There's a Teacher in Your Pocket David Babb, Director, Online Instructor Support, GPC Online Georgia Perimeter College ABSTRACT How do you keep your students attention and utilize the technology they are becoming the best at using? Instead of working against the technology, embrace the mobile device and use it to your advantage. As the popularity of mobile devices continues to grow, the use of mobile devices, in online education, has not. The standard hybrid practice is a face to face class with the addition of an online component. This paper covers the theory behind using the mobile device as a component of the online classroom, thus creating a new digital hybrid. Incorporating the mobile device allows additional accessibility and enhances student learning through real time learning and a true mobile experience. ON-THE-GO CLASSROOM A recent study shows that people, on average, have a 50-second attention span.1 The brain does not gather or retain all the information but reduces it into manageable chunks. The mobile device takes advantage of these chunks; by disseminate smaller more efficient bits of information, resulting in increased retention, interest, and a continual learning process. While face to face classes offer a structured learning environment and on-line classes offer more flexibility only courses with a mobile component can education provide a true guerilla learning experience for students. We have to change our ideas about what a classroom and learning is. The old paradigm doesn't work when you add the mobile device. Assignments need to be tailored to what the device is capable of: short projects that give students the ability to exchange ideas and thoughts. This is the ultimate application of the Socratic Method. Examples include: TEXTING - Over half of school students in Europe and the US now use text messages as their primarily communications method. This form of communication is quickly becoming common place.2 Taking advantage of this is a great way to keep students engaged. VIDEO - The video capabilities of the mobile device are an engaging way to get your students involved in the learning process by teaching others. Using the video capture in the mobile device, students can video short 1-5 minute presentations, interviews. VOICE MAIL - These presentations allows the student to do a quick commentary on any subject. They can also do multiple presentations over a given time period and then a final summary. This is the ultimate real time learning experience. EMAIL - Group emails allow students to produce short papers and get instant feedback. OBSTACLES AND MAKING IT WORK The main obstacles are size, speed and tracking participation and grading. As with any course, setting up specific standards at the beginning of class let students know what is expected of them. These type courses take a bit of work from the faculty, but the benefits, in the long term, will show in your student's learning and participation. Adding a few mobile components to an online classroom can enrich the student's experience. Starting a pilot program, then getting faculty and student feedback can show the viability of this addition to any program. SUMMARY In the future, will the classroom be completely on mobile devices? With the changes, advances and current uses in education/training and technology the only answer is yes. On-line educators have to be ahead of the curve and consider where to go in facilitating the classroom by shifting our thinking outside the box and into the one we hold in our hands as well as put in our pockets. REFERENCES http://www.secretlair.com/index.php?/clickableculture/entry/the_50_second_attention_span/ http://www.mobile-spy.com/textingdangers.html David Babb is the Director of Online Instructor Support at Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, Georgia 30021. Email: David.Babb@gpc.edu
