DRAFT mLearn 2006 Program Outline

Note:  This is a draft program . The final program will be included in the registration package at the conference.

Breakout Room #3 Baron Shaughnessy room:
Workshop C
Mobile Learning: How Can Educators Make Their Own, Media-Rich Materials?
Presenter: Geoff Stead and Jo Colley
Tribal CTAD
United Kingdom

Abstract

Across the world, more and more organisations are recognising the benefits of using mobile learning (m-learning). Results of trialling in the UK are unequivocal: mobile learning works! It empowers; it reaches learners that are being left behind; it offers new facets to your personal learning blend.

So why is it taking so long to become mainstream?

• The devices are there – for the same price as a very average camera I can own a powerful, multimedia handheld computer.
• The research evidence is there – for five years, educators have been evolving successful models, and sharing their experiences at conferences such as MLearn2006.

But where are the learning resources?

One of the reasons for slow mainstreaming is a lack of relevant learning resources: there are just not enough to satisfy the needs of learners. Currently there are two main approaches to creating mobile materials: (1) The best materials are developed specifically for mobile devices by technical developers. However, this takes time and money, is hard to scale up, and is beyond the reach of most educators. (2) Other types of resource can be exported from PC formats in a number of ways, but they suffer from being too generic. More resources can be created quickly and at less cost this way, but they don’t fully exploit the particular features and capabilities of mobile devices.

The answer is surely to combine the best features of both approaches: technical developers can develop shells and engines for mobile devices, incorporating best practice in mobile interactivity; educators can then use editing tools to populate these shells with their own learning, and distribute personalised learning resources to all their mobile learners. Geoff, Jo Colley and their team in Cambridge, UK, have been doing exactly that. They have been involved in over 70 different mobile learning trials in the last few years. Well over 1000 learners have contributed their time, taken part in the learning and given their feedback, informing the design of these shells and engines. Since the beginning of 2006, smaller groups of learners and educators have been using some of these editing tools to create their own personalised mobile learning resources. The ‘Learning toolkit’ project with LSN (Learning and Skills Network) has provided valuable feedback on usability and best practice.

Geoff and Jo will demonstrate some of these editing tools, creating multimedia applications ‘on the fly’ and discussing key lessons learnt during the trialling, both of the editing tools and of the learning materials themselves.