Schools embrace mobile learning

Attendees at the Learning@Hand Forum in Cairns have explored opportunities available to Indigenous teachers and students embracing mobile devices in the classroom.

Keynote speaker Wayan Vota showed how mobile devices are impacting society more quickly than television or desktop computers, and why devices such as smart phones, laptops and tablets are enabling students to learn independently and collaboratively.

Stronger Smarter Institute founder Chris Sarra then challenged all Indigenous students and teachers to throw off the “culture of low expectations” and embrace technology 100 per cent. Sarra believes Indigenous Australians were left behind by previous forms of literacy and he is working to ensure this isn’t repeated with the “new literacy” – information and communications technology.

The wins and losses of three practical, large-scale technology trials were explored during the two day forum.

Theresa Feletar’s “PD In a Box” (http://www.wix.com/theresafeletar/pdinabox) package provides grass roots professional development for teachers wanting to embrace technology. Throughout the conference attendees agreed that the fastest and most sustainable way to increase computer literacy in remote communities is to train teachers.

The inspiring team from the One Laptop Per Child program (http://laptop.org.au/) showed how quickly student learning rates increase when they’re presented with their own “XO” laptops, also known as green machines. Most impressive though were the XO Experts (technicians) from Doomagee School who spent a few hours disassembling and repairing their rugged little machines.

Meanwhile Victor Steffensen’s (http://www.mulong.com.au ) collaborative videos of local community rangers burning slow fires in country demonstrated how valuable Indigenous content really is and that much more of this content is needed. Victor showed how traditional teaching structures can be more interconnected (or less linear) than European methods and how this aspect of Indigenous culture is emphasised by involving community members in all phases of content development.

The forum was an important starting point for teachers, students and content producers. Further developments in this field, as well as technology trials in schools, will be tracked on the Learning at Hand website, http://learningathand.info