Comments on: New definitions of mobile learning http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/ networks, languages, and learning 2.0 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:59:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Recent URLs tagged Personalization - Urlrecorder http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-2849 Recent URLs tagged Personalization - Urlrecorder Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:17:25 +0000 http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-2849 [...] recorded first by unknownmarketer on 2008-10-06→ New definitions of mobile learning [...] […] recorded first by unknownmarketer on 2008-10-06→ New definitions of mobile learning […]

]]> By: Ken Carroll http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1652 Ken Carroll Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:28:51 +0000 http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1652 Michael, my old contrarian friend! Good comments. Traditional education , particularly in China, is anything but a conversation. Learners tend to think of learning as something they need to memorize, so they sequester thenselves for years from any real social contact and concentrate on propositions about the language rather than engaging in the thing. There is a place for both types but the conversational aspect is utterly missing here. Nigel, I actually know very little about computer games or Second Life but I guess it's time to start looking into them. Ken Michael, my old contrarian friend! Good comments. Traditional education , particularly in China, is anything but a conversation. Learners tend to think of learning as something they need to memorize, so they sequester thenselves for years from any real social contact and concentrate on propositions about the language rather than engaging in the thing. There is a place for both types but the conversational aspect is utterly missing here.

Nigel, I actually know very little about computer games or Second Life but I guess it’s time to start looking into them.

Ken

]]> By: Nigel Hedges http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1650 Nigel Hedges Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:11:03 +0000 http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1650 Hi Ken, I think possible one of the "side evolutions" of language learning would be something like the merging of online languages resources delivered like ChinesePod with Multi-user Online games. I'm not talking about 'World of Podcraft' specifically, but maybe a blending of something like ChinesePod with Habbo.com which is a virtual teen hangout. Imagine a virtual world that you could log in, do language challenges ("quests") and build up from being a newbie to a master. Along the way you could compete in language games with like-skilled individuals, before you unlock areas of the virtual world that are open to people who have mastered the previous areas. It might seem a bit out-of-reach, but then I'm sure thats what alot of people thought about delivering language learning online, but you've shown that this is more than feasible, highly practical and also very valuable! Indeed, the growing web2.0 and mobile capabilities will make it a very interactive connected world, there's more positives in that then negatives. Hi Ken,

I think possible one of the “side evolutions” of language learning would be something like the merging of online languages resources delivered like ChinesePod with Multi-user Online games. I’m not talking about ‘World of Podcraft’ specifically, but maybe a blending of something like ChinesePod with Habbo.com which is a virtual teen hangout.

Imagine a virtual world that you could log in, do language challenges (”quests”) and build up from being a newbie to a master. Along the way you could compete in language games with like-skilled individuals, before you unlock areas of the virtual world that are open to people who have mastered the previous areas.

It might seem a bit out-of-reach, but then I’m sure thats what alot of people thought about delivering language learning online, but you’ve shown that this is more than feasible, highly practical and also very valuable!

Indeed, the growing web2.0 and mobile capabilities will make it a very interactive connected world, there’s more positives in that then negatives.

]]> By: Michael http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1630 Michael Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:56:12 +0000 http://ken-carroll.com/2008/07/16/new-definitions-of-mobile-learning/#comment-1630 Ken, I found shaking my head in agreement with you as I read this article. It occurs to me that there will be many "classes" of mobile learning most of which will be defined increasing by the kind of interaction that one is in with one's environment. On one end of the spectrum, for purposes of discussion, there will be the solitary, individual unconnected to others who uses a device for his/her primary input. At the other end will be a group of people (2+) using the device in close physical or electronic proximity to each other to accelerate interaction. On one side, you will find people in a condition of limited social contact and low authentic interaction. On the other side, high social contact and high levels of authentic interaction. Of course this begs the question of what constitutes authentic interaction. I think it would be a mistake to say that one end of the spectrum is inherently better than the other end because at times each end will offer the customer something different. I say this fully recognizing that language learning is at times both intensely social and intensely personal. There needs to be times for both although I think the social becomes comparatively more important at higher levels. One key to getting a handle on this is to figure out what quality, authentic interaction is and how it can be stimulated or simulated. A mobile program that could address both ends of this spectrum would probably end up being a killer app. Ken,

I found shaking my head in agreement with you as I read this article.

It occurs to me that there will be many “classes” of mobile learning most of which will be defined increasing by the kind of interaction that one is in with one’s environment.

On one end of the spectrum, for purposes of discussion, there will be the solitary, individual unconnected to others who uses a device for his/her primary input.

At the other end will be a group of people (2+) using the device in close physical or electronic proximity to each other to accelerate interaction.

On one side, you will find people in a condition of limited social contact and low authentic interaction. On the other side, high social contact and high levels of authentic interaction.

Of course this begs the question of what constitutes authentic interaction.

I think it would be a mistake to say that one end of the spectrum is inherently better than the other end because at times each end will offer the customer something different.

I say this fully recognizing that language learning is at times both intensely social and intensely personal. There needs to be times for both although I think the social becomes comparatively more important at higher levels.

One key to getting a handle on this is to figure out what quality, authentic interaction is and how it can be stimulated or simulated.

A mobile program that could address both ends of this spectrum would probably end up being a killer app.

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