Handheld learning is becoming more popular for educational purposes. There are programmes and apps using handheld devices which are purposely designed for educational learning and give children the opportunity for new learning experiences.
This week we had a group of primary sixes to experience handheld learning. We used Ipods and Ipads. Before the children arrived we planned a hunt using QR codes.
QR codes are like bar codes, they can be scanned using a handheld devide such as a mobile phone or ipod. They then lead to you a webpage, send an SMS or email or give display text. They are becoming extremely popular and are commonly used in shops, on posters and also on packaging to gove more information on a product. We made up the QR codes using a website:
http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-generator/
Here, we could add an activity for the children, some of which included: Play a game of BUZZ using the 6 times table, make up a short dance with your group or solve the riddles (which were also included in the QR code). We then had another barcode which included an instruction of where to go next! The children found this engaging and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the university campus.
Once the children had taken part in the activity, we brought them together again and used the handheld devices for something different. We used an app called ‘iBook Creator’. This programme is made for educational purposes and is used to create an online book where you can personalise your story by adding words, pictures and also audio! Dawson, 2007 agrees that using handheld devices can support learners to take control of their own learning both inside and outside of the classroom while making personal choices with a more positive attitude and experience.
The hunt and the I-book creator activity involved active learning which helped the children towards achieving the four capacities from the curriculum for excellence:
- successful learners through tackling new experiences and learning from them, and developing important skills including literacy and numeracy through exploring and investigating. As the children were actively exploring, while also developing literacy and numeracy through the guided tasks and the i-book creator app.
- confident individuals through succeeding in their activities, having the satisfaction of a task accomplished.
- responsible citizens through learning to share and give and take, learning to respect themselves and others, and taking part in making decisions.
- effective contributors through interacting together in leading or supporting roles, tackling problems, extending communication skills, taking part in sustained talking and thinking, and respecting the opinions of others. This was important throughout the tasks as all members of the group had to share and equally be involved.
(Scottish Government, undated).
In my opinion, handheld learning is a positive learning experience. Handheld devices are portable which means leaning can be achieved in different environments other than the classroom. Children will also have more ownership of their learning while providing a greater experience, engagement and independence as well as working in collaborative groups.
On the other hand, I felt that only one child could use the device at the one time. Therefore in the classroom, I would create something else for the other children to do rather than sit and watch, or use the handheld devices in groups where everyone was in control of their own device.
References
Dawson, D. (2007) Handheld Technologies for Mobile Learning. Leicester: naice
Kolb, L. (2008) Cell Phones as Learning Tools. London:
Scottish Government, (undated) About Active Learning. Available online at: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/activelearning/about/what.asp [accessed on 3/3/12.
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