Pioneering mLearning at Howick College

Nathan Kerr and Robert Douglas.

Written by Iva Ropati, principal at Howick College

Howick College, in conjunction with Vodafone, and Waikato University has been selected by the MoE, to undertake a pioneering project looking at mobile devices, and their impact on learning.

Mobile learning, or mLearning is relevantly new field of learning, which allows digital lessons to be ‘zapped’ into various mobile devices, be it phones, PDAs, iTouch, PSP, allowing the students anywhere, anytime learning.

This project continues on the work already done by Howick College educators, Nathan Kerr, and Robert Douglas, with Mr Kerr winning numerous awards internationally, including the World’s Most Innovative Teacher Award. Mr Kerr and Mr Douglas have stated that mobile devices are “communication swiss army knives”, and the project should help reduce the chances of schools becoming “pen and paper islands in a digital sea” in the future.

Howick College is a secondary school in East Auckland, with 1856 students, and 145 staff. The school principal, Mr Iva Ropati, said of the up- coming mLearning project “it is hugely exciting for staff and students who enjoy exploring education possibilities”.

Howick College prides itself on producing innovation thinkers, who are future focussed on leading education in the 21st Century. This project will help continue this proud tradition.