mLearning

= mLearning Discoveries = media type="youtube" key="KMAjCWVzA8Q" height="315" width="420" align="right" = =

**Teaching Tools**

 * SMS and Internet polling
 * Back channels
 * Wallwisher (now Padlet)

Design Tools

 * Emulators

eBooks

 * Calibre
 * Sigil

Linking Tools

 * URL Shorteners
 * QR Codes

SMS and Internet Polling
Polling students within a classroom situation, either face-to-face or __#|online__, is an interesting way of getting students involved.

**SMS polling**
Many sites offering SMS polling can be found online and offer a limited free access. Here are a couple:


 * www.smspoll.net
 * Keeps a dashboard of previous __#|polls__
 * Will plot responses on a dynamic graph, ie. it will update as students vote
 * Like any __#|survey__, it works better with a large group
 * Can embed in a __#|powerpoint__ slide
 * You don't need a __#|smart phone__ to take part
 * You get 15 votes for free and won’t let people vote twice
 * You can keep the same polling number
 * The WOW factor is huge


 * 2. @http://www.polleverywhere.com/
 * __Offers__ a free version
 * Respondents can text, tweet, email
 * Does not update the results graph dynamically

**Internet Polling**
Try Micropoll. It allows you to imbed a single question into your page. Visit my poll here and vote online Here is an example:

Wallwisher - now called Padlet
Use this as a collective whiteboard - a visual forum. Students can add to the discussion by posting a comment on the class wall. A great sychronous or asychronous tool. The wall is accessible from anywhere with web access.


 * http://padlet.com

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Back channels
Back channels are conversations that happen while a class is in progress. An example would be comments posted on Twitter. While many teachers would find this off-putting it can also be useful in the cross-pollination of ideas.Essentially, these sites can be used as a forum outside of an LMS.

Check out: -- top --
 * @http://todaysmeet.com/
 * This service is quick to set up
 * You can set the time the channel is open

Emulators
Emulators allow you see what your webpages will look like on various screen sizes, eg. on a desktop, laptop, tablet PC and smart phone

Emulators can be found online. Here are a few:


 * [|www.opera.com](opera.mini.demo) = Opera Mini 6 - to see emulator
 * []
 * [] - - can set the browser to any size and test page

To learn more visit: [] -- top --

eBooks

 * Calibre ebook management- use this free download to covert files to popular ebook formats, eg. ePUB, LIT, PDF, HTMLZ, RTF
 * Sigil Use this free download to create an eBook from scratch. It's a lot easier than you think, but here is the Sigil User Guide anyway


 * [[image:ebooks.png width="540" height="308"]]

Want to 'borrow' an eBook to read offline - get the download

 * For PC and for copying to a reader (not Kindle)
 * Adobe Digital Editions Home
 * You may also need to 'authorise' your reading device using your **Adobe ID**. You can get this from Adobe.com. Find out more at the Adobe Digital Editions FAQ page
 * For Apple iPad or iPhone:
 * Bluefire reader for Apple
 * for Android tablet or phone:
 * Bluefire reader for Android

For Kindle

 * If you want to load an epub or another 'non-Kindle friendly' format, try Send to Kindle to convert PDF pages for use on Kindle
 * There is often a limit to how many pages which can be downloaded as a pdf and saved to your Kindle

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URL Shorteners
Some sites offer you a way to make a shorter URL. This is especially useful for sites which will be used on mobile devices. URL shorteners can be found online. Here are a few: > []
 * @https://bitly.com/- this site automatically keeps analytics for bit.ly links and produces a QRcode
 * [] - from Google, naturally
 * [] - this site also provides short URLs with a QR-code

To learn more: []

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QR Codes and other free online stuff
QR codes are a type of barcode which allow you to imbed files, links, videos, anything in them. QR code content can be accessed by using a QR code reader on your mobile phone or device.

Learn about what QR codes are and how you can use them at:
 * What are QR codes and should you use them?
 * QR Code (Wikipedia)

Here is the QR code for a library website I made using QR Stuff

I found a list of __#|free online__ QR code generators at Free Nuts, a site which provides links to lots of online tools.

There are lots of places to get these but you will need one that is compatible with your device. You can find QR reader apps at:
 * Mobile-barcodes.com
 * Free Nuts

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More Links

 * Delicious mLearning links page


 * **Source of video:** (HiEdTrends) [] [accessed 24-11-2011]