Mobile learning for the e-generation

LLAS E-learning Conference1 February 2007

John Cook and Cécile TschirhartRLO-CETL

London Metropolitan University

What is m(obile)-learning?

•Type of e-learning using mobile devices (mobile phones, PDAs, iPods, tablet PCs and smartphones) and wireless transmission

•M-learners are able to access a variety of educational resources and interact with their peers and tutors whenever and wherever it suits them.

Who is m-learning for?

• Formal Education:

HE/FE students; school pupils

• Informal education:

Life-long learners; tourists and visitors to

museums and galleries

• Business and workplace:

On-the-job learners; field workers

Why m-learning in HE?

• Popularity with ‘digital natives’• One and a half billion mobile phones (more than

3 times the number of PCs)• Mobile phone penetration among young people

75% -100%• Learning tool in Asia• Consensus among e-learning theorists and

practitioners: “The future is wireless”.

M-learning applications

• Mobile phone quizzes (e.g. spelling and maths tests)• Collaborative learning activities involving camera

phones and multi-media messaging, using mediaBoard• Use of iPods to access audiobooks and lectures• Personalised guided tours using hand-held Augmented

Reality guides• MILOS (mobile Interactive Learning Objects) using

graphics, animation, text, video clips, and audio

Practical Benefits

• Anywhere/anytime/personalised learning

• Portability and space saving

• Connectivity (instant access)

• Context-sensitivity (e.g. museums)

• Cost (less than PC)

• Inclusiveness/group work

Pedagogical advantages

• Consistent with socio-constructivist pedagogy– Problem solving and exploratory learning; – Contextualised learning; – Independent and collaborative learning; – Scaffolding

• Personalised learning

• Enhanced learner motivation

Limitations

• Cost of device/connectivity

• Limited keyboard/small screen

• Limited functionality

• Adapting materials

• Standardisation

• Easy to lose

Current m-learning projects

• RLO-CETL: embedding of m-learning in various

HE courses

• MOBILA: Mobile phone Interactive Languages:

LondonMet e-packs (online language learning materials)

repurposed for use on mobile phones

Previous work

• Designing multimedia learning resources and learning objects (RLO-CETL)

• For web and mobile phones• Study Skills, Business

Studies and Sports Science • See http://www.rlo-cetl.ac.uk/index.htm

Underpinning research

• Mobile phone surveys with students (117)• 98% have mobiles• 61% think it’s extremely useful to be

able to learn at any time and place• 55% of the students answered positively

about the university contacting them via their own mobile for learning purposes. Only 23% thought ‘it would be a negative aspect’.

E.G. Mobile Referencing Books

• Audio replaces/supports content and instruction

• Interactive alternatives – rethink the problem

• Bite sized content

Prototype

E.G. SMS ‘learning hints’

Some responses from students about the ‘learning hint’ text messages sent them

“It started to bug me but was useful.”“I got them and I liked the ones during the Easter break, which were giving suggestions about the report.”“I thought the text messages were great because every time I forgot about it I had someone pushing me to get on with it.I really like to receive the text messages. I do think it is very useful. Thank you so much to send them to us.”

E.G.MediaBoard for collaborative work

E.G. Learner Generated Content

“I love the idea of attending the event! The phone allows us to take pictures and remember the experience.”

Design and development for mobiles

• Developing with multimedia platform (see later)

• Also looking at how to include students’ own phones in learning