Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends
in mobile learning
Prof Tom Brown
Institute for Open & Distance Learning
• The dedicated distance education institution of SA
• 13,793 staff (total head count)
o 6,009 academic staff (43.6%)
o 58.2% female
• Currently 351,357 students (total head count)
UNISA: some info & figures
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Currently 351,357 students (total head count)
UNISA: some info & figures
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
47.6% in the age group 20-29 72.2% African
62.8% female
33.6% in the age group 30-39
• Emerged towards the end of the previous millennium
Or maybe earlier…?
Some history around mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends
in mobile learning
• Emerged towards the end of the previous millennium
Or maybe earlier…?
Some history around mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
The Dynabook by Alan Kay in 1972…
• drawings and technical specs of a mobile learning device
• contexts of use
• wireless-linked collaborative simulations
Kay, A. C. (1972). A personal computer for children of all ages. In Proceedings of ACM National Conference. Boston: Association of Computing Machinery. http://www.mprove.de/diplom/gui/Kay72a.pdf
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Some history around mobile learning:
Kay, A.C. (1972)
http://www.mprove.de/diplom/gui/Kay72a.pdf
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Some history around mobile learning:
Kay, A.C. (1972)
• Emerged towards the end of the previous millennium
• A few pilot projects in the early 2000s, in developed as well
as developing countries
• Early research and academic discourse focused on defining
mobile learning
• First international "mLearn conference" in 2002 in
Birmingham, England
• IAmLearn founded in 2008
Some history around mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
So… what is mobile learning?
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Mobile learning is learning while mobile (what about a book
and pen / or while being static)
• Mobile learning refers to learning with mobile phones (what
about other devices)
• Mobile learning is all about the mobile device
(technology remains the enabler)
• mLearning is merely eLearning accessed through mobile
devices (not unique)
• Mobile learning is not possible in rural settings in developing
countries (e.g. rural Africa)
Misperceptions about mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Mobile learning is only applicable to DE and not to F2F class
activities
• If I go mobile learning it means all my course material and
coursework needs to be accessed and completed on a
mobile device
• You can use your existing learning materials, learning
environment design and teaching/learning methodologies
Misperceptions about mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Mobile learning is only applicable to DE and not to F2F class
activities
• If I go mobile learning it means all my course material and
coursework needs to be accessed and completed on a
mobile device
• You can use your existing learning materials, learning
environment design and teaching/learning methodologies •
• Let us move past these misperceptions…!!
Misperceptions about mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
David Parsons (2014):
"To ensure that future mLearning systems meet their full
potential, it is necessary that our understanding of mLearning
encompasses all of its unique characteristics, and that we
recognise that any form of learning that takes place using a
mobile device is mLearning, whether on the move or static,
whether in formal or informal settings, whether working
collaboratively or alone."
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Towards defining mLearning:
• Admin support and motivational messages through SMS
• Quizzes and exercises on basic phones (SMS and WAP)
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Nokia MoMaths: • Nokia, SA Presidency, DHET, DST, Meraka), NBA, MML (Pearson),
MXit, SPs and some experts (started in 2008)
• First pilot in 2009/2010 was on basic phones for 260 grade 10
learners in Gauteng, the North West and the Western Cape
• Nokia MoMaths has reached 150 schools with around 14,000
students actively using the service.
• Nokia and DST took it forward in 2011/2012: browser-based and
works on any phone, tablet or PC.
• 10,000 exercises: practice problems in categories like finance,
trigonometry, calculus and statistics. Background theory, examples
of solved problems, engage with others.
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Nokia MoMaths 2:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOdMOovXxbM
Nokia MoMaths:
https://momaths.nokia.com/za/m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=iOdMOovXxbM
Opportunities that mobile
learning provides:
• Admin support and motivational messages through SMS
• Quizzes and exercises on basic phones (SMS and WAP)
• Audio-rich language learning (record & playback,
pronunciation guidance)
• Audio-visual affordances (audio, video, imaging, etc.)
