Cell Phones as a Learning PlatformIt has been evident for a long time that cell phones are much more than simply voice communication devices, or as most of us call them, "telephones." From almost the very beginning they were able to store phone numbers, and even addresses, but now they are evolving into much, much more. They've even gotten to the point where they are viable educational delivery tools, with their ability to store and play back (or display) pictures (read: PowerPoint presentations), audio (think: podasts), and video (understand: full lectures and demonstrations).
The Blackberry and other "smart phones" introduced a more robust envrionment years ago, but the software interface was too clunky, and the hardware displays were too small, to realistically do much educational activity with them. (Plus there's the whole issue of how many students had cell phones capable of being used for education.) However, the iPhone and similar models recently developed by other vendors are rapidly changing the landscape of cellular technology so that we can realistically begin to think of cell phones for delivery of educational materials.
Let's ease our way into this
When we think about educational materials being delivered on a phone, most people likely get bogged down thinking of applications like video and audio and using those capabilities to deliver recordings of lectures and other presentations. But there's another way to look at it, which requires much less work. Let's take a few examples that change the paradigm a bit....small applications that use cellular technologies to obtain information, help remember creative ideas, or research small "factoids" of information needed in a hurry.
Let's look at a few of those services that are available through telephony. (Even though I started out with a focus on cell phones, some of these can be done from any telephone.)
Google's doing interesting things for telephony too, not just on the web
Google is providing a free service to help you get phone numbers fast, or find your way around. Just dial 800-GOOG-411 and you'll be asked for a city and state. Reply with that info and you'll be asked for more info. Using voice recognition it will provide you with the address and dial the number for you. However, if you want other info, just interrupt by saying, "details" (for the address and phone number), or "text message" (to have the info sent to you). Pretty cool. Imagine that kind of technology being used to answer questions a student might have about a subject!
How about doing the Cha-cha?
Call 800-2CHACHA from your cell phone and ask just about any question ("How is the Dow Jones Index calculated?" "What does GNP stand for and how is it calculated?" "What two teams played in the World Series in 1938 and which team won?" "What causes water to evaporate?") and within a minute you'll get a text message back to confirm that ChaCha is working on your question. Then a short time later, you'll get an answer.
(Note that I didn't say you'd get the right answer! I tried ChaCha by asking it the World Series question above. Although I got an answer back within a minute, it wasn't quite the right answer. The response I got was "Cubs." Nothing more. Turns out it was 1/3 right. The Cubs played in the '38 Series, but further prolonging Cubs' fans angst, they lost to the Yankees. Maybe ChaCha has a bit of work to do, but the concept is an interesting one.)
Just Jott it down
Sometimes you may have a great idea that you don't want to forget, but you don't have a way to write it down, but you do have your cell phone with you. (Who doesn't?) Just call Jott! Or more accurately Speed-dial 866-JOTT123. When you do you get asked "Who do you wan to Jott?" Just respond with "myself" and tell it your great idea. Five minutes later, the transcribed, typed message appears in your
e-mail in-box, complete with an audio attachment of the recording —
and, if you like, also on your phone as a text message. Not too shabby!
But even better, you can create a Jott address book with names of friends and family (or students, if you have their cell phone numbers) and leave them Jott messages with a time set for it to be delivered. "Don't forget your assignment is due on Friday." "Don't forget little Billy's birthday on July 15." (I know, I know, who wants to be nagged all the time like this, but it's up to you to use it judiciously.) If you like the concept and want to try it out, sign up at jott.com.
So this isn't satsifying enough for you? Then read on...
* I gleaned this information from an article in the June 5, 2008 issue of the New York Times, which you can read here.
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