Mobile Technologies for LearningMobile Technologies for Learning

Sanjaya Mishra

Mobile Technologies in Open Mobile Technologies in Open SchoolsSchools

Some statisticsSome statisticsIn January 2009:Newspaper circulation: 480 million

Cars on road: 800 million

Cable and satellite television subscriptions: 850 million

Desktops, laptops and netbooks currently in use: 1 billion

Fixed land line telephone connections:1.2 billion

e-mail users: 1.3 billion

Internet users: 1.4 billion

Credit card users: 1.7 billion

Mobile Subscribers: 4 billion

Over 60% of world population!

mLearningmLearningMobile learning includes access to electronic materials and resources mediated by mobile

devices for the exclusive purpose of teaching

and learning support

• Learning cannot be mobile, but learners are – Keegan, 2002

• Learner is mobile, and the technology is portable -- Ahonen et al., 2004

TechnologiesTechnologies

Mobile Learning Technologies (Adapted from Source: Attewell, 2005)

Bates’ ACTIONS FrameworkBates’ ACTIONS FrameworkMobile technologies• are accessible to learners (it is increasing at a faster rate);• are cheap and affordable (less costly for both institutions and

learners);• are useful for numerous teaching functions (and are useful in

learner support);• are interactive and therefore improve two-way

communication at a distance and reduce the transactional distance between the learner and the teacher and the educational institution because mobile technologies are easy to use and user friendly;

• are so pervasive and simple that they require less organisational preparedness;

• have novelty value, as they are the latest technology trend (and can motivate both teachers and learners to use); and

• provide the highest speed (quickness) in terms of access to latest information and knowledge from anywhere, anytime.

Guidelines: PICTURE This!Guidelines: PICTURE This!• P – plan purposefully• I – identify learners’ needs• C – choose media• T – technology implementation• U – user manuals• R – run the system• E – evaluate performance and outcomes

Training has in-build Success

PlanningPlanning• to provide access to learning materials and resources

anytime, anywhere;

• to improve teacher-learner and learner-learner interaction;

• to interact with the learning materials and resources such as self-tests;

• to provide administrative information about schedules, calendar, programme information, grades and results;

• to provide motivational messages and guidance; and

• to provide opportunities to undertake fieldwork and context-sensitive projects in specific courses.

Identify needsIdentify needsStatic Info Dynamic

info

Non-interactive (broadcast)

Last date of submission of assignmentsLast date of filling examination formsCancellation of a counselling session

Tips, news, etc.Podcast lecturesVideo

Interactive (query)

Eligibility in a programme of studyGrade in assignment and term end examination

Teleconference, Chatting, Discussion Games

Choice of mediaChoice of media• Text-based (through SMS)

• Audio (through podcasting)

• Video (as MMS or download)

• Animation and games (through download)

Technology implementationTechnology implementation• Appropriate system analysis• Using exiting digital resources

(adopt/adapt)• Use proven systems such as Moodle Mobile

(MOMO)• User testing

User manualsUser manualsThree types of user manuals should be made

Available:

(1) For systems engineers and administrators

(2) For teachers and support staff

(3) For learners and public users.

Run the systemRun the system• Round-the-clock support• Commitment on the part of teachers and

support staff• Collective decision-making on design and

development effort• Updating of the relevant databases in the

system regularly

EvaluationEvaluation• Technology; and• Expected outcomes

And, finally…And, finally…

Training for success