Before steps are taken to impose limits on the use of social media and mobile technologies in schools, policymakers and educators need to consider the consequences for learning that such restrictions would produce. In this document, we argue that such action should carefully consider the advantages of social media for learning and that these guidelines for responsible use bring media into mentored environments where they can be safely explored and shared.
Many of the problems raised by these new technologies – from bullying to engaging in risky behavior – are not new to the public discourse, but are merely being delivered in different media. The challenge to responsible educators remains the same: to provide stimulating and safe learning environments that support the acquisition of practical skills necessary for full participation as a 21st-century citizen. Achieving this without mentored use of new technologies seems both impractical and counterproductive. One of the most powerful reasons to permit the use of social media and mobile devices in the classroom is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about their use in a supervised environment that emphasizes the development of attitudes and skills that will help keep them safe outside of school.
The Mobile Learning infoKit is a developing resource from JISC infoNet launched at ALT-C 2011 alongside the new JISC publication Emerging Practice in a Digital Age (September 2011). Augmenting the Emerging Practice guide, this infoKit is a practical guide for educational institutions planning to implement a mobile learning initiatiative.
At launch, the Mobile Learning infoKit comprises a wiki-based resource collating information and guidance from JISC and other sources. It will develop to include a section on future trends, incorporate additional examples, and be made available in a variety of formats.
A. Kukulska-Hulme, J. Pettit, L. Bradley, A. Carvalho, A. Herrington, D. Kennedy, и A. Walker. International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, 3 (1):
18--52(2011)This paper appears in the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, edited by David Parsons. Copyright 2011, IGI Global, www.igi-global.com. Posted by permission of the publisher..
B. Vogel, D. Spikol, A. Kurti, и M. Milrad. Proceedings of the 2010 6th IEEE International Conference on Wireless, Mobile, and Ubiquitous Technologies in Education, стр. 65--72. Washington, DC, USA, IEEE Computer Society, (2010)