What we’ve been up to?
This could be of those blog posts that explains why there has been a long absence of blog posts, then goes on to explain explain why there will be more in the future and is shortly followed by a lack of blog posts again.
I’ll try to make sure it is not!
So what have we been up to?
We have been increasing the number of users of uHavePassed and currently have just over 3,000 people who have used it to pass their UK driving theory test. We have worked a lot on compatibility of uHavePassed with various handsets and also the communications that are used from the handset to our synchronisation server. We are really pleased how this is helping people and each bit of feedback has been great to receive - both positive and negative, as the product has developed.
The memory training and flashcard concepts in getawayphrases are in the process of being incorporated into uHavePassed allowing users to train their memory in addition to doing formative assessment.
We are looking for content partners and institutions to be able to increase the scope of content on uHavePassed.com beyond the UK driving theory test - so please get in contact if you are interested. We are already working with Leeds University and the Open University on this. More news soon…
With uHavePassed we are also in the process of launching a service so that organisations can use it to provide any assessment content to their users via web and mobile phone. More news soon….
We have also continued to work with the Open University on a couple of ad-hoc projects. These projects have been done at a very low cost and the aim is to push forward ideas and techniques in reasearch of the applications of mobile phones in higer education. Again more to follow….
I (Al) am now going to commit more time also to this blog and try to start up more of a conversation about how mobile phones can (and are) being used in education.
So on with the conversation…
Tags: Driving theory test, education, getawayphrases, languages, luzia research, m-learning, memory, mLearning, mobile development, mobile-learning, mobilelearning, uHavePassed
14.Jul.08 
Driving theory test, education, getawayphrases, luzia research, m-learning, mLearning, mobile development, uHavePassed 
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Web 2.0 and language learning
In another Economist piece this week on learning languages (Mandarin 2.0) - they talk about how the internet and technology is really changing language learning.
Skype is a great tool at connecting people and very good at connecting a English speaking person wanting to know Mandarin with a Mandarin speaker who wants to learn English.
Podcasts and other technologies also get a mention - pity they overlooked the impact that memory training and learning a language with a mobile phone is also making.
Tags: education, getawayphrases, languagges, web2.0
12.Jun.07 getawayphrases, languages, mLearning, memory Comments (0)
Genetically I can’t learn Mandarin*
There was an interesting article in last weeks Economist that states that native speaker of tonal languages have a genetic differences to those speakers of non-tonal languages.
I’m not sure what use the research is yet - apart from providing a good excuse for me to explain why picking up Mandarin* was so hard - but it is certainly interesting.
I would be interested to see if there are common differences in the language processing areas of the brains also - otherwise I am confused as to what the genetic difference means.
Anyway it is interesting research and I thought I’d make sure any current Mandarin* students could add it their list of reasons why it is so hard to learn, listen and talk tonal languages.
Linguistics | Words in code | Economist.com
*Other tonal languages exist
Tags: education, getawayphrases, languages, luzia research
09.Jun.07 languages, off-topic Comments (0)