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Developing Mobile Learning for IPOD Touches

Florence MartinRay PastoreJean Snider

University of North Carolina Wilmington

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Introduction This presentation addresses mobile learning

by discussing the design and development of mobile websites

Describes a case of mobile web development in a Master’s level Instructional Technology course at University of North Carolina Wilmington

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What is Mobile Learning? M-learning is the intersection of mobile

computing and e-learning and includes anytime, anywhere resources; strong search capabilities; rich interaction; powerful support for effective learning; and performance-based assessment (Quinn, 2000)

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Defining Mobile Learning Stevens and Kitchenham (2011) define

mobile learning as “the use of a wireless handheld device;

a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), mini-computer, or iPod to engage in some form of meaningful learning (p.3)”.

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Defining Mobile Learning ELearning Guild 360 Mobile Learning

Research Report, 2007)“Any activity that allows individuals to

be more productive when consuming, interacting with, or creating information, mediated through a compact digital portable device that the individual carries on a regular basis, has reliable connectivity, and fits in a pocket or purse.’’

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Emerging Mobile Learning Categories

Traxler (2009) identifies six emerging mobile learning categories

Technology driven m-learning Miniature but portable e-learning connected classroom learning Informal/personalized/situated mobile

learning Mobile training/ performance support remote/rural/development mobile learning

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Design RecommendationsAlly (2009) recommendations: Mobile devices

include multimedia capabilities, and course designers should take advantage of this and design courses to make the learning experience stimulating

help in student-student and student-instructor interaction and can be used as a communication tool

are used for informal learning the learning material should be in manageable

chunks

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Design Recommendations

Griffin (2011) lists ten steps that makes great mobile content two minutes of content animation conversational style deliver some smarts target the 5% remedial

behavior participate characterize content

resist the temptation to put it all into push mode

encourage users to self-diagnose

make the experience elegant and emotional

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More Design Recommendations Bradley et al (2009) took into consideration

design principles such as interface design, navigational techniques and interactive functionality suggested by Flash Lite templates

Baird and Whitear (2006) recommend splitting the content into bite size chunks so that they don’t overcrowd the screen

Pierre and Diamantini (2009) used the Mobile Learning Objects approach where modules were ten minutes long, and included text and audio format

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What are Mobile Application? A software that runs on a handheld device that can connect to WIFI

or wireless carrier networks, and has an operating system that supports standalone software” (Gahran, 2011)

Can be downloaded directly onto a mobile device using the application store on the mobile device or can be downloaded from a computer (i.e. Apple iTunes) and connected to a mobile device

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What are Mobile Websites? Mobile websites also known as Mobile web applications

are custom built sites designed and developed to be accessed via the mobile device.

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Limitations of Mobile Web Accessing the web from mobile devices a

large number of limitations Small screen size lack of multiple windowsnavigation lack of javascript (browser dependent) and

cookies types of pages accessible speedbroken and compressed pages size of messages cost involved

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Mobile Apps vs Mobile Websites

Apps

Need to be installed Can be on OS Device dependent  May cost money Can use phone

features (gps etc.) Do NOT require

internet

Websites

Can be used on any phone with internet

Not on OS free (for the most

part)  Need to open

browser Difficulty accessing

phone features (GPS etc).

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Developing on a Mobile Device Google's Android

Java Programming

Apple's iOS: iPod/iPhone/iPad

C, C++

Other Options?Android

Google App InventorFlashHTML

AppleHTML

All phones (apple, android, blackberry, windows)

HTML – HTML5

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Transition: Web to Mobile Web Many columns/tables->1 Column Defined Width->% Width High speed->3G/4G Data Usage problems Large Screens->small screens Keyboard->touch screen/small keyboard Html->wml |

html/flash->html/html5/c++/Java/flash Very compatible ->Device type (unless HTML) Plug ins->limited

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Being used in education for to view or send content or email participate in discussion forums submit and view assignments send/receive feedback enrolling in courses (higher ed) communication textingemergency warning systemsCMS

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Being used in corporations/gov for

Everything on the previous slide plus….GamingSimulationsFull coursesFlash based contentHTML5 based content

*This is where education is headed and Education innovators are already doingthis

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Research Problem

Mobile learning is in it's infancyResearch on mobile use and design is just starting to emergeMuch of this research focuses on mobile use rather than mobile devices for learning  

 The purpose of this study was to examine students perceptions of developing and using instruction for the mobile web

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Methods Study took place at the University of North

Carolina Wilmington Instructional Technology graduate students Design

Interviews (6 Students interviewed - semi structured interviews)

Observations (Graduate Class observed)Role of observer: InstructorSurvey (Survey on mobile use, learning, and

satisfaction)

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Case Computer Based Instruction course at UNCW

Develop mobile based instruction via Dreamweaver Students were web development novice Students were presented lesson on web and mobile

development using Dreamweaver (3 Class periods) They were asked to read several articles on mobile learning

Assignment10 minute instructional tutorials to be developed for

smartphonesPublished to UNCW webspaceTested sites on iPod touches

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Case

Obtained through school grant

Students went through parts of the ISD

process to develop the instruction:– Analysis->Design->Development

Students had 3, 3 hour courses of in class time

to develop and test with instructor present

(labs)

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Examples

Design Considerations• Small screen size • Navigation (touch a link vs. click a link)• Sizing using Table Format• Scrolling

 Instructional Design Considerations• Concise content• Linear organization• Practice  

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Example Screenshttp://student.uncw.edu/js2067/

