This is a paid book (10 dollars), which is understandable as Michael is currently an experienced eLearning and mLearning expert, but gone back to University to become a PhD student (and that is an expensive moment in anyone's life, so extra income is always welcome). I like the fact that he did this as a combination of his research, as well as a way to disseminate his research to the general public using the Amazon Kindle option. Btw, you do not need to have a kindle to read it, simply use one of the free kindle app options you can find here.
Sharing the review I put on amazon.com here:
"Anyone interested in mobile learning and how it can be used in different field settings will enjoy reading this wonderful book. It is well written, using a narrative approach to capture the attention of the reader and at the same time inform the reader of new insights gathered by the author.The illustrations in the book also add to the overall reader comfort. The illustrations are on many occasions meaningful additions to the context of the book, as well as beautiful visual additions that open up the book reading experience itself.
The structure of the book ensures easy reading as well. Each chapter offers an overview of the topic at hand (e.g. mLearning design, meaning making) and are followed by an addendum adding additional knowledge to the overall topic, creating a holistic insight into both the chapter, as well as in the overall mLearning landscape.The author uses multiple examples and metaphors to deepen understanding for us readers. The surprising, and most of all inspiring part of these additions is the fact that they relate to Art and history. I found this approach especially enriching, as it brought back memories, making it easier to understand the theory and knowledge shared."
Special highlight on illustrations
The illustrations were provided by Jennifer Gallagher who can be contacted at the JGal studio (and I am adding her here, because I surely will keep her in mind for my next eBook. Really imaginative illustrations! The picture in the blogpost is just one of many.
Michael Sean Gallagher his view on the book is as follows (which is accurately describing its content):
This book is designed for teachers and learners wanting to explore mobile learning field activities in the disciplines of the humanities. It is especially designed for teachers and learners that have wanted to use mobile technology more for their learning and weren't sure how to begin. This book should be useful for anyone teaching in the humanities that wants to extend learning beyond the classroom walls; it is also most useful for learners in these disciplines that want to extend their engagement with their subjects to their neighborhoods, their streets, and their cities.
It provides a definition of mobile learning that stresses the transformative nature of learning (for the learner), outlines multimodality and its application to these field activities, and suggests how meaning can be made by learners out in the field. It discusses how these field activities can be organized, reflected upon, and executed, and what the resulting compositions might look like. It concludes with a discussion on how teachers and learners can design mobile learning, and what resources or tools might make the activities most productive.
Throughout the book, the emphasis is on how learners make meaning in their day-to-day environments and how that meaning can be presented through multimedia compositions. The emphasis in this book is on positioning learning as a creative (even artistic) exercise of coming to know through observation, interpretation, and creation.
It provides a definition of mobile learning that stresses the transformative nature of learning (for the learner), outlines multimodality and its application to these field activities, and suggests how meaning can be made by learners out in the field. It discusses how these field activities can be organized, reflected upon, and executed, and what the resulting compositions might look like. It concludes with a discussion on how teachers and learners can design mobile learning, and what resources or tools might make the activities most productive.
Throughout the book, the emphasis is on how learners make meaning in their day-to-day environments and how that meaning can be presented through multimedia compositions. The emphasis in this book is on positioning learning as a creative (even artistic) exercise of coming to know through observation, interpretation, and creation.
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