m-learning, mobile learning, learning on the move there are many ways of describing mobile learning and mobile computing. There are a number of machines available from iPhone to netbook but is there an ideal device?

The PC has become the standard for delivering learning with an office environment but the mobile platform is still emerging. Mobile computing has been along for long than many people can remember, most people of the laptop but forget about innovative devices like the PSION and also the Apple Newton. I used both of these devices in the mid 90’s and they were being used within industry. Now I see mobile devices being used by virtually everyone from the mobile phone to the XDA mobile devices used by delivery man to track your parcel.

Within mobile learning we have a range of technical platforms to choose from, allowing choice for the users but providing an issue for developers and organisations. Few fewer of these devices actually share common applications that you can both simply use. Applications for the iPhone and the Android handset are superb but they can’t be swapped and they are usually part of a longer contract for mobile phone services.

Instead of looking for the ideal device or the best application platform HTML 5 may provide much of the functionality that we need, supporting mobile browsers and allowing content to work across multiple devices. During several development projects I’ve reviewed several mobile devices and here are few things that I noted.

Apple iPhone/iPod
You’ll need a developer licence or someone who has one
Development uses the apple development kit that uses objective c
You need to get your app reviewed and approved from apple
Unless you have company license for distribution all your apps will be on the istore

PlayStation Portable
Has browser support and supports flash
Can support a web-cam/camera
Has a slot for a memory card so that you can use your own content
Can be tricky to directly type a url
No contracts
Robust device

Nintendo DSi
Has browser support
Double screen
Memory card slot
No contracts

Android device
Uses open source tools
Lots of developers available
Well supported
Good browser support

Windows Mobile
Support the windows platform
Links with Exchange
Used to create bespoke applications
Can come with a wand for typing
Browser support

Notebook
Larger than other devices
Smaller enough to be mobile
Some times slow to start
Supports windows and Linux operating systems
You can use many of your existing programs
You can develop your own apps and deploy across the notebook

Interesting after reviewing the devices I came to the conclusion that it will be good to develop applications using HTML/5 to allow as many of the devices as possible to use the content. Each device has its own graphic requirements such as screen size but this appeared to be a good way to develop content within a cost effective method.

I thought that I would share with you my top ten tools for 2009. These are the tools that I find really useful, I might not use them every day but they really help out week by week! I’ve linked out to all the websites so you can go and find out more about them for yourself.

Thinking Worlds

A great piece of software for rapidly developing virtual environments, simulations and game based learning. Our games designers are building learning objects in days!

Twitterfon

You’ll need an iphone but this software lets you update your account when on the move as well as getting your own twitter feed. Get the Pro version to update multiple accounts.

Basecamp

We’ve been using Basecamp since it first came out and we still love it! Great for using with clients and it keeps things nice and easy.

Moodle

Open Source - used by many, lots of commercial support if you need it and a great user community.

Tickspot

Time tracking software, links with Basecamp and it has an iphone app. Easy to use and brilliant for time management on projects.

Wordpress

Can be used for a range of uses including blogs and websites. There is a wide range of plugins available to support your development work. It is also very easy to set up!

BBC Learning zone

A wide range of videos for download from the BBC on a range of subjects and topics.

Web-ex

Online meetings and much more. Very useful for working with clients, showing work and minimising travel. NCSL have made great use of web-ex over the past year.

wordle

A great web app where you can generate world clouds from the text that you provide. Paste in text, rss url or del.ico.us username.

TED: Ideas worth spreading

A whole host of brilliant lectures on a range of subjects, well supported by an iphone app. There are some inspirational lectures available for you to view.

Over the past 2 years I have managed to go through 4 different mobile phones from a variety of manufacturers. They have all stopped working at one point for a variety of reasons ranging from been dropped one too many times to another getting absolutely soaked during a thunderstorm!

For the past couple of months I’ve been using an old Nokia (old in terms of features) that has managed to cope with being dropped a few times, chucked into a bag and actually being used as a phone at some point. Having had various pda, xda etc I did want something that synched with email, calendars etc and also could be used for a bit of research.

So….I got an iphone.

The phone was quite easy to set up and did sync with my software really well, we had to add software to the server to get the email to work but its been a success.

Its a good device with neat functionality to email, calendars etc….but the battery life is not that great! We’ve had a look at the apps that are available and there some great tools available from tube maps, flight checkers, travel guides to games. The ipod works well but as the phone needs to sync with itunes if you use profiles you might end up with a massive profile if you keep you music on your office pc!

The GPS/google maps is very useful and opens up the device to a range of uses even if it can be a bit scary to see you blue dot moving as you walk. I know you can get a gps in a car this just seems a bit different.

As a learning device we’ve spoken to a number of people who are interested in seeing how they could be used to deliver content. The barrier is the cost of the devices and the fact that you need a long term contract to actually have one…perhaps there is a need for a next gen ipod that is more of a travel/office device without the phone?

…the browser is good as well!