Mobile Learning - Learning 2.0
I think of Learning 2.0 in terms of two things: fast access to user-created content that helps me learn and creating my own content that helps others. Focusing on that first aspect of Learning 2.0, I spend most of my time “learning” on my smart phone. The iPhone keeps me connected to everything, whether work or social. So I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my favorite learning apps (though I use that term loosely, as you’ll see), along with some new applications that I’ve read about this past week and can’t wait to try.
Secrets for iPhone: I’m not particularly savvy when it comes to using my phone. I know, I’ve had it a year, I use it everyday, I should have it down by now. But I don’t. When I found this app earlier in the year, I thought I had hit the jackpot. Afterall, I never knew how to send more than one photo unless I sent multiple texts. It teaches several little tips with a clearn UI. You see a graphic and read, nothing snazzy, but it does the job.
My Measures: Not perhaps the most useful app for helping you design learning, but when it comes to building an Ikea book case that has the wrong size doors, it was a dream. The app takes measurements of any room or object that you take a picture of. I know some of our clients with highly technical products could really use an application like this on the job.
Nick Chase: A Detective Story
Nick Chase: This game continues to amaze me. I keep playing in my downtime, and I don’t usually play many games. The mechanics are simple, just find objects on the screens. But the screens are works of art, a real film-noir detective story with an easy-to-use user interface. Several other iPhone games have UIs that are hard to use. Not this one!
Use Your Handwritting: My life consists of to-do lists. While the phone comes with a Notes feature, typing on the thing can still be a pain. I can quickly jot notes to myself using my own handwritting with this app. The only down-side: I can’t get them off my phone, as there’s no email functionality. But it’s free, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.
Photoshop: For some of my courses, I need pictures of real places or objects to create elearning activities. I prefer the good ol’ fashioned method of using a camera, but in a pinch, I’ve been known to take photos with my phone. The Photoshop app lets me edit on screen before I email the photos off. This saves me time because when I’m ready to use the photo, it’s ready to go.
Mark Ohlert recently posted on TAT’s augmented reality user-interface for smart phones. I fell in love. And after searching the TAT site, several other websites, and Googling hopelessly, I found out the darn thing isn’t built. Yet. Fingers crossed that this is for sale at iTunes this year. You know I’m buying.
Tags: Learning 2.0, mobile apps