Title of Study:  Pockets of Potential:  Using Mobile Technologies to Promote Children’s Learning

Author(s): Carly Schuler

Summary:

This report inventories more than 25 handheld learning projects in the U.S. and suggests how mobile devices may help redefine teaching and learning in the future.  Key opportunities and key challenges related to mobile learning are identified.

Sponsoring entity(s): The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop

Date conducted: 2009

Location of the study: This study can be accessed through the Joan Ganz Cooney Center website.

Setting(s) addressed:

• Classroom
• Anywhere, anytime learning

Targeted population(s):

• K-12

Primary sources of evidence used in the study or report:

• Interviews with a cross-section of research, policy and industry experts
• Review of selected literature

Primary Technology Application(s) Addressed:

• Mobile technology, including cell phones, iPod devices and portable gaming platforms

Major education topic(s) addressed:

• Anywhere, anytime learning

Major findings/conclusions:

• The report highlights opportunities to use mobile learning to encourage anywhere, anytime learning, reach underserved children, improve 21st century social interactions and enable a more personalized learning experience.
  
  
  
• The author concludes that mobile technologies have enormous untapped educational potential.
  
  
  
• The author concludes that mobile learning initiatives in the U.S. are fragmented and lack resources to scale up, and makes recommendations to change this situation.

Practical implications of the findings:

• Mobile devices are becoming ubiquitous, and provide more flexible learning environments than school computer labs.

Reviewer Comments:

The conclusions and recommendations are based on interviews with selected experts, descriptions of several initiatives and pilot projects and a selective review of literature.