- E-Learning Pedagogy
- Bringing Language Learning to Life
- Podcasting ‘Hot Knowledge’ – Supporting Transition from Secondary Education to University
- PDAs and Digital Readers: Dutch Medical Students See the Benefits
- E-Learning with a Kick
- Failed Schoolgirl Returns to School
- Textbooks Terminated – Schools Go Online
- Pre-Conference Event at OEB: School Forum to Receive its Premiere
- All About Generation Y
- Discussion: Who Needs Teachers Anyway?
- Learning Together: 10 Years of Best Practice at Fronter
- The Talking Essay – Video Feedback for Students
- Meeting the Needs of the New Learners
- Digital Storytelling in E-Learning
- E-Learning for the Ne(x)t Generation of Students
- Michael Wesch Explores the “Crisis of Significance”
- Wikis in Education: Public, Semi-Public, or Private - Which is Best?
- Swedish Agency for Flexible Learning
- Multidimensional and Fun: Internet & Radio Teaching in Rural Grecian Schools
- Prof. Sugata Mitra to hold Keynote at Online Educa Berlin 2007
- From Project Plan to ROI
- Your training content is available online? That alone won’t do!
- Back to main
PDAs and Digital Readers: Dutch Medical Students See the Benefits
Mobile learning is becoming increasingly important in Dutch academic institutions. SURFnet and Kennisnet have been encouraging and facilitating educational institutions to experiment with mobile learning by funding new projects throughout this year and will continue to do so. In the course of their OEB session, both organisations will present the results of the following field studies, which were set up to produce just-in-time and just-in-case learning.
Studying independently with eBook Readers
SURFnet is a subsidiary of the SURF organisation in which Dutch universities, universities of applied sciences and research centres collaborate nationally and internationally on novel ICT concepts and applications. SURFnet provides innovative services in the field of security, authentication and authorisation, group communication and video. The Kennisnet foundation encourages and supports the use of ICT in the curriculum of primary and secondary education, as well as in vocational training. For more information, please visit http://www.surfnet.nl/en/Pages/default.aspx
Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) evaluated the use of eReader devices and investigated the possibility of replacing traditional textbooks and syllabi in the medicine curriculum. In collaboration with publishers, the research team digitalised relevant study material into an e-book format (PDF with hyperlinks). Students tested the eReaders for a period of one month while attending a course. They used the latest digital reader from iRex in a variety of learning scenarios: in classroom lectures and while preparing assignments collaboratively in project groups or studying independently. The students’ experience was evaluated through a focus-group discussion and questionnaires.
Immediate response via an innovative “TED-System”
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) developed an open source audience-response system using PDAs and wireless Internet that enhances students’ interactivity and involvement in the classroom. Students can not only react to multiple-choice questions shown on their PDA during the radiology lecture, but they can also interact with radiographic images. Students mark the area on the digital image that answers the relevant question. All the answers are collected by the teacher and directly projected onto the smartboard in front of the classroom. In addition to this online ‘functionality,’ the programme offers the opportunity to revise the mobile courseware outside the classroom through offline questionnaires. The instructor produces this mobile courseware with an authoring tool. The programme was tested by a hundred students at different levels and by five teachers. The research team evaluated their experience through questionnaires.
Share your vocabulary with friends and classmates
WRTS.nl is an online vocabulary-practice programme developed by the non-profit organisation Digital School (www.digischool.nl). Learners in primary, secondary and further education compose lists of words and share them with other learners; they can also use a list created by an educational publisher. Pupils and students may not always have access to personal computers, but they always carry their mobile devices with them. Digital School developed a mobile version of WRTS.nl. The research team successfully translated the web application into a learner-friendly mobile design. They evaluated the effect on learning performance and the frequency with which the programme was used outside classroom hours.
Informal learning in your surroundings?
Fontys University of Applied Sciences evaluated informal learning using the location-based mobile software mscape, combined with PDAs and GPS. The mscape software is free to use and enables students and teachers to develop interactive GPS tours outside school easily. Users receive multimedia messages comprising photos, videos, and text on their PDAs in the field, based on their GPS coordinates. Fontys investigated the ease of use for students and teachers at different educational levels (primary, further, special and higher education) and with varying levels of experience to develop and use the mscape software. They also examined the educational value of this informal learning method in comparison with more traditional learning methods.
At OEB 2009, Kirsten Veelo from SURFnet, Paul Dirckx from Fontys University of Applied Sciences and Peter de Jong from Leiden University Medical Center will present the projects in the session Anyplace & Anytime Learning, which will take place on Thursday, December 3rd from 12:00 - 13:30. Experience a demonstration of newly developed mobile learning applications for further and higher education, a mobile quiz and a lively discussion.
November 22, 2009
