Academic presentation for college course (textbook design)

Diffusion of Mobile Devices in EducationKanelia CannonEDUC 7101, Walden University1What is Diffusion?Diffusion is the process in which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. -Everett M. Rogers, Diffusion of InnovationsMobile Devices in EducationAs computers and the Internet become essential educational tools and the technology becomes more portable, affordable, effective, and easy to use, so too have they become the focus on how they can be incorporated to support learning. These technologies provide many opportunities for widening participation and enable easier access to learning. Mobile devices such as phones and PDAs are more reasonably priced than desktop computers, and therefore, present a less expensive method of accessing a myriad of tools all in one small device. Kathryn MacCullum

Narrative: Feature such as the facility to make phone calls, take pictures, record audio and video, store data, music, and movies, and interact with the Internet all provide opportunities that could be harnessed in the educational context. As new devices continue to enter the market, new features and capabilities are appearing at an accelerated pace. Mobile learning offers a fundamental change in the way learning can be regarded and opens the door to countless uses for educational purposes.

3Innovation-Development ProcessThe innovation-development process consists of all the decisions, activities, and their impacts that occur from recognition of a need or a problem, through research, development, and commercialization of an innovation, through diffusion and adoption of the innovation by users, to its consequences.-Everett M. Rogers, Diffusion of Innovations1. NeedWhat problem or need existed that gave rise to mobile devices in education?

Narrative:Mobile devices are part of the fabric of childrens lives today: They are here to stay, Michael H. Levine, the executive director of the New York City-based Joan Ganz Cooney Center, at Sesame Workshop, wrote in a statement accompanying the release of the report. It is no longer a question of whether we should use these devices to support learning, but how and when to use them.52. ResearchWhat research organization or people developed a solution to this problem or need? What were their findings? Who were the lead thinkers for this innovation?

Narrative:Pockets of Potential (Cooney Center Industry Fellow Carly Shuler) Recommendations Using Mobile Technologies to Promote Childrens LearningThe report supports wider experimentation and new investments in the design and deployment of mobile technologies to advance learning. It proposes a White House initiative on digital learning, and the following recommendations:1. Understand mobile learning as an element of education reform by investing in the development of mobile students; developing new theories and models for leveraging mobile technologies; and learning from other countries.2. Design educational innovations that capitalize on what is unique about mobile technologies, avoid costly constant defaults to the latest technology, and create development tools for educators.3. Engage the public and policy makers in dening the potential of mobile devices for learning by scaling up and disseminating innovative examples of mobile learning, providing incentives for needed infrastructure, and developing educational standards for the industry.4. Train teachers and learners to effectively incorporate mobile technologies by building a digital teacher corps, modifying and gradually eliminating classroom bans, and integrating mobile themes in media literacy curriculum.63. DevelopmentWhat problems did your innovation encounter in the development process? Who was the intended audience for your innovation?

Narrative:The intended audience for mobile devices was the learner. It was the consummate consumer of technology. Teachers, administrators and some parents view mobile devices as distractions from learning and a possible means for cheating. Just think, before cell phone policies were enforced, how many students were caught texting one another in class instead of focusing on instruction. However, with the continuous development of these technologies - iPad, tablets, Blackbery, iPhone, and Android, all with Internet connectivity, the benefits to education are boundless. The focus should be on how and when to use mobile devices and not to ban them from the classroom.74. CommercializationDescribe the production, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and distribution of your innovation.Narrative:Now, companies who manufacture the wonderful mobile devices we've become so accustomed to seeing, have forged partnerships with districts, schools, and classrooms to help equip students with this technology. Personally, my students have access to net-books and iPods to use in class. Now apps (applications) are being created for these mobile devices that directly correlate with education and apps such as MOBL21 allow the teacher to create content for use by their students on their mobile devices.8Innovation-Decision ProcessThe process through which an individual (or other decision-making unit) passes from gaining initial knowledge of an innovation, to forming an attitude toward the innovation, to making a decision to adopt or reject, to implementation of the new idea, and to confirmation of this decision.-Everett M. Rogers, Diffusion of Innovations1. KnowledgeMobile devices are devices such as cell phones, smart phones, netbooks, laptops, tablets, iPods, iPads, ereaderssuch as the Kindle, Nook, etc., palms, Treo, and other devices that are typically lightweight, portable andconnect to the internet.Relatively inexpensive technologyMobile devices will need to be provided by parents & students and/or the school for classroom use.Mobile devices will need Internet access in order to beneficialSchool and district servers/Internet access must be equipped to handle the use of mobile devicesWi-Fi

2. PersuasionPROSCONSAnytime, anywhere access to content.Can enhance interaction between and among students and instructors.Great for just-in-time training or review of content.Can enhance student-centered learning.Can appeal to tech-savvy students because of the media-rich environment.Support differentiation of student learning needs and personalized learning.Reduce cultural and communication barriers between faculty and students by using communication channels that students like.Facilitate collaboration through synchronous and asynchronous communication.

May make it easier to cheat.Could give tech-savvy students an advantage over non-technical students.Can create a feeling of isolation or of being out-of-the-loop for non-techies.May require media to be reformatted or offered in multiple formats.Might render some content outdated because of rapid upgradeshere today, outdated tomorrow.Could require additional learning curve for non-technical students and faculty.

Versatility of smartphones (Video CameraDictaphoneScannerInternet Connection / BrowserComputer / basic office softwareCameraVideo playerInteractive board / tablet)Phones can and will go off in lessons.There is an inclusion argument: it is unfair if not all pupils have access.Control. Its very difficult to check what pupils are really doing on their smartphone.Bullying. If phones are there, they may be used for the wrong reasons.Insurance. Smartphones can cost a lot of money and if theyre being used in lessons, whose insurance is liable?3. Decision4. Implementation5. ConfirmationReferencesMacCullum, K. (n.d.). Adoption theory and the integration of mobile technology in education. Retrieved from http://www.deanz.org.nz/home/conferenceDocs/MacCallum.pdfPotential of Mobile Learning Emerges. (2009).Electronic Education Report,16(2), 4.Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations. New York, New York: Free Press