1. Mobile Learning:
Implementation and
Research
César Navarrete, Michelle Read, Rob Scordino

2. “iPads are marvelous tools to
engage kids, but then the novelty
wears off, and you get into hard-core
issues of teaching and learning.”
~Larry Cuban, NY Times, 2011

3. Overview of Presentation
 Current use and research of mobile
devices in education
 Our experience
 Important considerations for mobile
implementation
 Questions/Discussion

4.  Rob Scordino
 Doctoral Student, Learning Technologies
(formally IT)
 Research interests:
◦ Design and use of Technology in Social Studies
◦ Instructional design and usability
 Mobile Learning Experience:
◦ Contributor to Mobile Learning Portal (www.mobilelearningportal.org)
◦ Liu, M., Geurtz, R., Karam, A., Navarrete, C,C., and Scordino, R. (accepted).
Research on Mobile Learning in Adult Education.
◦ In-process work: mobile learning in K-12

5. Current state of mLearning in
Schools
 Proliferation of mobile devices in the
US, and worldwide
 Use in K-12 and Higher Ed
 Representation in academic research

6. Affordances and Challenges of Using iPods to Support
English Language Learners in Middle School
 Cesar Navarrete
 Doctoral Student, Learning Technologies
(formally IT)
 Research interests:
Mobile learning integration with ELL students
Game design and development pedagogy
21st century skills: creative thinking, problem
solving, collaboration
Teacher education: technology, pedagogy, content
integration
 Mobile Learning Experience:
◦ Liu, M., Wivagg, J., Maradiegue, E., & Navarrete, C. C. (in press). Affordances and
Challenges of Using iPods to Support Learning by English Language Learners at the
Middle School Level. In P. M. Pumilia-Gnarini, E. Favaron, E. Pacetti, J. Bishop & L.
Guerra (Eds.): Didactic Strategies and Technologies for Education: Incorporating: Drops
in the Ocean, IGI-Global.

7. Affordances and Challenges of Using iPods to Support
English Language Learners in Middle School
Purpose of the Study
Affordances and challenges in
implementing iPod devices
with English Language Learners
(ELL) at an
elementary, middle, and high
school. and discuss the
ESL Program Goals
Increase English language acquisition and fluency
Academic support in all content areas
Provide students with anywhere/anytime learning
Improve standardized test scores

8. Affordances and Challenges of Using iPods to Support
English Language Learners in Middle School
Affordances
•Content Learning
Connection to home
Extended Learning Time
Language Learning
Accommodating to students
Challenges
•Time demand on teachers
Technical difficulties
Loss/Damage of devices

9. Affordances and Challenges of Using iPods to Support
English Language Learners in Middle School
Lessons Learned
Implementation requires the district’s
commitment to implementing the program
with:
Instructional technologists committed to providing
technical support, instruction ideas, and
encouragement and feedback
Just-in-time training to teachers
Teachers should be encouraged to actively seek
support

10. iPad use in Secondary & Higher Ed
 Michelle Read
 Doctoral Candidate, Instructional Technology
 Research interests:
◦ Professional Development design Image from: www.apple.com
◦ Capturing what is being done with technology in PK-16+
 Mobile Learning Experience:
◦ Early contributor to the Mobile Learning Portal, Learning Technology
Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
◦ Research team member investigating an iPad initiative in a secondary
setting.
◦ Research team member investigating an iPad pilot initiative in our own
COE.
◦ Trainer in mobile apps for the IDEA Studio, Fleet manager for 2 sets of
iPads.
◦ French, K., Read, M., Price-Dennis, D., Yoon, H.-J., Rodriguez, H., Hughes, J., &
Pazey, B. (20120305). Exploring Tablet Computing in Teacher Education: The UT
COE iPad Working Group. Society for Information Technology & Teacher
Education International Conference 2012, 2012(1), 2799–2801.

11. iPad use in Secondary & Higher Ed
My iPad observations in high school
Context:
•Wealthy school district Image from: www.freedigitalphotos.net
•iPads given to each junior/senior.
•Plans to extend to
freshmen/sophomores next year.
•Numerous fleets at the
elementary/middle school level.

12. iPad use in Secondary & Higher Ed
My iPad observations in high school
Case specific context:
Who I observed… Image from: www.freedigitalphotos.net
a high school AP English/AP History
teacher, considered one of the leaders in iPad
adoption.
What I saw…
Transformative uses NOT happening.
What she said…
“Not enough time.”

13. iPad use in Secondary & Higher Ed
iPad fleet management in Higher Education pilot
 Who: COE, The University of Texas at
Austin
 2 fleets: iPad 2, iPad 3
 Considerations:
◦ Device control & policy
◦ Syncing
◦ Checkout
◦ Sharing
◦ App purchasing
Image from: www.macstories.net

14. Issues to consider
 Techno-centric/Techno-promotion
 Perception and acceptance
 Budgeting
 Time
 Insufficient Infrastructure
 Red tape/ Security/ Privacy concerns
 21st Century Device/ 19th Century
schools

15. "..if we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob
them of tomorrow.”
~John Dewey, Schools of Tomorrow, 1915
We all love the idea of technology integration. Motivating the
students, preparing them for 21st Century Skills, looking good to
stakeholders, etc. The biggest critics do not necessarily oppose
technology integration, they question the way it is being done. They
question the use of technology as a means to teach the exact same way
we have taught without technology for centuries.

16. Questions?
Contact Us
 Cesar
Navarrete, ccnavarrete@utexas.edu
 Michelle
Read, michelle_read@utexas.edu
 Rob
Scordino, scordino@austin.utexas.edu