Well the nominations are in, and I’m delighted (and flattered) to say that we’ve made it to the final three in the Handheld Learning 2008 Conference awards in the Special Needs Category – sponsored by Redhalo – under the Innovation award.

Having last attended the conference in 2006 I know it’s a great event for learning using mobile or ubiquitous technologies and a really stimulating place to be. As I’m already attending MLearn 2008 the previous week to give a paper on the JISC TechDis project – The Nintendo DS as an assistive technology tool for health and social care students – I’m not sure if I’ll be able to attend the whole conference but I’ll hopefully manage to get to the Brewery by hook or by crook……..

Handheld Learning 2008

Finalists

ps – to vote for the JISC TechDis HEAT Project. Txt HEAT to : +447786203140

The final report on our HEAT2 project has been emailed to JISC TechDis today and will hopefully be appearing on their website soon. There have been some interesting comments from the three participants on their use so far of the Nintendo DS, Brain Training, Big Brain Academy and Opera Browser packages since they received the kit at the end of October.

Releasing the Potential of Handheld Gaming Devices as Effective Assistive Technology Tools

The interim report on our HEAT2 project has now been submitted to JISC TechDis and will hopefully be appearing on their website soon. There have been some interesting comments from the three participants on their use so far of the Nintendo DS, Brain Training, Big Brain Academy and Opera Browser packages since they received the kit at the end of October.

The full report will follow in February 2008.

Round 2 Interim report will hopefully appear here soon….

If you didn’t attend ALT-C 2007 or fell asleep during my presentation on the HEAT Project (Does a handheld gaming device make an effective assistive technology tool?) then here’s a link to the slides.

The presentation describes the evaluation of an innovative JISC TechDis Higher Education Assistive Technology (HEAT) project investigating the use of the Nintendo DS Lite and Brain Training software package as an assistive technology tool for students from IHCS requiring help with numeracy during the autumn term of 2006. It provides an overview of using mobile devices within a higher education environment and seeks to raise awareness of some of the possibilities that can be created for students and staff.

View Presentation

JISC TechDis have approved my bid for technology under the HEAT2 scheme. This project aims to consolidate and expand upon the use of the Nintendo DS as a study support tool (see report below) to assist students requiring help with numeracy skills and also evaluate the use of the DS Opera browser package as a handheld internet browser.

More About JISC TechDis

More About HEAT Programme

Can a Handheld Gaming Device Be Used As An Effective Assistive Technology Tool?

My colloquium on the JISC TechDis HEAT scheme project has now been published in the British Journal of Educational Technology 38 (3), 532–534.

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