Portable applications

A portable application is a computer program that you can carry around with you on a portable device and use on any Windows computer. When your USB flash drive, portable hard drive, iPod or other portable device is plugged in; you have access to your software and personal data just as you would on your own PC. And when you unplug the device, none of your personal data is left behind.

Samples

Portable, Open Source Applications on a USB Flash Drive

Slide Share describing the use of open source applications, including internet, Email, Office (using open office), html editor etc

Source Slide Share describing the use of open source applications, including internet, Email, Office (using open office), html editor etc
URL http://scyuen.wordpress.com/
Use Trainers and Learners who are on the move with teaching and learning.
Delivery NA
Customisation NA
Availability NA

Jump Drive Learning .. or .. Wiki on a Stick

The Jump Drive Learning Tutorial refers to a number of software applications.

Source EContent Technical Knowledge Management Online Resources. Video Presentation
URL http://econtent.typepad.com/econtent/2007/08/jump-drive-lear.html
Use The Jump Drive Learning Tutorial refers to a number of software applications. The download links and instructions explain how to create your "portable" learning / knowledge domain device. Download and Installation Instructions here.
Delivery NA
Customisation NA
Availability NA

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Why include portable applications?

Trainers and Learners can use any decent Windows machine connected to the internet, plug in a USB thumb drive and use all their browsing, email and IM clients. Teachers and students can use these applications and have their e-mail and instant messaging accounts, bookmarks, log-on passwords, a Web browser, a calendar, as well as a Web authoring tool available to them in this way. Also, they are sure that their settings, passwords, account information will stay on their USB drive and won’t be stored in the browser cache or anywhere else on other person’s computer.
Portable applications can be characterised by:

  1. Anytime, anywhere access to content with consistent, personalised settings – all that is required is a computer to plug into
  2. Just in time training or review of content
  3. Enhances learner-centred learning by enabling control over their software applications and work content.
  4. Facilitates collaboration through synchonous and asynchronous communication

Features

A portable application, or portable app for short, is a software program that does not require any kind of formal installation onto a computer's permanent storage device to be executed. Portable applications can be stored on a removable storage device such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, flash card, or even a floppy disk, enabling it to be used on multiple computers.

  • Works from any location on a computer with compatible operating software
  • Launchers usually automatically adjust settings to reduce drive use
  • All launchers and included applications are fully free and open source, usually under the GNU General Public License
  • Users can use their USB Drive as a portable desktop and access open source applications on any computer with no trace behind, including:
  • web browser with favourite bookmarks
  • Carry your calendar with appointments
  • email client with all contacts and settings
  • instant messenger and buddy list
  • whole office suite along with your documents and presentations
  • audio editing software and video capture software
  • antivirus program and other computer utilities
  • important passwords and account information securely

Visit this link for an easy to read set of brief Technical Evaluation Reports of Portable Applications in Mobile Education

In order to make portable applications, software developers must make their software applications leave the computer they run on completely "clean". This means that the application cannot use the registry, nor store its files anywhere on the machine other than in the application's installation directory on the portable device.

Teaching and learning opportunities

Portable applications have several educational possibilities:

  1. Learners can download podcasts of instructional material along with audio and video lectures
  2. Learners can exchange information files, collaborate on projects, review coursework and prepare for exams

Learners can instantly publish their observations and reflections as digital media thereby empowering them to become investigators of their own environment

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Integrating project-based learning

Portable applications offer much potential as they can easily be integrated into e Learning to make learning more accessible and portable. Learners are not restricted to computer or home labs for access to required software to complete course activities.

Design steps

  1. The point of using portable software is to give learners utility to be flexible with their software use across a variety of work, home and learning locations whilst maintaining the integrity of their data, passwords, work files, favourites and personal identities.

  2. Select a suite of software that suits your learning objectives (audio, video, word documents, email, internet or wikis)

  3. Develop activities that compliment the use of the software without confusing the role of the technology with the needs of the learning or assessment

  4. Decide on a consistent portable device (i.e. brand of flash drive etc) and recommend this for learner use to minimise the range of support issues you’ll encounter later on.

  5. Locate, install and test the portable application software

  6. Workshop learners on the installation and set up of the portable applications

  7. Support learners to conduct field trails of the use of software for learning and tasks

  8. Test and evaluate the content and software to ensure that it performs correctly in all situations

  9. Evaluate progressively and be ready to provide help desk support learners with their portable applications.

Assessment

Portable applications compliment existing assessment strategies by providing flexibility in learner software use. One opportunity to use portable applications for assessment is for the learner to complete an assessment task using a portable application whilst being observed by the trainer.

Generic skills

The use of portable applications provides opportunities for the development of a number of generic skills such as:

  1. communicating ideas and information
  2. teams
  3. problem solving
  4. technology.

Technical notes

You will need to ensure that the learner is able to install software onto the portable device. In some cases, the learner will also be required to configure the software once the installation is complete. Experiment with a range of portable devices and software before recommending the suite you will use with your learners.

Skills

  1. Good planning and organisational skills
  2. Experience with mobile technologies
  3. The confidence to trial different software packages.
  4. Ability to troubleshoot and provide help to learners in plain English

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See also

From the Framework

More resources from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Tools and resources

Last modified: 11/6/08