Distance-Learning and Converging Mobile Devices

This paper reports on the use, effectiveness, and acceptance of graduate computer science course lectures recorded and formatted for mobile devices, including Video iPods, PDAs, and Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC). Technology convergence is trending toward that allows students to participate live in class discussion from anywhere that they have connectivity over Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, or wired LAN. Students were allowed to attend each class in-person, or remote using laptop or mobile devices including Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC), PDA, Video iPod, iPhone, or cell-phone. Students found a conventional laptop to be most effective for both synchronous and asynchronous distance learning.