Tool for the Future

As the start of the 2010 has started to fade the excitement and anticipation around many events has the web buzzing with new technologies, software and ideas with the new Google Phone generating much discussion as well as the build up to a possible Apple Tablet/iSlate (or what ever it may be called if it actually arrives).

I was reviewing a few technologies that were released late 2009 and one of them started me thinking. Watch the video clip explaining "Google Goggles".

This type of technology in the hands of teachers and students would change the way information could be collected, analyzed and presented. More importantly it would change the way our students learn and apply new knowledge and learning. To make this happen a few things would need to be in place - I believe that a technology like this would be best suited in a small form factor like a smart phone, I also believe that these devices should be purchased by parents for their children. To do this a number of challenges would need to be addressed:

Parents:

• Being able to afford a device (not the data or phone plan) - this would pose an issue for many parents however government could provide tax rebates or grants to ensure that students in low socioeconomic areas can access these devices.
• Home based ownership of the device will mean that students/parents can use the device as they see fit along with school use - it will also ensure that care for the device is potentially heightened. 
• Developing strategies to inform and educate parents on student use and access to this technology - may be a tool to start engaging parents in being more involved in student online activities.
• Parents would need to make a decision about signing up to a telephone deal or not. Younger students would not need phone capacity directly, although the use of Skype (and other apps) over WiFi could easily provide communication for students.
• Parents to establish home based rules for use of the device - setting clear expectations for when it can be used, establishing a healthy balance for usage time.
• Wireless access within the home with internet access - this again would be an equity issue with many parents not able to afford this access. Strategies and options would need to be developed to ensure that this access is either subsidised or can be claimed back on tax or via other methods. Internet access at home needs to be viewed like electricity and water.

Students

• Engaged in responsible online communication and technology use.
• Involved in developing applications and tools for use in classrooms across the country.
• These devices would allow students, parents and teachers to have open and ongoing discussion around online communication and appropriate behavior.
• Giving children the responsibility for using the device openly with the option for parents to record actions and activities on the device so that if parents suspect that rules have been broken or access to inappropriate material has occurred then parents can then take action. Rather than building a wall to restrict access and stop children from making smart decisions - give children the option to make the right decisions and take responsibility.

Teachers

• Involved in developing an understanding of the device and the opportunity it offers. Like any tool in the classroom this does not mean it needs to be used all the time every time - it needs to be applied at the most appropriate time and place, and that may be based on a decision the student makes.
• Change in the view of communication with others outside the school environment, establishing rules and strategies with students.
• Professional development and support in the use of these devices in schools, working with teachers over a longer period of time to plan the implementation and use within learning programs.
• Support from leadership around expectations for use and application.

Schools

• To make the most of these devices schools and education authorities will need to continue to invest in wireless systems that allow high level data access within schools and across different school networks. This would even extend into the public arena with wider adoption of free wifi networks.
• Schools to develop appropriate online behavior expectations for students, parents and teachers. Clear expectations of the use of the devices within schools would need to be established including communication between the different potential users.
• Expectations for the respect of people's property - physical and intellectual.

Telecommunication Companies

• Need to start looking at developing plans that allow data access at reasonable prices with filtering restrictions (if parents opt for this). It would be great if a solution could be developed that offered generic filtering for the majority of parents - but for those parents that wanted greater control of any filters they could do so via a web interface.
• Develop phone plans that can be linked with mum or dad's plan and can be restricted to ringing specified numbers if required.
• Provide no cost sim cards that enable device use and data application without call services (emergency numbers excepted)
• Provide services where SMS messages can be recorded and store for parents to review if required. This strategy can be applied to younger children where they are given the responsibility for their actions however if a parent suspect any issues they can check communication.

Things that Just needs further consideration:

• As yet we do not have any clear idea about any radiation issues surrounding mobile devices.
• We need to ensure that the use of sound is incorporated with appropriate sound reduction technology for young growing children.
• Develop balanced use of the technology - including ergonomics and RSI issues.

Look, Feel, Do

• The small form factor will allow for easy storage and transportation
• Will have video, audio and storage capacity (within the 500Gb range)
• Will have data wireless and mobile phone capacity
• Touch based interaction
• Will include a digital camera capacity with 10 Mega pixel capture
• Includes a HD video camera
• Will have built in microphone and external mic capacity
• External device input/output capacity i.e. data loggers or robot programming
• Needs to come in under $200

Software

The device should be built on an open source system i.e Android or the like. Having an open source solution would allow for low cost access to potential applications and programs - it would also allow students and teachers to start to build their own applications. There would be many opportunities where students of all ages could write programs to share

Application

Where to start - if you look at the Google Goggles idea, the ability to record the living and natural environment via images and video and then feed results into a wiki tracking over time the animals, plants and weather conditions of an environment. Imagine then linking that into a maps environment across Australia that tags discoveries with physical locations making the data accessible to other students, scientist etc.

What do you think....