• Contextual and situated learning (e.g. fieldwork)
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Fieldwork 3:45 http://vimeo.com/uwmli
• Admin support and motivational messages through SMS
• Quizzes and exercises on basic phones (SMS and WAP)
• Audio-visual affordances (audio, video, imaging, etc.)
• Audio-rich language learning (record & playback,
pronunciation guidance)
• Contextual and situated learning (e.g. fieldwork)
• Location awareness and GPS (e.g. museums, cities, travel)
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Admin support and motivational messages through SMS
• Quizzes on very basic phones (SMS and WAP based)
• Audio-visual affordances (audio, video, imaging, etc.)
• Audio-rich language learning (record & playback,
pronunciation guidance)
• Contextual and situated learning (e.g. fieldwork)
• Location awareness and GPS (e.g. museums, cities, travel)
• Simulations and gaming (serious games / edu-gaming)
• Augmented reality and immersive presence (digital objects
are related to physical objects)
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Augmented reality 1:38
http://daqri.com/project/anatomy-4d/
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Collaborative learning and interactivity
• Social constructivism e.g. class-sourcing (crowd-sourcing)
(Gleb Tsipursky, 2013)
• Integrating formal and informal learning
• Social media affordances
• Personalised learning and personal learning environments
• Personal publishing and sharing
• "Measure, analyse, capture, publish, organise, evaluate,
communicate"
Opportunities that mobile learning provides:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Alan Livingston (2004):
"Smartphones and other mobile devices are the Swiss Army
Knives of the 21st Century"
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Resource-rich mobile learning for rural students
• Connectivity costs and data costs
• Smart device ownership (smartphones and tablets)
• Digital literacy (and digital fluency)
• Inertia of academics/educators for "small screens"
• Technical support
• BYOD
• Software enabling seamless ubiquitous learning
• The content-driven paradigm…
Some challenges:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Seymour Papert (2013):
"You can't teach people everything they need to know. The
best you can do is position them where they can find what they
need to know when they need to know it."
Brown (2006):
"We should move away from providing content per se to
learners. We should focus on coaching learners to find,
identify, manipulate and evaluate information and knowledge,
to integrate this knowledge in their world of work and life, to
solve problems and to communicate this knowledge to others."
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• Personalised and contextual learning in pervasive settings
• "Class"-sourced and expert/lecturer reviewed learning
resources
• Resource-rich learning environments
• Wearable technologies and bio-technology
Future trends for mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Future mobile devices 2:39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsvaFbc9_i4
Future trends for mobile learning:
• Personalised and contextual learning in pervasive settings
• Class-sourced and expert/lecturer reviewed learning
resources
• Resource-rich learning environments
• Wearable technologies and bio-technology
• Seamless integration of technologies for true ubiquitous
learning
• Free Wi-Fi (public areas, public transport - soon even in rural
areas in developing countries)
Future trends for mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
• More simulations and augmented reality
• Comprehensive/complex mobile learning apps
• Edu-gaming (beyond simulations and serious gaming)
Future trends for mobile learning:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Jay Cross (2013):
"As much as I love my laptop, that is not the way world is going
to learn. They are going to learn on tablets and phones. Better
be on board or miss the train."
• Navigationism and connectivism (beyond constructivism and
social constructivism) [see Brown (2006) & Siemens (2004)]
• Sage-on-the-stage > guide-on-the-side > coach-in-touch
Future learning paradigms:
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Brown (2006):
"Teachers and educators should become the source of how to
navigate in the ocean of available technology, information and
knowledge. We should become coaches and mentors within
the knowledge and digital era."
Ray Kurzweil (2013):
"Mobile phones are misnamed. They should be called
gateways to knowledge."
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Thank You
Prof Tom Brown
Institute for Open & Distance Learning
Brown, T.H. (2006) Beyond constructivism: Navigationism in the knowledge era. On the Horizon, Volume 14 No 3, 2006, Emerald Group Publishing limited, Bradford, United Kingdom.
