Current Projects
Development of MTLC Certificate Program
MTLC has designed and is offering a Mobile Technology Learning Center Certificate program through the University of San Diego's Division of Continuing Education program. The certificate to prepares teacher leaders, school principals, and superintendents to use mobile learning tools in ways that best support the creation of high quality, engaging, effective learning experiences for students.
An advisory committee composed of USD/MTLC faculty, technologists, administrators, and teachers from schools and districts across San Diego County was been formed to study other technology certificate programs and to determine the content and structure of this unique offering for PK-12 educators. The group selected the TPACK model as a framework to guide the Certificate course content and structure. This model promotes the integration of pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, technological expertise, and knowledge of digital resources when designing and evaluating learning experiences that utilize technology. The first cohort for the certificate program began work in fall 2012.
Learn More and Register On-line
Encinitas Research Project
The Mobile Technology Learning Center is working with the Encinitas Unified School District to help gather information that allows them to continue the rollout of iPads in their district as effectively as possible. The goals of the research project are to 1) help identify best practices and potential areas of focus for enhanced professional development related to pedagogy in selected classrooms in the district, and 2) understand teachers' experiences and feelings about adoption of the technology across the district in order to help the district understand how to effectively communicate the rollout of the iPads to their teacher population as a whole.This project will culminate in a report summarizing the finding from the research studies of teachers, with a focus on recommendations and best practices, in June 2012.
Cajon Valley Union School District Project
The Mobile Technology Learning Center is working with Cajon Valley Union School District to identify the range of iPod-associated teacher practices being utilized to enhance student fluency, comprehension, and engagement. We are additionally assessing what types of professional development are needed to support teachers in integrating mobile technology. Interviews and observations will conclude at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Research findings will subsequently be presented to the district.
FCC Project
The MTLC is also working with all E-rate Deployed Ubiquitously (EDU) 2011 Pilot Program (also known as Learning On-The-Go) participants to explore the merits and challenges of wireless off-premises connectivity services for mobile learning devices. Twenty pilot participants, including 13 schools and one library, are taking part in the program and the MTLC is collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the effectiveness on teaching and learning. MTLC will release an interim report this fall with a final report to be released in the spring of 2013.
Click here to learn more about the project.
Digital Promise Optimizing Technology for Learning Study
In partnership with the Pearson Foundation and Digital Promise, researchers at the MTLC are participating in a study to identify promising instructional strategies in 1:1, BYOD, flipped and virtual classrooms across the United States in order to evaluate the relationship between these best practices and student and teacher outcomes.
Mobile Technology Research Searchable Database
The MTLC is currently developing a searchable database that will give researchers improved access to current empirical findings in mobile technology research from research initiatives worldwide.
MTLC Center Space Design
The MTLC is in the process of transitioning their current work space into an internationally recognized Mobile Learning environment. The functional use of the space will serve as both a mobile work environment and a laboratory for K-12 mobile learning. Visitors to the center will experience the MTLC staff exploring the intersection of mobile technology and learning while researching and developing best practices in mobile technology learning. In addition, the space is developed to provide opportunities for K-12 practitioners to actively learn and explore within an intentionally designed mobile technology environment through meetings and workshops.
