Mobile Research Project
What is Happening?
The CBE has been engaged in a research project around digital citizenship and mobile learning with the University of Calgary. Key questions explored were:
- How can the use of mobile devices inform the CBE's digital citizenship strategy?
- How might mobile learning support the personalization of learning?
- What impact on student achievement will these devices have?
Five schools across the Calgary Board of Education were equipped with class sets of iPod Touch devices. These schools are Bowness, Catherine Nichols Gunn, Annie Gale, Westgate and Robert Warren. Each classroom also had a Bretford syncing cart that allowed teachers to add and control the apps on each iPod device.
The teachers in each school completed special training in digital citizenship and mobile learning. Their students used the iPods to enhance their learning and practice the safe and responsible use of digital technologies. The teachers met regularly in both online and face2face environments to share their experiences.
This initiative was an opportunity to promote digital citizenship and enhance student learning. Today's world is highly connected and networked. 21st-century skills demand that students have a strong content knowledge base as well as the ability to connect, communicate, create and collaborate in a digital environment. It is vital that our students learn to use digital technologies in a safe and ethical manner. The pilot asked students to practice using the technologies they may be using on a daily basis in a manner that is thoughtful, compassionate and moral.
Mobile learning through the use of mobile devices such as cell phones, iPods, and netbooks play a significant role in in this highly interactive world. The advent of the Learner Accessible Wireless Network within the Calgary Board of Education brings a unique opportunity to both support the development of good digital citizenship habits and an understanding of how mobile learning technologies can support teaching and learning.
Objectives of the Pilot
- Promote and inform the elements of Digital Citizenship
- Increase student engagement and achievement through personalization
- Provide teachers with professional learning opportunities around digital citizenship and mobile learning
- Encourage anywhere aytime learning
- Support equity of access to digital technology
- Promote and foster 21st collaboration and communication skills
- Create a model of mobile learning within the CBE
- Stimulate new leadership and support for mobile learning
- Assess the effectiveness of mobile learning
As part of system support for mobile learning a mobile learning cohort for teachers has been formed. This consists of the following:
- A D2L shell
- Face to face meetings known as App Chats
- Supporting webinars
Please contact kepegler or pmauld for more information.
What Students Are Saying
"Learning is fun now"
"My writing is not as messy anymore"
"If I do it (note-taking) by hand, after a paragraph I am
finished...I am like no more notes...it's too much writing..your hand
dies out" "For me, the more I write the messier it gets"
"When you're interested in something, you want to do good on it and since the iPods are interesting I have really higher grades."
"With the iPod, if you were to take notes, you have a billion options to choose from...Notes, voice memos, Doodle Buddy, Dragon Dictation...it's a lot easier."
"It's a lot easier to learn"
"Laptops are way too slow...they're ancient
Recommended iPod Touch Applications
| Cross Curricular | Social Studies | Science | English Language Arts |
| Math | Second Language | Physical Education | Fine Arts |
