooks are gaining some momentum in the marketplace.  These "mini-notebooks" are generally small, weighing less than 4 pounds with a 9 - 10" screen.  Obviously, this type of device is not for somebody who needs the computing power of a fully-functional desktop/laptop.  However, netbooks are able to efficiently bring web surfing, email, and word processing to their owners.  It's also ideal for students on the go that just needs to write papers or conduct research online.  With the economy taking a turn for the worse, having a low-cost alternative to a fully-functional computer may be a welcome respite for some.  As long as the basics are covered (internet, email, word processing), do you think a netbook is a viable tool for your children?  For yourself?