Mobile StorytellingElinda Gjondedaj - TESOL Greece Annual Conference 2013

How do we define Mobile Learning?

By all accounts, mobile learning, termed “m-learning”, is on fire as a new method of accessing learning. Although mobile learning is closely related with e-learning, educational technology and distant learning, it is distinct on its focus on its learning with mobile devices. But, what do mobile devices offer that can facilitate learning? Of course their portable nature can give the chance to the learner to go a step further from any kind of learning; access learning anytime and in any place. In this place we can define mobile learning as “any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not in a fixed, predetermined location, or learning when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile devices”

Benefits of m-learning

The best advantage of m-learning is that it is accessible from virtually anywhere. M-learning, like other forms of E-learning is also collaborative; sharing is almost instaneous among everyone using the same content, which leads to the reception of instant feedback and tips.

As teachers, we have also to admit and adjust to the changes that happened to in the recent year. The vast majority of students own at least one mobile device. They carry them all day long in their pocket when they are in class, on break time, at home, at the football practice etc. Why not take advantage of this special relationship and show them how their smartphones can be used for learning.

Mobile Devices

The first question that maybe come to our mind is what kind of mobile devices can be involved in m-learning. The good news is that there are no constraints on this matter. Mobile phones, cameras & video cameras, voice recorders, mp3 players, portable computers and the most popular smartphones and tablet PCS.

Using Mobile Devices with their in-built capacities

We can take advantage of various offline in built capacities of mobile devices. For instance, all mobile phones and tablets include voice recording and a photo

camera. Here are some ideas that can help you take the most of mobile devices offline:

Tell your story. Ask students to bring their own devices and ask them to take in pairs 5 pictures or alternatively to choose 5 pictures from their devices. Ask them to make a funny, strange or scary story. Students then can present their stories to the class and the class votes for the best story.

Share a memory. Students show a picture or a video from their vacations or some other memorable event in their life. Each student presents the memory and finally students vote for the most funny, strange, interesting etc memory.

Storytelling with apps

Here is a list of storytelling mobile apps for smartphones and tablet PCs (mainly for iOS, you can find them by searching the app name at the search bar on the App Store)

My Story Creator Text Here

Toontastic Book Composer

iMovie Educreations

PuppetPals Show me

Book Creator

Smiley Toons

Fairytale

You can access the presentation: bit.ly/UFYNIf

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Elinda Gjondedaj

eLearning team, RCEL (Research Centre for Language), University of Athens

EFL teacher

TESOL Greece blog moderator