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Laurier MBAMobile Learning Project
Dr. Ruth Cruikshank
Schedules, Contact Info in
the device
Electronic
Resources
(Internal)
Expanded beyond
library, alumni db
Notices &
Announcements in
real time
Electronic
Resources
(External)
Recommended
links
Internal Resources
(reduced paper)
e-textbooks
lessen the load
Our motivation? Learning any time, anywhere
Strategic framework
Goals
Establish a working
team for this pilot
project.
Adapt best practices
in e-learning &
admin
Deliver best-fit apps
to support MBA
Develop faculty’s
mobile teaching &
learning skills
Gain acceptance of
mobile learning
among students
Measure success
and model future
use of mobile
learning
The specs
• WLU partnered with RIM and Rogers Wireless; (also D2L with 2Go application – but it did not work)
• 104 students, 8 faculty members provided with BlackBerry devices, unlimited data plans, and optional voice plan
• Fall term 2009, Integrated MBA program – with “all the greats”– Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Strategy, Org Behavior,
Operations Mgmt, Statistics, Professional Skills, Finance
The student experience
INSTANT impact
• Students began to build their “MBA hive” the minute they turned on their device
The ‘big winner’? Collaborative learning
• Effective collaboration = best performance in project-based MBA curriculum
• BlackBerry Messenger was a lifeline
“BBM meant we had
continuous connection with
our team”
Collaborative learning is powerful learning
Check out Educause on
collaborative learning:
http://www.educause.edu/
Resources/Browse/Collab
orative%20Learning/3399
7
Apps added fun & function
• 90% downloaded additional applications
• 55.4% more than one additional app
• Most popular? Instant messaging and social networking:– Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
Types of apps used
• Weather• News• Business Finance• Maps, navigation• Education• Sports• Entertainment & games• Other
Examples
• Morningstar• Bloomberg Mobile• Bloomberg Businessweek• Yahoo Finance• Forbes Mobile Reader• Reuters Insider• Thomson Reuters News
Pro• LinkedIn• Dictionary.com
• WeatherEye
• The Globe and Mail
• Google Mobile Apps
• Gmail app
• Google Sync
• WhatsApp Messenger
• The Score
• Poynt
• Business Exam Bundle
Most useful for MBA program use?
In an end of term survey, students identified• BBM 53%• eMail 19%• Chalk 16%• Browser 8%• None 4%
Advantages of BBY for learning purposes?
In an end of term survey most students said • Connecting & communicating• Convenience, efficiency, speed• Access to email & websites
Small numbers (12% or fewer) said:• Access to class materials• Pictures• None
Disadvantages of BBY for learning purposes?
In an end of term survey many students said • Distracting• Problems with interface (screen size, font)• Functionality
Small numbers (12% or fewer) reported:• Constantly connected • Overwhelming / felt overwhelmed• None
The faculty experience
1. How did you use the BlackBerry to support instruction?
2. What factors motivate mobile technology use for you?
3. What were the most valuable supports for you in the
BlackBerry Pilot Project?
4. What barriers or challenges did you encounter?
Not
real
ly a
n SB
E fa
culty
mem
ber…
How did you use BBY to support instruction?
• Communicating with students (email)• Twitter• Assignment requiring students develop an app
or mobile process for business situation• Chalk: pushed slides to students, surveys and
responding to student questions• Did not use any; prefer other technology
What factors motivate mobile technology use?
• Learning objectives & best delivery mechanism• Topics & content as they fit (or not) with
technology• Inside classroom - only occasional desire for
students to link with each other, do quick communication, or link with internet in class
• Timing: Mobile technology became available after I designed my course
Most valuable support?
•Designated BBY support person (Cory Kittel)– For both learning & troubleshooting
Barriers & challenges?
• Apps underdeveloped• Not much content for Masters level courses; D2L
2Go did not function for content• Fun to use but did not easily translate into
learning tool• Availability of a support person after Cory left• Some students not using BBY – have to post
slides and material for many access points• Couldn’t get (Chalk) survey data by respondent
Other quotes from faculty
• Learning curve was too steep for the time period• Content lags technology• Learning environment where students are onsite
full time with wireless access does not motivate Smartphone use
• I now realize that a change to this technology requires staff, someone to manage the technology and support
Into the future
Goals (ongoing)
Establish a working
team for this pilot
project.
Adapt best
practices in e-
learning & admin
Deliver best-fit apps
to support MBA
Develop faculty’s
mobile teaching &
learning skills
Gain acceptance of
mobile learning
among students
Measure success
and model future
use of mobile
learning
Summing up• Putting tools of collaboration into the hands of learners
• Programming for collaborative learning
Learning
• Embracing the world of continuous catch-up: content lags
technology
• Creating & resourcing the admin architecture
Leading
Questions?
