Mobile Composition

Tech MentoringENGL 505

Common mobile devices

SmartphonesPDAs (Personal Digital Assistant)TabletsHandheld game consolesFeature-cellphones

Purdue Policy

The key is to negotiate rules early on

• Communication (phone, email, social media)• Digital recording (image, text, audio, video)• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities• A variety of applications that enhance or add

to these features

Mobile Device Features

How is writing going mobile?Growing device capabilities for both analyzing and

producing texts across a variety of locationsAs well as:Rise in device ownershipGreater wifi and bluetooth accessibilitySocial media apps“Always connected” online

Mobile devices are less a tool used for a specific purpose and more a constant fixture of a person's interaction with the world

Possibilities in-class• Conduct lab work outside of lab days• Sharing of media or content• Online references• Discussions of access, usability,

technology, • Note-taking or translations• Research using device capabilities

(photos, recording, communicating)• GPS or location-based writing/research

Possible Problems

• Accessibility• Classroom distraction or disruption• Too much focus on tools and not enough

focus on how we can use these tools

Other ideas?

Sample assignments• Research collection• Discuss how students view the

classroom alongside (or through) their mobile device

• Layar and other Augmented reality browsers–http://www.layar.com/

• QR codes and “physical linking”

Current discussions

Where to go next• Further discussions of electronic research methods• Gaming or play in the classroom• Usability and device use/analysis• Application analysis or production