Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning???

Perkembangan teknologi melaju dengan cepat. Ada banyak ragam teknologi yang berhasil direkayasa. Sebagai contoh adalah handphone. Kehadirannya sebagai media komunikasi berefek besar terhadap kehidupan manusia. Di mana pun tempatnya manusia yang satu ingin berinteraksi dengan yang lainnya. Mereka saling memberi dan menerima informasi. Handphone merupakan teknologi inovatif yang dapat dimanfaatkan untuk menyampaikan informasi.

Sebagai produk teknologi informasi dan komunikasi, handphone dapat digunakan untuk sarana belajar yang sangat prospektif. Mobilitas manusia yang tak terbatas oleh ruang dan waktu serta kebutuhan akan informasi aktual, menuntut handphone bukan hanya sebagai media komunikasi, melainkan juga media informasi, termasuk pembelajaran. Oleh karena itu, aplikasi handphone untuk mobile learning atau M-learning perlu dikembangkan.
Mobile learning merupakan pembelajaran yang dilakukan antar tempat atau lingkungan dengan menggunakan teknologi yang mudah dibawa pada saat manusia berada pada kondisi mobile. Dikatakan oleh Mike Sharples (2006) bahwa mobile learning bukan hanya pembelajaran yang menggunakan piranti yang mudah dibawa, melainkan juga merupakan pembelajaran antarkonteks, tempat, atau lingkungan. Dengan kata lain ada beberapa hal yang perlu diperhatikan ketika merancang mobile learning. Mobile learning merupakan pembelajaran yang dilakukan:
1. dengan menggunakan teknologi yang mudah dibawa
2. antarkonteks, tempat, atau lingkungan
3. pada kondisi manusia dalam keadaan mobile.

Hal-hal tersebut merupakan sebuah tantangan dalam teknologi pembelajaran. Pembelajaran dapat ditranfer ke media sekecil handphone dan memenuhi kebutuhan manusia akan informasi dalam keadaan mobile. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan kejelian atau ketelitian yang ekstra untuk merancang pembelajaran melalui handphone.

Sebagai institusi pengembang media pembelajaran khususnya multimedia pembelajaran interaktif dan berbasis teknologi informasi dan komunikasi, memandang perlu melakukan perancangan mobile learning, yang saat sekarang ini menggunakan handphone sebagai piranti pembelajaran. Akan tetapi, diasumsikan rancangan tidak akan efektif jika tidak memperhatikan kebutuhan-kebutuhan dari pengguna maupun piranti yang digunakan, baik hardware maupun softwarenya.

Untuk mengantisipasi hal tersebut, diperlukan pengkajian terhadap model dan format sajian yang akan dirancang dengan memperhatikan teknologi yang digunakan. Dengan kata lain, melalui pengkajian model dan format sajian mobile learning ini diharapkan dapat diperoleh data yang signifikan akan kebutuhan-kebutuhan mobile learning yang layak dirancang.

How to design mobile learning? Please you all give any input or feedback to this following design.

Interactive Multimedia Instruction for independent learning

New era begins. Technology comes as fast as a light. Computer now is set in front of all people, including kids. Nowadays kids is very familiar with it. In learning it can be a useful media as long as its capability suitable with the media needed.

Recently multimedia computer is really needed by most learning developer. By using this computer it is hoped that the media needed will appropiate to the learning character. That is, therefore, inspiring academical people create a new media for teaching and learning, including a computer media for kids.

It is important for learning developer to attend kids' psychology development. Therefore, a method of teaching-learning through multimedia computer must be appropiate. Kids mostly like move and play around. They are active. It will be better, then, to design them interactive by using such media. In short, the media should be interactive too-so called Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI).

By using IMI, it is assumed that the kids will find a different experience. They will feel free by the other's intimidation. Moreover, they will evaluate their own learning progress. That is way learning by using IMI is sometimes to be the choice.

To look at a sample of IMI, please visit the following address:
http://www.mingoville.com/

Listening Game as a fun technique

Listen to me....!!!!!

Touch your nose!

Clap your hands!

