It's Good Business! Mobile Web2.0 Tools Should be Free For Educators

Over the last five years of researching web2.0 tools that couple with cell phones, I have found many tools that I LOVE, but they cost money to use. As an educator and former technology coordinator, I know that for many schools it is unrealistic to expect them to be able to pay (consistently--year after year) for access to the web2.0 tool. At the same time I understand that most of these companies that create the tools are in business to make money. Especially sites that do not advertise (which schools like), need some way to stay afloat. Therefore, here is my proposal to these companies.

1) Allow educators K-16 to use these resources for free. Allow them to use the FULL version for free if there is an upgrade option (there are many resources that are starting to go in this direction)

2) In return when these students enter the "real world" there is a good chance they will be hooked on these resources. Thus, they will be willing to pay to use them in the business world.

In my opinion, this is a win-win. The schools get access to the latest and best resources for mobile phones, and the companies get lots of marketing and future business.

I thought of this idea when I was talking with a friend in Canada who said that in his province all students under the age of 18 get free unlimited texting by a few of the cell phone companies. I realized that this is an excellent marketing scheme by the cell phone companies. Here is why---the companies get the students hooked on all the bells and whistles of text messaging (not hard to do!) so that the companies have guaranteed business when the students reach the age of 18! Smart marketing in my opinion. Why can't some of my favorite mobile web2.0 companies do the same??? The resources below were often-used by educators BEFORE the sites started charging.
http://Gabcast.com
http://www.voiceonthego.com
http://jott.com
http://gcast.com
http://drop.io
http://evoca.com

I have been contacting many of these sites with my proposal.

What do you think? Do you have any sites to add to the list?

Cell Phones in Learning Radio Show Wed July 1st: Preservice Teachers Talk about Cell Phone Use in Student Teaching

Chat Transcript
Hi Everyone! Tonight we are talking with 2 new teachers who both used cell phones during their student teaching for project-based learning activities.
afeikema says to (00:28:37):
Hi LIz--saw this on your twitter and thought it was worth a listen
Liz Kolb says (00:29:04):
Hi Allison! Good to see you!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:21):
Liz, I'm having trouble getting through on the phone
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:35):
Hi, Allison!
Liz Kolb says (00:29:38):
Oh No!!!
afeikema says to (00:29:47):
hello :)!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:29:54):
Have Sean and Allison gotten through?
Liz Kolb says (00:30:04):
This number right (347) 324-3938
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:33:32):
Langwitches:
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:33:35):
http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/04/14/what-is-in-a-fieldtrip/
Liz Kolb says (00:34:09):
http://www.everythingformymobile.com/
Liz Kolb says (00:41:08):
http://wiffiti.com
Liz Kolb says (00:54:28):
http://drop.io (Sean & Allison both used this for audio recording from cell)
Liz Kolb says (00:55:06):
I love that!!! You can "text it to me" Great idea!
Liz Kolb says (01:00:17):
Thank you All for joining us!
Jeff Stanzler says to (01:00:30):
Thanks, everyone!!

New Learning in India & Africa: Student Cell Phones

A recent report on ABC news highlighted how students in rural areas of India were using their cell phones to learn languages. One of the benefits of using student cell phones for learning in India is that they can learn away from school (since many are forced to skip school so they can work).

In Africa a project called MobilED has been working on different ways to integrate the students' cell phones into learning. Below is one example of how the students are using cell phones to voice record and create oral stories. Beyond this video, they are also using audio encyclopedias that couple with cell phones for student projects.

Cell Phones in Learning Radio Show: Wed June 17th: Conversation with Developer of Yodio.com

CHAT TRANSCRIPT
Liz Kolb says (00:32:22):
Welcome everyone!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:35:12):
Elizabeth Hartnell_Young's work at University of Mottingham in England:
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:35:17):
Links:
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:35:20):
http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/ehy/index.htmhttp://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/ehy/learning_with_mobile_technologie.htm
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:35:38):
Sorry...
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:35:40):
http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/ehy/learning_with_mobile_technologie.htm
Liz Kolb says (00:37:11):
https://www.obopay.com/consumer/GetHelp.do?target=HelpHowWorks
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:37:40):
Other Hattnell-Young link: http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/ehy/index.htm
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:42:29):
YES!
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:42:43):
Can you turn it up a bit, Liz?
Liz Kolb says (00:43:07):
That is all I can do
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:43:10):
Better.
Jeff Stanzler says to (00:43:50):
Yodio: http://www.yodio.com/
Liz Kolb says (00:46:51):
Hi Cheri - Can You Hear?
CheriToledo says to (00:46:55):
Yes
CheriToledo says to (00:47:06):
I was in before but wanted to be able to comment, so i logged in
Liz Kolb says (00:47:16):
Great!
CheriToledo says to (00:47:19):
thanks to you, i'm using yodio
Liz Kolb says (00:47:38):
Whohoo..thank Jimbo Lamb! He showed me
CheriToledo says to (00:48:19):
It's working great and several of my grad students will use it with their K-12 students
CheriToledo says to (00:48:38):
this is a recording, right?
Liz Kolb says (00:48:40):
Clay is going to talk about future of Yodio ap..great things are coming our way
Liz Kolb says (00:48:49):
@cheri YES!
CheriToledo says to (00:49:21):
Do you post the archive of the show?
Liz Kolb says (00:49:51):
Yes, on my blog (within 24 hrs)
CheriToledo says to (00:50:09):
great, thanks! I'll direct my students there
CheriToledo says to (00:54:01):
What did you use to create the recording? Yodio?
Liz Kolb says (00:54:20):
http://FreeConferencePro.com
Liz Kolb says (00:54:56):
It's Free and can record up to 200 people on one conf call at a time
Liz Kolb says (01:00:28):
Thank You for joining Us!
Jeff Stanzler says to (01:00:36):
Thanks!!
CheriToledo says to (01:00:42):
thanks!!
Liz Kolb says (01:00:49):
Thank you Cheri!
CheriToledo says to (01:01:15):
wow - it cut you off at the end didn't it

Time to Teach Students How to Bank via Cell Phone

R U Ready???
Well, ready or not mobile banking is here! It is available for anyone willing to give a try! Sites such as Obopay allow anyone to sign up and create a mobile banking account. The mobile banking allows anyone to send or accept money by sending a text message on a cell phone. No need for wallet, credit cards, change...etc. You send a text message to Obopay and the phone number of the recipient of the funds (the recipient does not need to be registered at Obopay!). Obopay does charge .25 cents to send funds (although it does not matter how much you send) and it does not cost the recipient any money. You can add money to your obopay account online with a credit card, bank account transfer, or even PayPal. People can also send you money via cell phone without an Obopay account!

Now that mobile banking is no longer a "futuristic" idea, shouldn't businesses and economic classes be teaching students how to deal with their finances in the mobile world? This is not the only mobile banking option, and it just touches the surface of the mobile banking possibilities!

Classroom Integration
Business/Economics Course
Teachers could set up a mobile account and students could responsibly spend and collect money from the account for a business related project. Obopay pay tracks who is sending money and where it is going.

Fund Raising
It might be an easy way to raise funds (since people do not have to have an Obopay account to send money). Since Obopay keeps track of all funds, senders, and recipents, it might be an easy way to keep track of finances.

A few other sites for mobile banking
Paymo
BilltoMobile


Thoughts????