mobile learning

I am really interested in mobile learning. I would love to hear from anyone who has been using it and how you have found it.

Time Banks

If you are not aware of what a time bank is, it is basically a scheme whereby people with a specific skill volunteer some time for example, 3 hours a week, to the time bank. A broker (usually this is a paid position) runs the administration and matches up the volunteer with someone who needs help in a certain area. An example of this could be that a single working mum needs someone to give her child a bit of extra maths tuition. Someone who has volunteered their time to the bank may be a retired maths teacher. They would help the child and in return they have "time credits". Then if they needed any assistance they could use another volunteer on the time bank for something, for example they might need someone to show them how to use the internet.

I think this is such a good idea and wondered if a similar scheme could be run by the Students Union by students for students.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Do you think it could work?

Effective use of moblogs

A group of podiatry students are using mobile phones, PDAs and iPods whilst on their placements. The idea behind this is so they can keep in touch with their tutors and peers as their placements can be geographically distant. The idea of them using the mobile technology was to prevent them feeling too isolated as has happened with previous cohorts.

I think a moblog would be an excellent way for them to keep in touch with both tutors and peers as they could feedback on their experiences and how they had handled various situations. Both tutors and peers could offer comments and this would help to build up a cohesive community separated by distance. Tutors would be able to offer their expert advice and peers would be able to offer advice if they have experienced something similar or just comment.

Does anyone know of any similar scheme? If so, has it been successful?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?