iPad - Dragon Dictation and iWorks - Affordances

Tangible learning benefits of mobile device in context

Dragon Dictation and iWorks (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) on iPad 

New to iPad use I installed the Apple Pages, Notes and Keynote applications because I am familiar with Word, Excel and PowerPoint in the Microsoft platform and I thought transferring my skills and knowledge would be fairly seamless. This has largely been the case and much of the tools are the same or similar. I also chose these apps because at the same time as purchasing the iPad I bought an Apple Mac Pro laptop to replace my Windows PC that “died”.  My workplace is all Microsoft supported except for the iPads the school has purchased. The change to Apple has been challenging however, in my role as Teacher Librarian I consider it important that I am skilled in both operating systems. I have access to iCloud now and am also able to email documents between home and work, and work on them at either location.

I am a slow typist and wanted to improve my productivity with a speech-to-text application (voice recognition). I installed Dragon Dictation on the iPad because it was free, very easy to use and met my productivity need.  Also, the number of students requiring learning support and adaptive technologies has increased significantly at my workplace in the last 12 months and this could be a simple way to improve their productivity. The text produced is easily transposed across document types and via social networking. Dragon Mobile Assistant is the Android version.

Feature/Benefit of mobile learning	Analysis of mobile device - selected function voice-to-text on iPad
Personal, private and familiar (reduce perceived barriers to learning)	Thoughts can be recorded and collected on a personal device that can be PIN locked. Notes can be in journal form, chronologically ordered. Documents can be shared in iCloud and password protected.
Pervasive and ubiquitous	Text can be emailed, Tweeted, uploaded to Facebook and be copied and pasted into iWorks apps. Text can be pasted into most application’s search or text boxes.
Fit into the lives of learners (allow for productive ‘dead’ time - e.g. when travelling or queuing)	The built-in microphone on the iPad allows anywhere, anytime recording of ideas without typing (E.g. travelling) Lightweight, no cords and with good battery life the  iPad as a voice recorder to collect notes is a easily portable choice.
Portable - allow anywhere, anytime learning
Immediacy of communication (including speech and data-sharing)	Recording communications (speech-text) is fast and efficient. Spoken sentences are processed almost immediately. Text can be edited and added to after initial recording. Communications can be shared quickly particularly of through a social networking option.
Allows access to learning by those in dispersed communities and isolated situations	Internet connection is required to record notes on Dragon Dictation (DD) for later dissemination or use. The iPad can be connected to a mobile network via WiFi, hotspot (Mobile Data option on smart phone) or satellite internet.
Contextualisation through location-aware features such as GPS.	Location services can be turned on the iPad so that if a recorded note is sent to a social network site the site (E.g. Facebook) can add location. Copy and paste from DD does not include geotagging.
Allows data to be recorded and learning processes captured wherever they happen.	Conversation, observations and descriptions can be recorded in situ without need to use a keyboard.
Access to mentors, tutors and others learners on-the-move.	Links to documents in the iWorks apps can be shared to others to access and edit the docs on their mobile devices (iOS or Windows). Feedback can easily be given and received.
Perceived as an acceptable way for learners to receive reminders and chasers - and to manage their time	To-Do lists can be recorded and emailed to the workplace for later actioning.
Bite-sized e-learning resources can be delivered to learners (especially useful for basic skills or work-based learning)	Small presentations created in Keynote can be produced on the iPad and added to blogs, Wikis etc. through uploading to iCloud storage, sharing options in the app or embedding (E.g. upload to Slideshare)
Peer-to-peer networks make learning more student-centred.	iWorks artefacts saved to iCloud can be worked on collaboratively through a password protected link. Collaborators don’t need an iCloud account, works on Windows or Mac.
Promotes active learning	Learning outside the four walls of the classroom and classtime can be recorded for in class use.
Enable new learning environments	Mobility of the device allows evidence of learning to be recorded out of the four walls of the classroom.
Increases accessibility for learners with special educational needs	Students with literacy difficulties are empowered by being able to participate in document production by adding their contributions verbally into DD. Many languages can be dictated.
Encourages reflection in close proximity to the learning event	Review and reflection of notes dictated during a learning event allows for later editing and expansion of thinking.
Reduces technical barriers to e-learning	Spelling and typing skills are less important in contributing to crowd generated knowledge and digital artefacts through the use of DD produced text.

Some (minor) limitations that have come to mind during this analysis are:

• The voice recording cannot be played back.
• Although the majority of my spoken words were accurately transposed to text my name Justine was an issue (adjusting and just team were written). This lack of recognition posed a problem with other place and people names too. The user would have to check proper nouns in text before use by others.
• The free version of Dragon Dictation has a 60 second recording limit. Multiple notes can build a text.
• The dictation system adapts to the users voice so multiple users of the device may experience more inaccuracy than a single user.

Below is a short tutorial on the use of Dragon Dictation on iPad. I didn't view this video until after I had composed the above text. Although I had covered much that is mentioned, I had forgot to include that the app recognises punctuation commands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_qiwLCkuA0