iPads for classrooms - USP’S Regional m-Learning Initiative
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 | JICA expert on mobile technology, Professor Shigeyoshi Watanabe (far left) and Mr Varunesh Rao from the Centre of Distance and Flexible Learning (back) with staff and students of the Alafua Campus showing the new iPads. |
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A five-member team recently visited the University of the South Pacific’s Alafua Campus in Samoa, to conduct training on the use of iPads in classrooms and further develop m-Learning at the Campus.
The visit, from 9 - 20 October 2012, was part of the USP-JICA ICT for Human Development and Human Security Project. The project, funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technical Cooperation Programme, aims to broaden and improve the borders of distance learning across the Pacific with the use of ICT.
With more than 90 percent of USP students estimated to own mobile phones, the USP mobile learning (m-Learning) initiative aims to utilize mobile devices in the areas of learning and teaching.
Mobile phones and tablets can be used for distance education to supplement learning in particular to communicate information regarding availability of assessments, results, venue changes and cancellations notices via SMS text services.
Students can also receive information on school events and emergency notifications instantly without accessing a computer. This alternative way of communication will be beneficial especially for students who do not have internet connections at home.
Together with the SMS-based services, the m-Learning team in USP is currently developing mobile applications for classroom assessments, course finder, campus maps and edutainment.
The team’s visit looked at how smart phones and tablet devices were radically transforming the current style of learning as well as education delivery and access.
The implementation of m-Learning is one of the objectives in USP's next Strategic Plan 2013-2018 and this new form of learning will be extended in the region.
In order to support USP's m-Learning initiative in regional campuses utilizing tablet devices, JICA provided the latest model of 25 Apple iPads to USP under the ICT for Human Development and Human Security Project.
Twenty iPads will be used by the students and lecturers at the Alafua Campus and 5 will be used by the Fiji USP m-Learning project in Fiji for further m-Learning development in USP.
Samoa is the first member country to receive these iPad tablet devices for mobile learning.
The Alafua Campus Director, Ms Ruby Vaa, said that students are expected to use the device in classrooms to enhance group collaboration among students and lecturers.
“For students who require learning outdoors, they can go to the field with the device, taking notes, pictures and videos then later sharing them in classrooms for further discussion on the outcomes of the field study,” she added.
The team comprised JICA expert on mobile technology, Professor Shigeyoshi Watanabe; JICA expert on ITIL and Network Operation Centre, Mr Yoshinori Kurachi; Mr Varunesh Rao from the Centre of Distance and Flexible Learning; and Mr Vipul Ramrakha and Mr Marika Qalomai from the IT Services based at the Laucala Campus in Suva.
The m-Learning initiative was taken by the Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) in 2010 and the implementation of this new learning tool has been extended to the region by USP and JICA since 2011.
“Tablet learning can be seen to be a stepping stone for m-Learning and the positive outcomes of this pilot project certainly heralds an exciting future of m-Learning at USP,” said Dr Bibhya Sharma, USP academic and Chair of the m-Learning team.
He further added that a number of m-Learning services and applications will be rolled out in 2013.
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