Extending the scope of learning activity

With the birth of the now ubiquitous MP3 players, learners had the option of listening to educational audio material anytime and anywhere. Soon this was extended to images and video. Nowadays, learners will have the addition of Wi-Fi technology via the latest incarnation of the iPod from Apple.

Does this mean we are a step closer to achieving the ultimate form of anytime, anywhere learning? Possibly.

Leaving aside emerging safety fears with using Wi-Fi based technology - especially with younger children - this new device introduces another dimension for anytime, anywhere learning.

Wi-Fi increases the scope of potential learning approaches, allowing learners not only access to the internet for research activities but also material presented within learning platforms or virtual learning environments (VLEs) for example.

Certainly the larger screen size (3.5 inch diagnonal) and longer playtimes will be a boon for enhanced podcasts (audio podcasts with pictures, chapters and hyperlinks) and for watching video.

If the design considerations are well-founded and the device is as easy to use as suggested, then the new iPod Touch should provide reasonable access for surfing the web and interactive learning, if within reach of wireless networks. Increasingly, Wi-Fi is available in a variety of public locations and buildings.

For on-campus use, this new device could prove ideal. With a little forward planning, material could be readily downloaded for later use. Whether there is sufficient support or consideration for learners with disabilities remains to be seen.

Where do we go from here?

Well, that is always in the hands of imaginative educators and their students. As ever, there is scope for extending the range and variety of learning activities, linking multi-media materials with both static and dynamic resources made available via the internet or educational intranets.