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I hope I can provide you with a concrete example of the use of media players and mobile phones in teacher professional development in Bangladesh.

The Open University is a major partner in a DFiD project, English in Action, which is using a blended combination of mobile devices, including media players and phones, and face to face support to develop classroom based EFL teacher development in Bangladesh, at both primary and secondary levels http://www.eiabd.com/eia/

We are currently in the 3 year pilot stage which will be followed by a 6 year staggered rollout across the country. The first batch of 400 secondary school teachers are shortly to receive their devices which contain teacher training materials and development testing is about to take place in primary schools using media players to deliver classroom material.

The power of the mobile devices means that the secondary level English language teacher will be able to access training materials including audio and video at all times, while the blended element ensures that they will have contact with trainers and other teachers in monthly cluster meetings supporting their classroom development.

In early 2010 half of these teachers will also receive mobile phones with which they can access the internet. The aim of this is to develop their ability to communicate with their EFL colleagues both within Bangladesh and globally via social networks, and gain access to the web for both professional, personal and classroom use.

At the primary level, where many teachers are lacking in initial training, the mobile devices will ensure that meaningful English language audio penetrates the classroom together with visual aids, and backed up by lesson plans assisting the teachers in their use of the resources.

I'll keep you informed on how the project goes....