Week 2: Using Other Mobile Devices and their Apps
Essential Questions
- How can I support the growing number and types of mobile devices?
- How will mobile devices be integrated into a larger IT infrastructure safely and securely?
Big Ideas
Computing devices are now highly portable. We can wear them on our wrists, on our heads, or carry them in our pockets. Some schools and districts may also provide various mobile devices to teachers for educational purposes. Tablets, fitness monitors, and Virtual/Augmented Reality devices are common on many campuses. While laptops are most likely the most common type of mobile device on school campuses, you may be called to help configure other types of mobile devices as approved by your school district.
Connection to Student Lives
While many school districts do not provide mobile devices other than laptops or tablets to students, staff and students may be able to bring mobile devices, such as smartphones, on campus to access campus networks and resources to support their learning. You may be called upon to help configure mobile devices to a campus network so it can be used safely as well as make informed decisions about when to use a mobile device or not.
Framing Problem
Identify a mobile device teachers, staff, or students may be provided on campus. Some examples include tablets, fitness monitors, or VR/AR devices. Don't include laptops or Chromebooks this week. You should know how to configure these devices for use and connect these devices to the network. Know your school or district's standard operating procedure for obtaining and installing apps on a district-owned device.
Cornerstone Assessment
Guidelines for helping users in the system safely utilize school-provided and, when allowed, personal mobile devices to support teaching, learning, and school operations.
DPI Standards
- NCCTE.2020.II21.01.04 - Compare characteristics of various types of other mobile devices.
- NCCTE.2020.II21.01.05 - Connect and configure accessories and ports of other mobile devices.
- NCCTE.2020.II21.01.06 - Configure basic mobile device network connectivity and application support.
- NCCTE.2020.II21.01.07 - Use methods to perform mobile device synchronization.
- NCCTE.2020.II21.02.07 - Compare Internet connection types, network types, and their features.
- NCCTE.2020.II21.03.09 - Install and configure common devices.
A+ Standards
TOPIC 16A: Mobile Device Types
TOPIC 16B: Connect and Configure Mobile Device Accessories
TOPIC 16C: Configure Mobile Device Network Connectivity
TOPIC 16D: Support Mobile Apps
Knowledge
- How different mobile devices work and how to configure them for appropriate use on a network or campus
- Common functionality of three mobile operating systems (Apple iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile)
- The factors that distinguish laptops from other mobile devices (processors, memory, storage, components, OS)
- Mobile device form factors and their general characteristics, uses, and how they connect to a network
- How a contactless Point-of-Sale works
- What infrared sensors are used for
- What tethering and Mobile Hotspots are and why they are used
- Common mobile device accessories
- The two main cellular radio network types and where they can be accessed
- How to find an IMEI number
- How to and concerns for connecting to a hotspot
- What VPNs are used for
- What airplane mode is used for
- Synchronization methods for different mobile OS and types of data users often sync
- What Mutual authentication for multiple services (SSO [Single Sign On]) or federated identity management is, why it is used, and benefits
Skills
- Input/interact with mobile device touchscreens
- Connect mobile devices to a computer, charging cable, or other peripheral
- How and whether to enable Bluetooth on a mobile device
- Enable and disable cellular data on mobile devices and decisions for doing so
- Tether a mobile device or use it as a Mobile Hotspot
- Follow steps for connecting to and using a hotspot safely
- Pair devices using Bluetooth
- Configure email on a mobile device
- Set up a mobile account
- Access and mobile app stores for different OS
- Sync data between a mobile device and a laptop or desktop computer
Vocabulary
Mobile Device
Smartphone
Tablet
Phablet
Touchscreen
- Multitouch (capacitive gestures: sweeping, pinching)
- Haptic feedback
- Light sensors
Accelerometers and gyroscopes
E-readers
- Electrophoretic ink (e-ink)
- Electronic Paper Display (EPD)
Wearable Technology
- Smart Watches
- Fitness Monitors
- VR/AR Headsets and Smart Glasses
- Augmented Reality (AR)
Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation Devices
Enhanced Data Rage (EDR)
Near Field Communications (NFC)
- Contactless Point-of-Sale (PoS)
InfraRed (IR) sensor or blaster
Tethering
Mobile Hotspot
Ingress Protection (IP) scale
Quick Charge (QC) adapter (also trickle charge and fast-charge)
Cellular data
- Cellular radio
- Global system for Mobile Communication (GSM)
- Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
- Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card
- International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI)
- Equipment Identity Register (EIR) database
- International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number
- Mobile Equipment ID (MEID)
- Preferred Roaming Index (PRI) and Preferred Roaming List (PRL) databases
Baseband update
- Radio firmware
- Realtime Operating System (RTOS)
- Jailbreaking and Rooting
Hotspot
Mobile VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- IPSec, Secure Sockets Tunneling Protocol (SSTP), tunnel
Bluetooth
Airplane Mode
