How do mobile devices like smartphones, iPads, and Tablets work?

Casavoy (2012) said “A smartphone is a device that lets you make telephone calls, but also adds in features that, in the past, you would have found only on a personal digital assistant or a computer--such as the ability to send and receive and edit Office documents” (p. 1). Unlike a regular cell phone, a smartphone:  Can send and receive text messages  Has a computer operating system  Provides access to the Internet  Has mobile application capabilities  Often comes with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software preinstalled

Smartphones can be used to asynchronously deliver instruction or facilitate interactions between instructor and students by use of a mobile application, , etc., or synchronous interactions using videoconferencing applications like Skype-mobile.

In explaining the difference between iPads/Tablets and smartphones, Strickland (2012) said “Tablet computers fill a niche between smartphones and personal computers -- tablets tend to have faster processors than your typical smartphone but fall short of the processing power you'll find in an average computer” (p. 1). Like smartphones, iPads and Tablets:  Can send and receive text messages  Have a computer operating system  Provide access to the Internet  Have mobile application capabilities  Often come with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software preinstalled

A Tablet or iPad can be used in instruction much the same as a smartphone except:  The iPad and Tablet have a much bigger screen than a smartphone making it easier to read, type, and see each other when using live meeting mobile software like Skype or FaceTime (available on the Apple iPad only).  The Tablet and iPad simplify moving about the screen by touching or swiping, eliminating the need for a keyboard.  Tablets and iPads have a much faster processing speed making downloading and other activities faster and more efficient.

NOTE: Refer to the Question and Answer sheet for this section to write down any questions you have on this segment of the workshop. We will entertain those questions at the end of the presentation.

How do you use whiteboard technology in instruction?

Click the screen below to watch a video demonstration using an interactive white board and clicker for instruction:

Some of the features/tools of the interactive whiteboard are: Audio; webcam; icons to applaud, raise hand, show confusion; polling and surveys; tools for drawing and writing on the whiteboard, etc.

There are also chat rooms for texting, break out rooms for working individually or with a group, and a clicker which can be used to click in answers interactively during a session. The video above shows you how to use some of the tools available with the Interactive white board. Click the screen to view the video.

Refer to the Question and Answer sheet for this section to write down any questions you have on this segment of the workshop. We will entertain those questions at the end of the presentation.

References Casavoy, L. (2012). What makes a smartphone smart? Retrieved from Strickland, J. (2012). How android tablets work. Retrieved from YouTube. (February 2011). Designing lessons for interactive whiteboards part 5: clickers. Retrieved from YouTube. (April 2011). Smartboard for beginners part one. Retrieved from