In a compelling article on handheld learning, Mark van ‘t Hooft, Ph.D., researcher and tech specialist for the Research Center for Educational Technology at Kent State University, suggests that ubiquitous access to digital technologies transforms pedagogical possibilities in three primary ways:

• “First, ubiquitous access to the Internet and telecommunications technologies changes classrooms into places with access to abundant resources and rich connections to the world.
• Second, ubiquitous access to a variety of digital devices and multimedia tools makes it possible to create, analyze, synthesize and communicate knowledge using a rich variety of media forms.
• Third, ubiquitous access to digital tools that automate lower level skills allows students to concentrate on higher level thinking, and lessens the skill levels needed to explore a range of complex topics.”

However, van’t Hooft suggests that for this type of technology to be successful for teaching and learning, several things need to happen:

• “Schools need to catch up to society when it comes to access to and availability of technology.
• In schools where technology IS available, technology should NOT be the focus, it’s what we do with it.
• Learners need to be given more choices in the types of tools they use for learning and how they use them. It’s up to the schools to guide students in how to use the tools effectively and ethically (and what that is and who decides is a whole other story!).”

For more on ubiquitous computing and handheld learning check out van’t Hooft’s full article.