Multipurpose Smart Device
With the processing power and capabilities of modern smart devices, we want to create a device that can replace and combine the use of smartphones, tablets, laptops and personal computers as one central device in educational institutions. The device will be compact, convenient and cost effective as it will replace multiple devices with a central device. This device will have the desired and required functions needed in the eLearning environment as it will be capable of driving the applications and software that general educational courses would require.
The device will be docked on a wireless charger with Bluetooth connectivity and it will become the primary processing power of the work station. Work stations can take on various forms. Be it a screen, mouse and keyboard such as a standard personal computer, or a large touch screen. All auxiliary peripheral items will connect to the Multipurpose Smart Device. This simple means of setting up a work station will significantly decrease costs as these work stations are not installed with the full processing hardware of personal computers, laptops etc.
Integrating The Multipurpose Smart Device and eLearning
The eLearning system is specifically designed for schools and educational institutions to allow for control within the classroom and to create a more efficient and effective learning environment. Each educational institution will form an intranet which will have admin users (teachers). The teachers will be able to upload assignments and work to the intranet and grant access to specific work or notes to scholars at a specified time. Once access has been granted, work will download onto the student’s Multipurpose Smart Device automatically. As an example, the teacher could set access to work to be granted 5 minutes before the class starts so that when the students come into class, the work will already be downloaded onto their device. Furthermore, once a device is docked in a specific class, the relevant documents will be downloaded to the device and a backup of the information on the device will be created.
All work will remain on a database allowing students who missed a class to get the work when they next have access to the network. If a teacher creates a group project, all the group members’ smartphones will be linked for the group project file. The teacher will be able to see what each member contributed. Various forms of communication will be granted to groups such as instant messaging, audio and video.
The software will support notes, photos, videos, audio notes and any media required in a learning environment. The eLearning system will also offers various means of teaching and communication such as providing notes, slides, audio notes and video notes.
All information stored on the smartphone will also be stored on a cloud server to ensure that all information is backed-up in the event of a device failure.
Note that the communication capabilities of the device won’t be blocked to prohibit scholars of private communication if necessary. But the capabilities of the device will be aligned to educational applications and software and access to recreational applications and software will be limited to ensure that devices are not disruptive during educational time.