m-learning: The Cutting EdgeEricsson Education, Dun Laoghaire

22 November 2002

From e-learning to m-learning

Desmond Keegan

Distance Education International

Ireland

Leonardo da Vinci project

• Ericsson Education, Dublin

• NKI, Bekkestua, Norway, one of europe’s leading e-learning providers

• The German Open University, the FernUniversität in Hagen

• Distance Education International, an Irish distance education research and development institution

• Università degli Studi Roma III, Italy’s leading university distance education provider

Mobile learning

Mobile learning means the provision of education and training courses on wireless devices: PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), palmtops and mobile telephones

Figure 1. A generally accepted presentation of an LMS or MLE (managed learningenvironment)

Wired virtual learning environment of today

Wireless learning environment of to-morrow

Mobile learning

• PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)

• Palmtops

• Handhelds

• Mobile phones

• WAP phones

• Smartphones

Urgency of development of mobile learning

• The telecommunications industry is in need of revenue generating applications. Mobile learning is the application for learning and training.

• European leadership in distance education did not transfer to e-learning. In e-learning Europe was left behind.

Literature of mobile learning

• www.google.com

• The Mobile Learning Forum:www.pjb.co.uk/m-learning

• Eclipse: www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/resources/mlearning.htm

Mobile telephony for training

• From e-learning to m-learning (Leonardo da Vinci) Ericsson, Ireland €400.000

• mLearning: Communications technologies for young adults learning and skills development (IST) LSDA, UK €4.500.000

• Mobilearn (IST) Giunti Ricerca, Genoa, Italy €7.500.000

Make optimal use of:

• Portability (learning anytime/anywhere)

• Location (eg real-time video of workplace)

• Wearability (expert in your pocket)

• Networked communication (coached collaborative learning)

• Personalisation (photo, audio, SMS)

• Blended learning (+classroom, e-learning)

Increase

• Speed

• Bandwidth

• Memory

• Ease of use

• Durability

• Input/output quality

Decrease:

• Size

• Weight

• Power demands

• Maintenance

• Price

Design educationally sound learning that is:

• Interactive

• Authentic

• Collaborative

• User-centered

• Media rich

And finally:

Achieve certification for mobile learning courses