Jump! Jump! Jump!

Can you imagine the kids do those activities? They will be fun, won't they? Kids in their age have a lot of energy to move. As a creative teacher it is better for you to benefit their energy to acquire english. One of the technique can be applied is by using listening game.

This game actually appropiates for the kids to gain a new vocabulary or simple sentence construstion. It can work in small or even large class.

In small class, you can separate the kids into two groups. Each group should stand in line and face to each other. You as a teacher stand in front of them and start realising one by one magic words. For example, to acquire the names of human's body you say "nose", the kids must appoint their own nose. If there is a kid does a mistake, a friend in front of him will touch his nose. If the pair kids do the mistake, you will touch their nose. In case of constructing simple sentence, you can start giving your fun commands for them. They must do as your command. If they do something mistake, give them some time to do ownself. Then, you can continue your fun commands.

In large class, you can set the kids in circle position. Ask them to stand up and give each of the one magic words. Every kids must try to remember all words given to each of them. Choose a kid by naming the word given, i.e "nose". The "nose" comes into the centre of the circle. You start the game by mentioning the word the "nose" must look for. The "nose" then goes to the friend predictedly has that word. If the "nose" catches a wrong friend, the friend must say what word s/he owns. Then, the "nose" goes to another friend until twice. If the "nose" still does have the word being looked for, the "nose" must go the centre of the circle and touch the own nose. The "nose'" position then is changed by the kid having the word the "nose" looked for.

for a sample material, click the following

Well, have a nice class!

Telling a Story as an Interesting Technique

Mommy, please tell me a story!

Wow! a nice request, isn't it?

As a teacher, telling a story for kids is an interesting technique. It is because in their age, listening to a story is an interesting activity. With powerful teaching, the teacher can influence the kids to be the ones he or she wants to.

There are some benefits the kids can take from storytelling. First, after having a storytelling the kids can differ some things whether they are good or even bad. Second, sometimes storytelling can improve the kids imagination of the things covered inside. At the last but not the least, storytelling often leads how the kids get their destiny.

Dealing to teaching-learning English, there are some expressions which appear in the storytelling. By listening to pragmatic expressions the kids can imitate, imagine, and then act out the expressions. Moreover, they also learn about the grammatical features used. By understanding those points, it is hoped, then that the kids be able to perform their communication with appropriate grammar. Next, the kids also take the vocabulary from the story told. Not only those, by storytelling, the kids later try to express the story on their own words. By doing this, they learn to construct their English.

To tell a story well, there are some tips a teacher can take. First is about the seating arrangement. The teacher should sit closely to the kids. Semi-circle seated is better to start telling a story. Secondly is about vocal and facial expression. The teacher will look powerful by using a dramatic voice and gesture as needed. Third is about teaching-aids. It is possible for the teacher to use pictures or flashcards to tell the story. Those will be helpful for appearing the expressions.

Below is an example of a story the teacher can tell.

For future example of storytelling, visit:

http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/

Song as a Fun Technique

Song??????????????

Who does not like songs? Everyone surely likes them even kids. Sometimes kids who listen to a song will do something later on. They may follow that song, move their body, and even whistle. They seem to enjoy the song. Why do kids like a song?

There are some reasons to answer the question.

1. song is created from some chosen words;

2. song is composed from melodious rhymes;

3. song is noted as human needs.

From those features, it is possible then to take a song as a technique for teaching-learning English. Song can cover some expressions for the kids to learn.

Unfortunately, not all songs can be accepted by the kids. Songs for them sometimes are boring. Therefore, for a song composer or a teacher should be selective for creating or choosing a song especially as a technique for acquiring English.

There are some requirements that must fulfill to make to select a song. The song should be simple and repetitive, suitable for individuals or large groups, and joyful in given sound effect. By paying attention to those requirements, it is hoped that the song be inspiring for the kids to learn, especially to learn English.

Here are some songs for teaching - learning English for kids.

See also:

http://www.you%20tube.com/%20Nursery%20Rhyme

http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/

http://gengkienglish.net/cd7.htm

http://gengkienglish.net/cd8.htm