Potentials of Mobile Learning

Potentials of Mobile Learning
M-learning is the use of wireless devices like mobile phone, pda, palms, etc. in the learning process. It has its own distinction from the E-learning and I think it does origin from the D-learning, so it should have the strong backup since it has developed from dozens of decades ago. M-learning surely has great potential with the fast development of the modern technology for it is greatly related with the technology development. In the past, people can use send normal SMS to the others, then they send MMS, files with audio, video, and so on. So we can just easily predict that in the near future M-learning will be one of the greatest sections of learning. And with the fast development of electronic devices, learners can just probably give the voice order to conduct the class in a super fast speed and this can also provide with them larger screen for reading. Or learner can also be given the wireless glasses for class with a small handset to control and they can see all the class content images through their glasses. This may be like movie scenario to some people but you are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow, especially in such a period with electronic devices upgrading everyday.
Schools can use m-learning devices freely. Instead of busy writing down and downloading the assignments given by the teachers, students can directly get all the materials they need in their mobile devices sent by the teacher and their feedback can go to the teachers immediately. And the use of m-learning devices in schools can greatly cut down the need for new teachers while the effect of the class is still the same or even better. And most of the students would become more interested in the use of new devices.
But I guess each step in history has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the adoption of m-learning in schools is no exception. As many writers and instructor have mentioned, the technology itself is neither good nor bad. It is just how people make use of it. And there will be different principles and regulations for different level of students. For the small children, the strict regulation is inevitable since they have less self-control and self-discipline and they may abuse the devices without monitoring. For the adult students, they are encouraged to make full use of all the available resources and devices to greatly enhance the learning process. The mobile devices in school use in the future will be like the using of all the updated computers in each computer course at present and that may not be far away.

http://guoqiangcui.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/potentials-on-mobile-learning/

What is a Blog?

Blog 參考網址
A Weblog or blog is a frequently updated website that often resembles an online journal. It can be a frequently posted list of interesting web sites/resources or personal diary of events and thoughts, or a combination of the two. Unlike most Web sites, a blog is produced with an active writer in mind, one who creates in an online writing space designed to communicate an identity, a personality and most importantly, a point of view. Blogs might also include photos, audio and/or video.

Another quote from Support Blogging website: "In a broader and more educational system, blogs are about communicating. You observe your experience, reflect on it, and then write about it. Other people read your reflections, respond from their perspectives by commenting or writing their own blog article. You read their perspectives, often learn something through their eyes, and write some more.

一般Blog的面貌
1、 Headlines 標題
2、Time Stamps 記錄時間
3、Permanent links 固定的鏈結
4、Categories 分類
5、Searches 搜尋
6、RSS feeds 簡易供稿系統
7、Comments 評論

Blog的特徵
1、通常由一個人維護
2、以聊天的方式寫作
3、以每天為一個單位更新
4、提供超鏈結環境

Audacity 音效編輯軟體應用教學

參考網路教學 http://163.17.156.130/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=2012

Audacity 音效編輯軟體

這是一個音波編輯的工具軟體，支援 WAV(*.wav)、AIFF(*.aif)、AU(*.au)、IRCAM(*.snd)、MP3(*.mp3)和 Ogg Vorbis(與MP3同級)等音效檔案。

Record live audio.
(1)Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
(2)Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
(3)Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
(4)Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
(5)Can import WAV, AIF, AU, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis audio formats.
(6)Can export audio in WAV, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis formats.

Downloading and Installing Audacity
Go to Audacity site at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
Select your operating system to download the latest version of the free Audacity sound editor.

The definitions below are partly taken from whatis.techtarget.com
(1)Channels
(2)Sample Rate
(3)Bit Depth
(4)Compression / CODECs
(5)Common Audio Formats

Channels :
A stereo audio signal has two discreet channels of audio whereas a mono signal has only one. A stereo signal can be mixed down to a mono signal. An uncompressed stereo digital audio file will be twice the size of a mono file.
Sample Rate
Sample rate is the number of samples of a sound that are taken per second to represent the event digitally. The more samples taken per second, the more accurate the digital representation of the sound can be. For example, the current sample rate for CD-quality audio is 44,100 samples per second.

The more samples per second that are taken, the more accurate the digital representation is of the analog waveform. Each sample is really only a number that contains the amplitude value of a waveform measured over time. This brings us to bit-depth.
Bit Depth
Bit depth defines how many bits are used to describe each of the samples taken from the sample rate (above). It describes the potential accuracy of a digital audio file. Higher bit depth audio will sound better than smaller bit-depth audio. 8 and 16-bit audio are currently the most common sample sizes. 8-bit audio takes up less hard drive space but is inherently noisier than 16 or 24 bit-depth audio. CD quality is 16-bit.
Bit depth is frequently encountered in specifications for hardware and in the specifications for what kind of digital audio a piece of software can capture and process.

Compression and CODECs
Audio files should always be captured and edited at the highest bit-depth and sample rate available - usually 16-bit 44.1 kHz stereo audio on most consumer level hardware. However, once edited, it can compressed using a CODEC (compression / decompression algorithm) to decrease the size of the file. This is how an uncompressed digital audio file is converted into to a streaming audio file for the Web, as well.
Common Audio Formats
(1)WAV - A digital audio standard developed by Microsoft and IBM. One minute of uncompressed audio at CD quality (16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo) requires about 10 MB of storage.
(2)AIFF - or "Audio Interchange File Format" - An audio file format developed by Apple computer. MP3 - MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3 - A common compressed audio format often used for sharing music across the web (both illegally and legally).
(3)AAC - Advanced Audio Coding - Used both for commercial DVDs and Apple's iTunes Music Store for purchased songs.
(4)WMA - Microsoft's Windows Media file format. Version 9 of Windows Media is the competitor to AAC for online music sales.