Don't Worry be Appy - using Apps for Learning & Teaching

1. Image by sucellolelloes from flickr licensed under creative commons
Don’t Worry – Be Appy
Celeste McLaughlin & Joan Walker
JISC RSC Scotland
#rscmob

2. According to a recent report from mobile
manufacturer Ericsson, studies show that:
“by 2015, 80% of people accessing
the Internet will be doing so from
mobile devices.”
Perhaps more important for education:
“Internet- capable mobile devices will
outnumber computers within the next
year.”
Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., and
Haywood, K., (2011). The 2011 Horizon Report.
Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.

3. “Mobile devices give us a unique opportunity to have
learners embedded in a realistic context at the same
time as having access to supporting tools”
Futurelab (2004)
“Looking at mobile learning in a wider context, we
have to recognize that mobile, personal, and
wireless devices are now radically transforming
societal notions of discourse and knowledge, and
are responsible for new forms of
art, employment, language, commerce, deprivation
, and crime, as well as learning.”
Traxler (2007)

5. Note Taking – Audio Note
This app enables you to record a
lecture, interview, conversation
or meeting and take written
notes at the same time.
Play back of the audio is synced
with the written note so you
can dip in as needed.
Templates can be added prior to
sessions where the app is to be
used to assist the learning
process.

6. Cloud Storage & File
Sharing - Evernote
This app is a cloud service that
enables you to add
notes/audio/video/website links
and digital items to your online
account.
Log in from anywhere with any
browser to access your store.
Apps, bookmarklets and quick
access tools are available for
most devices.

7. Mindmapping -
Mindmeister
Use this app to create mind
maps a recognised planning
tool useful also for note-
taking and collaborative work.
Mindmaps made with
mindmeister can be coloured
/ grouped / exported &
shared.

8. Reminders and task lists – Daily
Reminder / Task + to do list
This type of app helps individuals to plan
and organise their studies. They can be
invaluable for students with a wide range
of additional support needs where in
may cases these skills are weak.
Timetables, course milestones and
deadlines can be programmed in
advance. Special notes can be added

9. Feed Aggregators – Flipboard
/ Pulse / Google Reader
These apps work with RSS feeds and
collect together online services and
resources that you subscribe to in
one place. Resources are presented
in a user friendly manner often in a
magazine style.
Information you select by
subscribing, is presented to you
using these tools.

10. Ebook Readers – ibooks /
Aldiko
eBook readers are used for reading
digital books and pdf files. They have
a number of very useful tools
including
bookmarking, highlighting, dictionar
y definitions, magnification.
Emerging eBook standards are
enabling
enhancements, images, video and
dynamic content to be included.

11. iTunes U
The iTunes U app gives students access to all
the materials for a course in a single place.
Students can play video or audio
lectures, read books and view presentations.
See a list of all the assignments for the course
and tick them off as they’re completed.
Ted Talks
Technology, Entertainment and Design
Inspiration and controversial six minute
videos good for sparking discussion on a wide
reange of topics.

12. Observational assessment using
tablet PCs @ SLC
• Use of tablet PCs at South
Lanarkshire College with
Construction students.
• Assessment templates created
and used to record assessment
activity.
• Comments recorded on
template and a digital copy
made available to students.
• Immediate feedback for
learners and access to their own
portfolio of work.
Example taken from The use of tablet PCs for e-assessment,
JISC RSC Scotland case study with South Lanarkshire College
http://bit.ly/H7Egf1

13. Using QR Codes @ Perth College
• Being used in Beauty courses at Perth College, UHI
• Students scan QR codes using smartphone which launches resources such
as case studies, YouTube videos, quizzes and other formative assessments
• Activities were created using SoftChalk software and hosted on the web
• A QR code generator provided the image, containing access to the
resources.
Benefits:
• They have flexible access via their phones to content which they
can use at any time
• Has promoted discussion and reflection on activities
• No need to pre-book computer labs and provides spontaneity
around the learning experience
• Engages in activities outwith class, promoting self-directed learning
Read the case study for more information - http://bit.ly/GWMDrI

14. NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing
QR Code takes you to this quiz.

15. Icons by http://dryicons.com
http://bit.ly/GEjKTI

16. Amazing Apps @ Clydebank College
Read the case study for further information
http://bit.ly/w5NvKi

17. Xgames @ Reid Kerr College
• JISC funded project which aimed to use collaborative games to improve
attainment levels of vocational learners
• Project outputs included games templates and a bank of example questions
(for use with the xBox)
Project outcomes included:
• Increased student motivation
• Increased student to student interaction
• Increased learner engagement and participation
• Increased use of ICT for learning and teaching
Image by chippermist from flickr licensed under creative commons
• Reduced barriers to using ICT for learning and teaching
• Evidence of the pedagogical advantages of using games in an educational
context
• Stimulate institutional decision makers and teaching staff to think about
alternative methods of formative assessment
Further information at: Xgames @ Reid Kerr College

18. Augmented Reality example – 360 degree visuals and
incorporated assessments
LearnAR provides a resource pack of interactive learning activities across
English, maths, science, RE, physical education and languages, that
include modelling and assessments.

19. http://www.jisc.ac.uk/digiemerge
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/emergeresource

20. http://www.rsc-scotland.ac.uk/
support@rsc-scotland.ac.uk
@RSCScotland
Mail List - http://bit.ly/RSC-info