“Mobile learning has reached the stage where the ‘early adopters’ and ‘early majority’ (Rogers 2003) are making the use of mobile and wireless technologies visibile across a broad range of contexts and applications.”

As we think about mobile devices (I think I’ve mentioned this on this blog before), there are so many to choose from and they are so commonplace within our culture and society that we often are underwhelmed with their abilities.  Most use the simple features of cell phones, PDAs, and smartphones – SMS, MMS, email, quick searches, photo sharing – but rarely do we see them being fully implemented in teaching and learning.  This next step is the critical part of the equation that many are missing.  I chose to start this blog post with a quote from “Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training” edited by Mohamed Ally because I think it’s true and something that we must seriously consider as educators of the 21st century. We need to harness the energy and engagement that these devices provide to our learners and show them how to constantly learn from and with them on a daily basis.

The technology is out there and our students possess the capabilities to carry around mobile technologies.  Let’s face it…most of them are more tech savvy than us because they have grown up in this age that actively promotes their usage and have some sort of mobile device.  However, the shift that we need to be thinking about is using them instructionally as opposed to on the peripheral.  Mobile devices are not necessarily the answer if not being used effectively and appropriately, nor are we going to be able to move forward from the ‘adopters’ and ‘majority’ without professional development.  One thing I know for sure though is mobile devices make learning more ubiquitous and happen 24/7 because knowledge is always at your finger tips.

How do we encourage and promote this change to occur within our schools? How do we insist that mobile devices are the right choice to foster a new learning environment?

And most importantly, how do we transition from ‘early majority’ to eliminating the ‘early’ so that the majority of educators are using mobile devices within their classrooms as educational tools that foster increased learning opportunities and innovative teaching styles?

I’ll quote Dr. Evangeline Pianfetti: “We need to be change agents.”  This topic resonates with me because I have heard Vanna say this in the classes that I have been fortunate enough to take with her, but still hits home to me every time I hear it.  Agents of change are a must to transition our educational system into something more innovative, more challenging, more creative.  The change starts with each one of us that is willing to promote change.  We must be the ones to be proactive in nature.  We must be the ones pushing for the inclusion of mobile devices within our school settings and we must the ones that promote active, involved learning.

As we begin to talk about OLPC in my graduate school class this week, especially with a focus on the developing world, I cannot help but think of my own issue today.  As I woke up to another violent storm sweeping through the midwest, I suddenly realized that there was no power.  Yet, I could still access the Internet for a few hours, amazing that my battery back-up kept the Internet alive without the power coming into the house.  But to no avail, batteries only last a little while and see we are caught without electricity, connection to the outside world, or Internet.  I felt completely unconnected (that was until I turned to my iPhone and iPad to rely upon the 3G network).

While I would never presume to compare my situation (lack of internet) to that of a developing country, I do see some parallels in regard to access.  Here in a well-established country, we come to rely upon the power of the Internet, count on it being there to provide answers to our questions. (How do I call ComEd when the power is out – I don’t have their phone number and I don’t have a phone book?) It’s always there, right?  Shouldn’t we always be able to acces the Internet (provided that we pay our bills)?  It’s amazing how quickly we come to rely upon it and want it to always be there.  What would happen if you didn’t know the power of the Internet because you had never had the option or availability, not always at the touch of your finger tips?

I think about the mission of One Laptop per Child “[The students] become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.” As educators, it is our duty to connect our students outside the walls of our classroom and even more so in developing countries to show them their potential and the possibilities that they might be able to achieve in their lifetime.  By providing affordable laptops to children in need, both in the United States and outside of it, children will be exposed to the opportunity of a lifetime.  They will be connected to a larger, global world filled with unique experiences, customs, and traditions that are waiting to be shared.