Michael H. Levine and Carly Shuler: Pockets of Potential
Filed at 4:01 pm on February 13, 2009 in Civic Engagement, Credibility, Games, Identity, Digital Divide • 2 comments
Researchers from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Street Workshop detail the recommendations in their latest study that explores the potential of mobile devices for learning.
by Michael H. Levine and Carly Shuler
The most ubiquitous technology in children’s lives today are mobile devices — tools such as cell phones, iPods, and portable gaming platforms that traverse home, school, and play via the hands and pockets of children worldwide. While these devices are a source of fun and entertainment, they also offer new ways to stimulate breakthroughs in children’s learning and the quality of teaching. Our latest study, Pockets of Potential, documents the untapped potential of mobile learning and outlines a first-ever national mobile learning strategy. Based on interviews with mobile learning experts from around the world, the study found that just as Sesame Street transformed television into a revolutionary learning tool for preschoolers, mobile learning technology may represent the next frontier. Pockets of Potential includes an inventory of notable mobile learning examples, such as MIT’s Augmented Reality Games which use GPS technology to engage people in simulation games that combine real world and virtual experiences. PBS Kids’ Learning Letters with Elmo used video and text messaging to send literacy tips to parents of preschoolers, successfully engaging lower-income families. In the United Kingdom, Wolverhampton Local Authority’s award-winning Learning2Go initiative delivers 24/7 personalized learning to over 1000 students by giving them the choice to learn on their own schedule.
The report offers a blueprint for national action. Major recommendations include:
- New Investment in R&D - New government, philanthropic and industry investment is needed to assess and design educational mobile technologies for children.
- Establish a Digital Teachers Corps - The establishment of a digital teacher corps would prepare educators to use digital media to promote 21st century literacy.
- Create a White House Initiative on Digital Learning - A White House Summit and a digital investment fund can promote mobile innovation to help benefit the economy.
We welcome comments from the Spotlight community on ways to build powerful alliances to advance digital media such as games and mobile as key elements of a new day for learning.
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Comments (2)
1: Tom Hoffman at 12:39 am on Monday, February 16, 2009
What you’re proposing would require every student to have a subsidized data plan and smart phone, plus somehow boosting cellular reception within school buildings, which tend to be stoutly built.
Also, it will require parents and legislators to not care that schools are subsidizing students unfiltered and unmonitored access to the internet via private cell networks. Or perhaps coming up with some unpleasant system where the telecoms will take over these services directly for schools.
Netbooks + wifi + the web + open source software will do just fine, thank you.
2: Carly Shuler from Joan Ganz Cooney Center at 4:40 pm on Friday, April 17, 2009
Tom - thanks so much for your insightful comment! While many cases of mobile learning certainly do require surmounting the significant challenges that you talk about, many don’t require every student to have their own cell phone - and some don’t even use a phone at all. There are numerous exciting examples of mobile learning that use things like a DS or an iPod. I encourage you to check out Appendix A on P.40 of Pockets of Potential (http://joanganzcooneycenter.org/pdf/pockets_of_potential.pdf) - there are over 30 examples of teaching and learning with mobile technologies highlighted.
For more insight and perspective from industry, please check out a video interview with Rafael Ballagas from Nokia Research Center on our YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2hVkXKhIhI. This forward thinking research arm of Nokia explores concepts that may be 5-10 years out in development.
Robust discussion/debate is encouraged. Comments are reviewed before posting to ensure they are on topic and do not promote commercial products or services.
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