Mobile learning: teaching and learning with mobile phones and Podcasts Adelina Moura Universidade do Minho Gualtar 4710 - 057 Braga - Portugal adelina8@gmail.com Ana Amélia Carvalho Universidade do Minho aac@iep.uminho.pt Abstract Mobile learning, a natural extension of distance education, supported by wireless mobile technologies is an emerging pedagogical learning model which requires new forms of teaching and learning. Being aware of the importance of this standard, we held a series of educational experiments utilizing mobile devices such as mobile phones and MP3/MP4 players to evaluate the implications of mobile technologies in individual and collaborative learning. The preference for these technologies is the fact that they are in the students’ hands and have a great potential in the education system. Among the experiments we highlighted the hearing of Podcasts on curriculum content. In this paper we present data about the students’ positive perceptions of Podcasts regarding their usefulness and educational value. These allow us to draw conclusions about the educational potential of these tools. 1. Introduction After making vast changes to the way that people communicate and do business, the Internet is now changing the way that people learn. In a knowledgeable society, mobility and ubiquitous learning become more relevant. From this point of view, the emerging paradigm of m-learning seems to enhance the needs of contemporary society. When we talk about m-learning we think about the mobility of learners [1]. This change in the pedagogical paradigm also requires changes in the way that educational materials are designed, developed and made available to anyone who wants to learn. It’s in this context that the "learning objects" are influencing the next generation of educational designers, due to their potential of re- generation, adaptability and support. Within these concepts Podcasts appear as examples of learning objects or resources. It was in this context that we developed the Mobile Generation 1 project supported by mobile devices with both large and small screens. The objective of this project was to assess the implications of mobile technologies in individual and collaborative learning. For this paper we only refer to the experiment involving mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players and Podcasts and we present the students’ perceptions about the use of the mobile phone in education. 2. m-Learning Changes in education are also resulting from changes in technology [2]. The development of m- learning as a new strategy for education has implications for the way that students learn, for the role of teacher and for educational institutions. This paradigm has led to discussion about how the process of learning is developed in an educational environment which is supported by mobile technologies. In this context students have more autonomy because they can learn when and where they want, however, this model raises some questions that do not arise in the traditional pedagogical model and these need investigation. 3. Cell phones in an educational context Of all the different types of mobile devices cell phones are the most popular with the young. Though 1 http://geramovel.googlepages.com