Exploring Mobile Technologies to Increase Student Learning
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Funded by a UW System Curricular Redesign Grant
Priority Deadline: July 29, 2011
Overview
The University of Wisconsin System awarded a Curricular Redesign Grant to UWM’s Learning Technology Center to explore pedagogically effective uses of mobile technologies. More specifically, the goal of this project is to investigate the impact of mobile applications and devices on student interactions, engagement, and learning.
We would like to invite interested faculty and teaching academic staff to participate in this project where they will integrate mobile applications and devices into their Fall 2011 or Spring 2012 courses. Specifically, we are looking for student-centered, active learning experiences as described below. Proposals are not limited to these processes, and proposals that incorporate multiple processes are encouraged.
1.) Facilitating simulations or role play learning activities, which can include delivery of instructions and guidelines, data collection or information gathering, group communication, and more through student mobile devices.
2.) Developing student-created content through mobile capturing of video, audio, or images and possible sharing of students’ products through a social media tool, such as YouTube or Flickr.
3.) Fostering student learning through “off the shelf” mobile applications through the Apple App Store or Android Marketplace.
4.) Implementing a gaming curriculum or game-based learning activities facilitated through the use of mobile technologies.
5.) Developing innovative ways to deliver course content and information through mobile devices or applications.
6.) Utilizing mobile devices and applications for fieldwork, interviews, and research.
7.) Creating engaging face-to-face classes using mobile devices in order to create feedback or backchannel mechanisms in class.
The instructors selected for this program will receive support from the UWM Learning Technology Center in course redesign, be awarded a S&E stipend ranging from $500-$1,500, and be required to:
- Integrate one substantial learning activity, using student-centered, active learning pedagogy, facilitated through the use of mobile devices that has the potential to impact student interactions, engagement, and learning for a Fall 2011 or Spring 2012 course;
- Attend faculty consultations with LTC staff;
- Assist with the LTC’s assessment of the impact of mobile devices (student pre and post survey, faculty survey); and
- Participate in a debriefing session after the course is completed.
Background
The research suggests that the use of mobile devices is becoming more widespread.
- 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices (Flosi, 2010).
- 55.7 million people in the U.S. own smartphones (Flosi, 2010).
- The mobile Internet is being adopted at a faster rate than the desktop Internet (Morgan Stanley, 2010).
- K-12 schools are allowing and even encouraging the use of mobile devices, including cell phones in the classroom (Project Tomorrow, 2010).
- Beyond just Internet access, over 90% of 18-29 year olds use their mobile phones to send and receive text messages (Smith, Caruso, & Kim, 2010).
- More than three-fourths of higher education students own and use a mobile device (Smith, Caruso, & Kim, 2010).
Mobility allows us to increase our access, efficiency, and effectiveness in meeting our process needs in teaching and learning. Our ability to retrieve, gather, and share information despite our distanciation in space and time is facilitate by mobile technology. It not only provides students access to course content and information, but facilitates opportunities to dialogue and collaborate, which can meet higher order learning needs. For faculty, they can overcome challenges of the face-to-face classroom and static learning technologies by using mobile technologies to create more informed classes, support instant exchanges of ideas and gathering of feedback, utilize new methods of student assessment through digital media, and implement experiential learning opportunities. Mobile learning opportunities have the ability to increase social interactions and engagement with students and among students.
Currently, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has been conducting studies on how mobile applications (e.g., Web clickers and Twitter Back Channel) and mobile devices (laptops, iTouch, smartphones, etc.) can enhance the student experience. Also, UWM has been investigating the ways in which tools such as Twitter and Facebook are using push down technology and SMS text messaging through mobile devices to more effectively communicate with students. The evidence gathered indicates positive impact on student interaction, engagement, learning, and learning..
While research conducted by UWM on emerging technologies serves as a foundation for understanding how mobile and social learning can impact the learning process, more research is needed. We are looking to further explore pedagogically effective combinations of mobile technologies facilitating active learning.
Application
Please submit a 2 page summary of your proposed project by July 29, 2011, via e-mail to tjoosten@uwm.edu, for the priority deadline. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until funding is no longer available. The selection of participants will be competitive.
The proposal should address the following:
- How would using mobile devices and/or applications better facilitate student learning in your course? Specifically, what would be desired learning outcomes? how would you assess whether students achieved these learning outcomes? what is the learning activity in which students would take part?
- What support do you need in designing this learning activity and your course design?
- What mobile devices would your students use as part of this activity? What support would your students require?
- Why would your course be a good opportunity to make use mobile learning?
- Why are you a good candidate to participate in this grant project?
Please also complete the online form at:
This form will ask you for the following information:
- Name
- Email
- Campus Address
- Department and Discipline
- Course Title
- Course Enrollment Size and Level
- Course Mode (f2f, blended or online)
- Other Technologies Used in Course(s).
In the meantime, please contact us with any question at LTC@uwm.edu or 414.229.4319.
Best Regards,
Tanya Joosten and Sharon Stoerger
UWM Learning Technology Center
Resources
2011 Horizon Report: Mobiles
EDUCAUSE Mobile Computing Resources
EDUCAUSE Mobile Computing 5-Day Sprint - Summary
Mobile Learning Articles, E-books, and Reports
Pew Internet & American Life Project: Mobile
UWM Mobile Learning Articles, E-books, and Reports
UW System Mobile Learning Resources
