Toni Twiss - Ubiquitous Information

Ubiquitous Information

An eFellow report on the use of mobile phonesin classrooms to foster information literacy skillsToni TwisseFellow 20081

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................4Abstract...............................................................................................................................5Introduction........................................................................................................................7

Background to the Research Project................................................................................9Rationale for Research Project......................................................................................10The 'So What' Factor......................................................................................................11

The Research Question...................................................................................................12Literature Review.............................................................................................................13

Information Literacy........................................................................................................13Information Literacy in the New Zealand Curriculum.................................................15A School-Wide Approach to Information Literacy.......................................................17Information Literacy as a Key Skill for Enabling Lifelong Learning............................18New Technologies Impacting Change to the Information Landscape........................19mLearning......................................................................................................................20Pedagogy...................................................................................................................21Mobile Phone Adoption and Rates of Penetration.....................................................22Mobile Phone Capabilities.........................................................................................24School Policy.............................................................................................................26Conclusion.....................................................................................................................28

Methodology.....................................................................................................................29

The Participating Schools...............................................................................................29Researcher as Participant Observer..............................................................................30Data Collection...............................................................................................................30Data Analysis.................................................................................................................31

Research Findings...........................................................................................................32

Using Mobile Phones in Classrooms to Access Information..........................................32Accessing the Mobile Web.........................................................................................33Year 8 Case Study.....................................................................................................35Year 9 Case Study.....................................................................................................36Year 12 Case Study...................................................................................................382

Mobile Quizzes..........................................................................................................40Mobile Phone Polling.................................................................................................41Voice Recording.........................................................................................................50Image Capture...........................................................................................................53Student Response.....................................................................................................55Teacher Response.....................................................................................................57Current Mobile Phone Use in New Zealand Schools.....................................................62Information Literacy in the Case Study Schools.............................................................71Student Perception of the Use of Mobile Phones in Classrooms in the Case StudySchools..........................................................................................................................76Secondary Student Perceptions.................................................................................76Primary Student Perceptions.....................................................................................87Teacher Perception of the Use of Mobile Phones in Classrooms in the Case StudySchools..........................................................................................................................90Secondary Perceptions..............................................................................................90Primary Perceptions...................................................................................................95

Discussion........................................................................................................................98References......................................................................................................................102Appendix.........................................................................................................................105

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