MOBILE PHONES FOR EDUCATION
Two-thirds of mobile phone subscribers live in the developing world, with subscriptions in Africa growing the fastest, according to research from the International Telecommunication Union. And it is not only adults making use of this technology. While evidence indicates that many of these mobile phone users are teens, what this means for the delivery of education is less clear.
One of the best known initiatives incorporating mobile phones into education is text2teach in the Philippines, which enables teachers to request educational videos via text message, with the videos delivered to a television at the school via satellite. Anticipating a significant price drop for smartphones, Dunia Moja is a joint initiative of Stanford University (USA) and partner universities in Africa that is exploring how to facilitate communication and joint research between students and faculty on environmental issues. And educators in India are piloting a programme that uses mobile gaming to support literacy.
Read more in “What do we know about using mobile phones in education”, a posting on the new World Bank blog dedicated to ICT and education issues:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/edutech
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COL also recently commissioned two consultants’ studies on Using Mobile Technology for Learner Support in Open Schooling, one covering Europe and one covering the developing world:
www.col.org/consultancies
MOBILE PHONES WIKI
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Mobile Web for Social Development Interest Group has developed a new online collection of case studies, papers and reports that focuses on the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) using mobile phones in developing countries. The wiki is divided into three sections:
• Mobile content and usage: projects on the use of mobile phones in development, ethnographic studies and general articles on the use of mobiles in development
• Technology: different technologies existing to deploy content and application on mobiles
• Capacity building: initiatives around enhancing expertise in mobile technologies in developing countries
www.w3.org/2008/MW4D/wiki/Stories
FIX PHOTOS FOR FREE
A freely distributed open source software programme is available to correct imperfections in digital photos. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) provides software that enables you to retouch photos, compose images and author images. It works on many operating systems in many languages. GIMP’s fullscreen mode allows you to preview your artwork and do editing work using most of your screen estate.
www.gimp.org
OPEN THAT FILE WITHOUT EXPENSIVE SOFTWARE
Faced with the challenge of opening obscure file types, you don’t necessarily need to purchase new software. Openwith.org provides detailed information about most file extensions and links to free, open source programmes that can open and create each type of file.
www.openwith.org
TWITTER TIPS FOR TEACHERS
Twitter offers opportunities for teachers and students to communicate, connect and collaborate. This posting offers 100 tips, computer applications and resources for teachers, ranging from a beginner’s guide to Twitter and Twitter etiquette to educational applications and how to link up with other classrooms.
http://onlinecollegedegree.org/2009/03/19/100-tips-apps-and-resources-for-teachers-on-twitter
EDUCATION CONTENT ON YOUTUBE
The popular online video site YouTube has launched an educational hub that features content uploaded by colleges and universities. More than 100 colleges have set up channels on YouTube; this new section brings together all that content in one area, making it easier to find college lectures. The site now features more than 200 full college courses ranging from computer science and biology to psychology and law. Users can also see which college-produced videos are most popular.
And see COL’s videos at www.col.org/videos and Commonwealth TV at www.thecommonwealth.org/tv
www.youtube.com/edu