After reading the Horizon Report, I have decided to research Mobile Computing. I have heard a lot about mLearning already, but I have never had a chance to dive into the topic. According to the Horizon Report, students who own mobile devices are likely to spend more time studying than those who do not own them (p. 12). This information was really important for me since before reading the report I was really sceptic about using mobile phones for learning. Now I believe that it might be a great tool for education. As I was researching mobile computing, I found that podcasting, reading, and using mobile applications can be all used in the classroom.
Podcasts are really popular today. I searched the iTunes app store and there are many podcasts already available. If the teacher is really creative, he can easily produce his own podcasts. Moreover, many universities offer podcasts for open public. This way it is easy to share with students all over the world. Podcasts can be listened on the way after downloading to your mobile device. Actually, the EdTech department at Boise State University also produces a podcast called “Cool Teachers”.
Mobile computing may be also used 
for reading. Today, many assignments are posted online so students can access them on the go. In addition, students can access many public eBooks. Textbooks are already being published as eBooks as well. As stated in the Horizon Report, when students have a few minutes, they can read while waiting at the doctor’s office, or in the subway. In today’s busy world, this is a great feature, which brings flexibility to students.
Mobile applications are probably the best tool, which can bring tremendous positives to the classroom. A teacher does not have to be a geek to create and use these applications. There are many applications already uploaded. Many of them can be customized. I found a great application called gFlash+. The application can be used as a pack of flashcards, or a self-quiz tool. It is very easy to customize it by downloading the data from Google Docs. Any teacher can use this tool to give students a fun way to learn and quiz themselves on the go. The following video shows how the application can be used.
I am sure that mobile computing has its space in education. It offers a lot and still will be growing in the near future. I would recommend every teacher to try to bring this technology to the classroom since it will definitely have a positive acceptance.
To read more about mobile computing, visit the following links.
Reference
Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Stone, S. (2010). The 2010 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
Michaela Pacesova: EDTECH Learning Log 