- Control Center or notification shade
Autodiscover
Corporate and ISP Email Configuration
- Exchange and Exchange ActiveSync
- SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
- ISP (Internet Service Provider
- Corporate mail gateway
- Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) or Post Office Protocol (POP3)
- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
S/MIME
- Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) and Secure Multipart Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME)
- Encryption keys
- Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Mobile Applications (Apps)
- App store
- Walled garden model
- Apple's Software Development Kit (SDK) Xcode and Swift
- Android Application Package (apk)
- Sideloading
Mobile device synchronization (sync)
- Contact
- Comma Separated Values (CSV)
- vCard
- Geolocation
- Synchronizing to automobiles and typical technologies used for different devices
Weekly Map
Monday
Introduction to problem: Documenting appropriate use of mobile devices on campus
TOPIC 16A: Mobile Device Types (address all types, not just those allowed on campus)
Activity 16-1: Discussing Mobile Device Types
Team meetings to develop project plan and goals
Begin documentation for Help Desk Knowledge Base
Tuesday
Review content resources with whole group or small group and independent exploration of resources
TOPIC 16B: Connect and Configure Mobile Device Accessories
Activity 16-2: Discussing Mobile Device Accessory Connection and Configuration
Continue documentation for Help Desk Knowledge Base
Wednesday
Hands-on exploration: Connecting devices to the network and using Bluetooth
TOPIC 16C: Configure Mobile Device Network Connectivity
Activity 16-3: Discussing Mobile Device Network Connectivity Configuration
Activity 16-4: Configuring Bluetooth
Continue documentation for Help Desk Knowledge Base
Thursday
Review content resources with whole group or small group and independent exploration of resources
TOPIC 16D: Support Mobile Apps
Activity 16-5: Discussing Mobile App Support
Continue Activity 16-4: Configuring Bluetooth, if necessary
Continue documentation for Help Desk Knowledge Base
Friday
Team progress check with supervisor or sharing of progress with whole group
Share and curate Help Desk Knowledge Base
Lesson Ideas
There are many different types of mobile devices and multiple brands of each type. Students should have an awareness of how to perform some basic functions using common mobile devices, such as navigating the interface, charging them, connecting accessories, connecting them to a wireless network, and navigating the app store for given devices. Students should also know how to use Bluetooth-enabled devices but should be aware of how to do so safely and when they would choose not to.
It may be difficult to have a sample of every mobile device, especially Windows mobile devices. Consider pairing students who own different devices who may be able to share basic functionality with others. Or have students become "experts" on a device or an OS and share with the class.
Potential Resources
The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 Instructor Guide for Exams 220-1001 and 220-1002
- Topic 16A: Mobile Device Types (854-861)
- Activity 16-1: Discussing Mobile Device Types (862)
- Topic 16B: Connect and Configure Mobile Device Types (863-867)
- Activity 16-2: Discussing Mobile Device Accessory Connection and Configuration (868)
- Topic 16C: Configure Mobile Device Network Connectivity (870-880)
- Activity 16-3: Discussing Mobile Device Network Connectivity Configuration (881)
- Activity 16-4: Configuring Bluetooth (882)
- Topic 16D: Support Mobile Apps (883-890)
- Activity 16-5: Discussing Mobile App Support (891)
CompTIA also offers videos for purchase through their website or on ITPro.TV.
Professor Messer at ProfessorMesser.com and YouTube offers numerous free videos of various lengths for many of the topics for the CompTIA 220-1001 A+ Exam. They are easy to understand, narrated videos with visuals. If you are teaching a CompTIA course, the site notes "You're welcome to use them as much as you'd like, provided you embed the videos with the associated YouTube link or link directly to my site. Please click the "Contact Us" link at the top of our web page and let me know how you're using them."
- Professor Messer's 220-1001 Core 1 CompTIA A+ Training Course videos on ProfessorMesser.com. Search or scroll to find the topics you're interested in.
- Professor Messer's CompTIA 220-1001 A+ Training Course playlist on YouTube
Entry Level I.T. Training from Technology Gee
- Characteristics of Mobile Devices (Article | Video – 11:04)
- Mobile Device Accessories & Ports (Article | Video – 13:11)
- Basic Mobile Device Network Connectivity (Article | Video – 21:12)
- Mobile Device Synchronization (Article | Video – 10:54)
Articles and other resources
What is a mobile device? General overview of three types of mobile devices from a free course hosted by GCFGlobal.
Beginner's Guide to VR: FAQ and Everything You Need to Know by Harry Baker (Jan. 3, 2021) for Upload
Support from common mobile device providers (add user guides or manuals from your district-approved mobile device providers)
iOS
Android
- Android Help from Google with links to various vendor sites
- A beginner's guide to Android: Everything you need to know by Chrisitan de Looper and Kevin Parrish for digitaltrends
- Android 101: How to use your Android Smartphone or Tablet by Daniel Nations for Lifewire
Windows Mobile
Kindle
- Kindle e-Reader User and Quick Start Guides from Amazon
- Fire Tablet Quick Start Guides from Amazon