Mixed modality learning with mobiles – 20 things to do in the classroom with Wiffiti
Are wiffys tweets with attitude?
Following on from 25 ways of using mobile phones for learning, I thought I might blogsquat on Graham’s blog and look at some of my favourite mobile apps.
Today I am being excited about Wiffiti. You can get yourself a free account (just Google it) then create a screen, load a picture, publish it and (subject to the permissions you have created) anyone can text a message or load an image (from phone or lap top which will appear on your screen. It’s ...
a bit like Twittering in Cinemascope…
You can go to http://wiffiti.com/screens/12568 and add your own message to the screen above in real time through your browser or just Text @wif12568 + your message to 87884.
I like….
The non linear format – no more threaded conversations, just synchronous comment
The anonymity (if you want)
The shared visibility
The “Lean Back” experience of viewing user-generated content from a distance (in a class, a public location or a conference) as well as the “Lean Forward” experience online or via text messaging.
Interactivity is multi-modal – it can happen at the location via mobile phones, or online via embeddable website widgets
New Wiffiti messages are instantly displayed centre screen and are easily viewable from a distance. Older messages then fade back and move as an animated cloud, providing enough ambient activity to continually stimulate audience attention and encourage engagement.’ (wiffiti)
20 things you could use Wiffys for….
Unconferencing
Taking questions during a plenary
(is good because you have permanent record, and you can take questions in any order or group questions together to reply)
Allowing students to ask for explanations, clarifications without feeling stupid
Getting messages to ‘strangers’ –
“will the person who put that great poster up on m-learning come and find Jen Hughes cos she’s really interested in a chat”
Finding people at events
“Jen Hughes is outside the main door having a cigarette – will Graham come and find me”
Asking for help
“Jen Hughes is desperate to borrow a Mac adaptor for the projector”
Conducting straw polls on the fly and giving everyone a voice
“How many of you agree that….”
Running a ‘background debate’ on a topic
It’s anonymous so can increase confidence in contributing
Brainstorming
You can run a brainstorm over an extended period not just for 10 mins in the classroom.
Feedback and evaluation
“one thing you liked about today’s lesson and one thing you didn’t”
Big screen Twittering
It’s just like big screen public Twittering so wiffys are like tweets with attitude
Photo competitions
“Post a photo by the end of the day representing ‘learning’ and vote on the best ones”
Communal storytelling
Tell a story, get kids to write their own endings….or build up a story from scratch. I’m currently loving the idea of non-sequential narrative ie synchronous rather than linear stories. Wiffiti is excellent as the posts fade in and out and are backgrounded and foregrounded constantly. Also helps kids get used to writing for web pages rater than ‘essays’.
Reflection and revision
“One key point from today’s lesson
“Post up an emoticon that tells me how you felt about school today”
Oral history / collective reminiscence
“Tell me one thing you remember from the 60s or your favourite sporting moment”
(it has to be the Scott Gibbs try at Wembley when Wales beat England 32-31 in injury time)
Making collections
“We are going to make a collection of screens on shapes / colours etc. This week use your phones to take pics of things which have 4 sides /red things etc”
In class research
“Use your computers to find some images of food that gives you energy and post them up”
Museums
On any subject under the sun – text anecdotes / memories, pictures – how about something easy like ‘our village’ to start off.
Sentence completion / cloze exercises
“If I were prime minister I would….”
Posting back messages from a visit or field trip about what they are doing to other classes
Oops – almost forgot Graham’s contribution, which I really liked
Would be good to run along side Sounds of the Bazaar radio so that comments could come in live.
Hide
