A New Research Agenda for Mobile Learning-Transform, Univ. of Minnesota "No longer are the hallmarks of an academically engaged student or scholar a hefty backpack overflowing with books, a desk littered with journal articles, or a remote research carrel hidden in the darkened recesses of the stacks. Instead, the visible markers of the learner are manifest in increasingly smaller portable devices that have the capacity to store, retrieve, send, search, download, compose, edit, capture, and publish whatever materials may be necessary to accomplish a given learning goal. The very portability of learning content coupled with the communicative power of these mobile devices should make us rethink the transformative power behind all those tiny little speakers in our students' ears." (tags  mobile_web_access ipad instructional_technology)

Monterey College of Law Pilots iPad Programs for Students and Faculty -- Campus Technology Reason for the experiment: "Many of our law students work the equivalent of three jobs. Between law school, work, and family, it is a constant challenge for them to set aside enough time during the week to study," said Wendy LaRiviere, dean of admissions, in a written statement issued today. "...[T]he iPad will provide time-challenged students an easy way to add 30 to 45 minutes of studying each day ... during a lunch break, waiting in the car-pool line, or even getting their oil changed. The result will be an additional three to five hours per week of valuable study time. If our students use this 'found' time to do additional reading and incorporate a more extensive use of their class notes, study guides, and practice exams, we expect to see a positive result in law school performance and continued improvement in the bar pass rates of our graduates." (tags: ipad instructional_technology mobile_web_access apps)