OEB wrap up

Thanks for your posts – how would each of you describe your OEB experience? What is the best new thing you discovered? How do you feel us Aussies compare to the rest of the world in eLearning innovation? What do you think the rest of the world could learn from us? What could we learn from the experiences of other countries? Who was/were the most outstanding presenter(s) and why? Who would you want to invite Down Under? – Cheers, Irena and Gerry

Mobile education a major push for OEB2010

Ive been attending the sessions on mobile devices and educational delivery whilst at OEB2010. The argument for the use of such devices is as follows:
1. Ubiquity. Not only in the Western world but also in the developing countries, mobile phones are around 30-100% saturation, extending even beyond the reach of the electricity grid.

2. The phones may not need to be smartphones in order to deliver educational quality material but the issue is that the educational materials can reach into places where other modes of delivery cannot reach.

3.  Content is plentiful and formatting for the mobile delivery platform is not difficult, with tools being available and plentiful.

My concern is that data providers are not getting the message about the need for low cost data delivery. If an iPhone costs upward of AUD1000 and a plan for delivery of the data is pricey, even for Australian subscribers, then how can we manage something reasonable for the poor kids of Africa?

Open Source mobile game based learning tools

From Austria:
http://mgbl.sourceforge.net

Hardware Check

After finally getting through the maze of half built duty free shops to get to the departure lounge, and overcoming Qantas’ determination to hide their business lounge from all but the most persistent of their members, we could rest for an hour or two, recharge the batteries in various gadgetry, and also recharge ourselves courtesy of Denise, her Qantas club membership and Mr. Joyce and his team.

Which we decided was probably a good a time as any to take an inventory of our respective gadgets, given that we are representing ourselves as the tech vanguard of the TAFE sector – or thereabouts.

I’ve discovered that Denise is more of a geek and gadget freak than I am, were that possible – initially when passing through the duty free gauntlet and she noticed a 240v power adapter for the Sony e-Reader she had purchased through a friend in Hawaii so she was technically still in the States, and able to buy it. As it only came with a 110v adapter, she can only charge it via its USB connection, but as it turned out, the mini USB connector into the reader itself was not compatible with the adapter on offer, so she decided to have a further look when we get to London. Denise had already told me she had deliberately left the Blackberry at home, as she was on holiday and didn’t even want the risk of checking the work email that having it around would bring. She also carries an Eee netbook running Windows, and a $200 Chinese Ipad knock-off Android powered tablet which so far has had no trouble accessing the free wireless available at Tullamarine (and Hong Kong) – unlike the iPhones and the iPad we have.

Despite Kangan being a Microsoft house, Nahla has both an iPhone (4) and an Ipad, and I’m carrying an iPhone (3GS) and a Dell netbook, which decided when I plugged it in at the Qantas lounge that the Intel wifi drivers were missing, corrupt or in some other way not socially acceptable – so no wifi for now.  I’m contemplating tethering the iPhone to the netbook just so I can download the drivers, but I’m afraid that only works as a broadband modem, not using wifi. Any workaround suggestions gratefully received.

I’ve had an Android HTC Desire mobile that I’ve been playing with for the last two weeks, and found that indeed in some respects it’s better than the iPhone (faster response, better phone, no walled garden), but I still have more apps on the iPhone, and I’ve yet to install the 4 or 5 gig of music I like to have with me, so the Android stayed at home. Denise and I have been discussing our experiences with the various releases of Android and the increasing capability that each successive release brings. Before getting the HTC, I hadn’t realised that Android was Linux based – having messed around a little with Ubuntu, it makes me considerably more confident that Android is robust and verging on idiot proof. And will be supported by a flourishing open source developer community.

If nothing else, we will be able to report on our experiences with our range of devices in an alien (for us) learning context  in Berlin – and predominantly through this blog – I remain staunchly both Twitter and Facebook averse, and both Denise and Nahla ditto for Twitter. If they’re going to post on Facebook (is it called posting?), I’ll tell them to include a link to their posts here.

Later…

Bill

(ps – further to Denise’ superior gadget prowess, she gave us a demo of the amazing lightscribe pen she has been using for recording/transcribing seminars and conferences – and that deserves a separate post in itself. Over to you Denise.)

Checked in

As the only traveller from Queensland I am heading for Melbourne this morning to meet up with the others. Funny thing my luggage is checked through to Berlin but apparently I have to recheck-in once I arrive in London for the London Berlin leg. The adventure begins! D

Bon voyage and auf wiedersehen

Wishing you all a wonderful learning and networking experience. Irena and Gerry

Hello world!

Hi Online Educa Berlin and UK study tour folks. This is your space for sharing. The more you share the more you gain. Writing daily by taking turns is a good idea and the result will pleasantly surprise you. Good luck.