Cross, J. (2013) Quote blogged by Garg, A. (2013) 21 Inspiring Quotes & Thoughts On Mobile Learning. http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/20/21-inspiring-quotes-thoughts-on-mobile-learning/
Kurzweil, R. (2013) Quote blogged by Garg, A. (2013) 21 Inspiring Quotes & Thoughts On Mobile Learning. http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/20/21-inspiring-quotes-thoughts-on-mobile-learning/
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
References:
Kay, A. C. (1972). A personal computer for children of all ages. In Proceedings of ACM National Conference. Boston: Association of Computing Machinery. http://www.mprove.de/diplom/gui/Kay72a.pdf
Livingston, A.K. (2004). Smartphones and other mobile devices: the Swiss Army Knives of the 21st Century. Educause Quarterly, 27(2):46-52, 2004, Educause, USA.
Papert, S.A. (2013) Quote blogged by Garg, A. (2013) 21 Inspiring Quotes & Thoughts On Mobile Learning. http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/20/21-inspiring-quotes-thoughts-on-mobile-learning/
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Parsons, D. (2014). The Future of Mobile Learning and Implications for Education and Training. In Ally, M. & Tsinakos, A., Editors (2014). Perspectives on Open and Distance Learning: Increasing access through mobile learning. Published by the Commonwealth of Learning and Athabasca University, Vancouver, Canada.
Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Paper available online at eLearnspace: http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
DAQRI Anatomy 4D: http://daqri.com/project/anatomy-4d/#.U-2_MPmSwnI
Future mobile devices – Must have future gadgets 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsvaFbc9_i4
Nokia MoMaths:
https://momaths.nokia.com/za/m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOdMOovXxbM
University of Wisconsin, Mobile Learning Incubator (UWMLI): https://github.com/UWMLI
UWMLI Fieldwork-gaming, birding:
http://vimeo.com/uwmli
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
Video clips:
Role Changes in education
Past Present Future
Role Player Knowledge Adoption Era
Knowledge Production Era
Knowledge Navigation Era
Learner knowledge
adoption knowledge
production knowledge
navigation
Teacher instruction learning
facilitation coaching and
mentoring
Instructional Designer
design of instruction
reduction of content
design of learning facilitation and learning activities
re-/configuration of knowledge
design of coaching and navigation activities
configuration of navigation tools
Information Specialist
information gathering and provision
knowledge provision
information configuration
knowledge management
information facilitation
sense making
Brown (2006)
Mobile learning as we approach the middle of the 21st century is just part of life. The old model of
educational institutions has withered away, with learning now a lifelong, pervasive experience, delivered via
the practically invisible devices that I have with me day and night, the personal network that delivers
information to my eyes, ears and other senses, the e-glasses, the flexible smart-touch screen that folds into
a small case but expands to poster size and will stick to or project onto any surface. These devices
seamlessly connect and collaborate with ambient technologies in the environment. For example, in my
informal learning activities related to photography, my camera will scan for nearby 3D printers to create
models from my 3D photos. For my interest in literature, scenes from books play out in front of me if I
happen to enter a location used by one of my favoured authors. For somewhat more formal learning, I
attend immersive virtual reality classes whenever I want, mixing my avatar with those of other virtual
students and both real and robot instructors.
I learn when I need to, where I want to. When I am at work, I have professional learning support with me at
all times, guiding me in new situations, online Artificial Intelligence systems reacting to my ever-changing
contexts and giving me expert task and problem-solving support. I have all the knowledge ever gathered
available in an instant, tailored to my own learning profiles and preferences, quality controlled by the world’s
best minds. Not that I am just bombarded with data. The mobile learning systems that I use are able to help
me filter the huge amount of data in the computer cloud, assisting me in making meaning out of a mass of
information, working with my own goals, learning styles and changing moods and activities to ensure that
the material I am exposed to will help me learn rather than overwhelm me. As a mid 21st-century learner, I
am never lost, never alone, never unsupported,
never not learning.
David Parsons (2014) - the future of mLearning
Beyond the misperceptions -
towards new trends in mobile learning
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