Notes I took at the mobile learning workshop that I attended at the conference organised by the LT Sig of IATEFL with the help of ELT Ireland and MEI in Dublin on the 22nd and 23rd of Nov. Overview We've always been distracted. It's different forms.

Using mobiles is good if it is for discrete units of time for a purpose.

Avoid cutting down time when they are doing what they want to do, communicate.

There can be a complex tech eco-system where the teacher has to support technical issues.

It's a big moment for the students when they are told get your phones out.

Why take tools away from people and make tasks as difficult as possible?

Writing and speaking teachers intervene well on correction and learning in class.

With reading and listening we can't help as much.

As long as it is on target language-wise, inspectors will be happy.

Add a tech column to the syllabus.

What can tech bring to that unit?

Always tell the students why they are using phones and what they will get out of it.If the teacher doesn't believe in it it will never work.

Language level can be an issue. Start slowly with simple tasks.

Using mobiles

Explore the devices, what can they do and what you can do with them in your learning.

Have an acceptable use policy everyone signs a list of things it is alright to do and things it is not. No bans.

Still insists on students taking notes on paper, it forces then to think about content. Taking a photo you'll never look again.

Experience the joys of language from their mobile device. Explain to them about what we are using and why.

Using text messages

Texting is way of playing with language. Know the rules in order to break them. Texting didn't destroy English despite predictions.

Useful to explore what is acceptable in the different genres. Will have to use IM in work scenarios. Consider register and appropriacy. 

Phones great for dictation. Autocorrect will fill it in for them.

Using Images

Pick a photo on your phone - share it and explain what's going on. Give a day's warning. Prompt with a list of generic photo types.

Give Prompts to find something and take a pic. Not all is useful but it is more memorable if the collect their own data.

Flickr. Students have password. Students upload pics for new Vocab. Have access to a vocab bank when you go home.

Using Audio Record and send student language production.

Make a short recording describing something. The others guess what it is.

Can record and rerecord outside class.

Record and upload on Audioboom, max 10mins. Listen and comment.

One task was to give greative reasons for why they don't do their homework. 

Interview your host family on your phone. Share in class.

Using Video

Language practices comes in the prep. And storyboarding in the class. You can steer people.

Looking for video tools that don't get in the way. So most of the energy is spent on the languages. e.g. Imovie

Vine, 6 second video. Something personal. Gather clips around town. Gather useful information - put them in a wiki. Contribute to global knowledge of the school.

Forces people to look at things and think about them a bit more.

Hardware

Mirroring with Xmirage via desktop

Reflector - works with androids.

Laptop connected to a projector.

Connect your IPad to the same network. Wireless v Wifi connection

Routers in each room ...

Hard wired the whiteboards.

Separate teacher and student connections.

Other Apps & Sites

My word book, British Council

Lyrics traing - website

TED-Isub for subtitles

Gobby - chilli-o-meter - Only from US app store

Dragon speech to text transcription - Only from US app store

Post it - Converts reals post-it notes to virtual   

Wiki - peer correction - keeps every revision.