Ashton-under-Lyne 6th Form College

Year 2: Learning in the mobile world 2008/2009

Following a successful project where PDAs were used with students with specific learning difficulties and vocational students the college will now explore these areas further and extend the use of mobile technology to other areas of the student population. In addition to working with ALS and vocational students the project will target Level 1 students with poor motivation and achievement, A level students, and Diploma students. The project uses different technologies to find out which suit each level of student best.

Project Aims

• To explore how mobile technology can improve teaching and learning and can aid achievement across a range of courses.
• To improve basic numeracy and literacy skills and engagement of level 1 students through the use of hand-held games consoles. We would like to use students' own devices and devices bought through the project.
• To help learners with specific learning difficulties organise their time and their learning and therefore improve achievement.

Project Objectives

• To set up a device management system to control the ever increasing devices
  available in the college. We will install Intellisync or MobiControl V5 by SOTI, depending on the devices purchased, to allow technical support services to maintain the devices from a single workstation
• To introduce mobile technology for communication into the Functional Skills pilot in preparation for delivery of the IT and Society, Health and Development Diplomas in September 2009. The opportunity to explore effective use during the pilot of Functional Skills will help prepare staff for deployment of the devices in the IT Diploma in particular. We plan to use iPhones and Blackberries to work with this group of students as these are the preferred devices used in business.
• To investigate the use of QR codes and NFC in Open Day activities and during student induction to replace traditional paper-based activities
• To equip music technology students with skills in the use of mobile technology when composing, to facilitate peer assessment and to make available music on demand via mobile Internet
• To engage level 1 learners and improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills through the use of Nintendo DS with brain training, maths training and word coach. The students enjoy practical activities but are disillusioned with traditional teaching of literacy and numeracy. Following on from the work of Robertson and Pullman we want to see if the same results will apply in the FE sector.
• To use mobile devices with GPS mapping software for Public Services students taking part in expedition activities to allow them to follow a route, capture evidence at key points on the route and to review their route back in class following the expedition.
• To engage students across various AGCE subjects through the use of pod and vod casting. Teachers will create pod and vod casts with relevant content and students will also create their own pod and vod casts, these will be available on Moodle with SMS alerts when new material is uploaded.
• To use Wii fit with sport, science and Public Services students to assess such things as BMI and to engage in the fitness activities. This will provide opportunities for learning and will also be available to the wider student body through enrichment activities and to introduce video editing in sports activities to allow vocational sport students to generate multi-media evidence.