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Data Analysis• Interviews were transcribed and coded for emerging

themes using the constant comparative method (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). The following themes emerged from the interviews around an overarching theme of design:o Design: 

size;  simplicity; transition

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Data Analysis• Survey data will be analyzed in SPSS (survey results

preliminary as only 8 students have taken it. We anticipate 30+ responses at the end of this semester.)o Survey designed as 7 point Likert-scale survey asking

participants how important design and usability features were when developing/using mobile websites

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Survey: Items on “Design” Text requires zooming for reading Text is legible without zooming Site fits my screen size without adjustment open new browser windows during site use/pop up windows Elements of the site require you to download/install plugins Scrolling up and down to view content Scrolling to the left or right to view content Single column layout Multiple column layout link location on top of screen link location on bottom of screen link location on left or right of screen Text entry drop down menus

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Survey: Items on “Usability” Quick access to the information Good site organization The sequence of obtaining information was clear Site is user friendly The site offers clear and understandable goals The site uses media appropriately to communicate the content The site offers content that is relevant to the audience The site provides current and timely information The site provides the precise information you need The site provides accurate information The site allows you to control the pace at which you interact with the

information

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Semi-Structured Interview Questions

Describe your experience developing for the mobile web? What design issues did you encounter when developing for the

mobile web? What are the major differences developing a website for the

computer and developing for the mobile web? What’s the importance of user interface (UI) in mobile web

development? What recommendations do you have for developers looking to

develop for the mobile web? What recommendations do you have for instructional designers

seeking to implement mobile learning in training and development?

What did you enjoy about this experience? What did you dislike about this experience? Is there anything else you would like to add?

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Design: Size (Sample Quotes)• “.. you know, the size of a phone, of an Android or iPhone or something,

then you don’t have as much room. You have to really make good choices about what it is you are going to put in there. ..it can get cluttered really quick. And because everything is so much smaller, obviously it looks different on the computer than it does on the phones."

• "The first thing you have to realize is that almost all of the users are gonna have touch screens, which is a lot different than using a mouse. So, I think you have to make it…you have to design the difference in the user interface for a mobile app is that you have to take into account that the, uh, buttons have to be legible at size and the user has to be able to use his finger, his or her finger to actually navigate through the site."

• "Something I kind of feel when I’m on my smartphone is I feel like im looking at things through a telescope because you’ve got this big page but yet you’ve got this little small viewing area so your trying to move that viewing area around so you can find out where you going. But that on pages not set up for mobile devices. So its like looking through a telescope."

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Design: Simplicity (Sample Quotes)

"Just having the one column made it a lot easier"

"I would tell people to keep, keep it simple, to really keep it simple, because when you are looking at something on a computer screen, you just have a lot more space"

"You have to take out all the fluff and, uh, try to fit as much content on the actual screen without the user having to scroll as much. And, the use of a header, a content and a footer, an actual framework, um, was really important so that you could have consistency through each page."

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Design: Transition (Sample Quotes) "I think the differences from going from that where you

use a keyboard and a mouse to the touch is that you realize how big your fingers are and just a link is not going to be very effective anymore. You need big buttons. You need to direct the learner on where they need to touch to go to the next screen. There is really no pop ups, no imbedded flash type things, its like going from one screen to the next. It seems very linear. “

"I don’t know that you’re going to be able to do a lot other than just quick reference job aids. I’m not sure you’d want to have a whole instructional system through the, for the iPhone, though maybe,, a SmartPhone. You could do it for maybe tablets, but again you’ve got some Flash limitations. So I would think that job aids and things that you can learn quickly are the realm of smart phone development."

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Conclusion At this point in this study,

We are finding significant differences for Computer based training design and Mobile based design

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Future Research Should examine best design practices of

mobile learning Specifically should focus on multimedia

principles of learning Observed during study that many needed to

changed or did not apply to the mobile environment

Additionally there need to be studies examining the impact of cognitive load in the use of these devices

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References Ally, M. (2009). Mobile Learning: Transforming the delivery of education and

training, AU Press

Baird, P. & Whitear, C. (2006). Mobile charting with Flash Lite 2: Designing for the mobile device interface. Adobe mobile and device developer center. http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/articles/fl2_charting_components.html

Bradley, C., Haynes, R., Cook, J., Boyle, T. & Smith, C. (2009). Design and development of multimedia learning objects for mobile phones. In A. Mohamed (Ed.), Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training (pp. 157-181). dmonton, Canada: Athabasca University Press.

Gahran, A. (2011). What’s a mobile app? Retrieved online from http://www.contentious.com/2011/03/02/whats-a-mobile-app/

Griffin, G. (2011). Ten tips for designing mobile learning content. Learning solutions magazine. Retrieved online from http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/700/ten-tips-for-designing-mobile-learning-content

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References Pierre, M., & Diamantini, D. (2009). From E-learning to Mobile

Learning: New Opportunities. In M. Ally (Ed.), Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training (pp. 247–264).

Quin, C. (2000). mLearning: Mobile, Wireless, In-Your-Pocket Learning.

Quinn, C. (2011). Designing mLearning: tapping into the mobile revolution for organizational performance, Pfeiffer Publishing, USA

Stevens, D. and Kitchenham, A. (2011). An analysis of mobile learning in education, business and medicine. In Kitchenham (Ed.) Models for Interdisciplinary Mobile Learning: Delivering Information to Students, IGI publication. Pp. 1 – 25

Traxler (2009) Current state of mobile learning . In M. Ally (Ed.), Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training (pp. 247–264).

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Questions?

Presentation can be found at: http://raypastore.com/wordpress/2011/11/

aect-mobile-learning-presentation/