Future Mobile Learning

Last week in a workshop on mobile learning I was looking for something interesting in that difficult time right after lunch. So I decided to talk about where mobile is going and thus additional opportunities for mobile learning. There was quite a bit of interest, so I uploaded it to SlideShare and in less than a week have had over 2,000 views and some great comments, but no additional suggestions.

What did I miss? Please add other projects in the comments.

Future Mobile Learning (29 August 2011)

You may also be interested in a presentation on changing technology in education which I gave in July 1996 in which I also talked about mobile.

Changing Technology from 1996

View more presentations from Judy Brown

Mobile Learning Jam Reflections

Last week in San Jose I was pleased to participate at DevLearn in the Mobile Learning Jam. Thanks to Jay Cross for taking this picture and posting it on Flickr.

For two days plus there were 15 sessions -- in addition to 9 regular conference sessions -- all about mobile learning. At times the noise and commotion in the hall area made it difficult to hear and the afternoon sun caused some attendees to get out their sunglasses inside, but there was considerable interest. The questions and comments from the attendees was awesome. All in all it was very tiring, but lots of fun!

I was involved in 7 sessions plus 3 breakfast byte discussions. One of the sponsors, OnPoint Digital created a mobile app for the Mobile Learning Jam materials. If you have a mobile device and want to take a look at the app and all the presentations on your mobile, go to http://mlj.mlearning.com and self-register. You will receive an email with instructions specific to your device.

Several attendees also requested that the slides be posted online so that they can share them with their co-workers, so I have posted PDFs of the following sessions:

• Overview of Mobile Learning – Who is Doing What?
• Getting Started with Mobile Learning Planning Session with Austin Winters, Microsoft
• Mobile Learning in Government and Military - Mark Friedman and Jason Haag
• Discussion of Mobile Learning Standards, or Lack Thereof with Mark Friedman and Jason Haag
• Tools for Mobile Learning Examined
• Mobile Learning Examples Examined
• Future Directions in Mobile Learning: A Look at New Technologies and Potential

There is also a document with lots of resources available here.

Thanks to The eLearning Guild for their support, the sponsors Intuition and OnPoint Digital, the other presenters and to the attendees. You were all great!

Learning 2009 Audience Response

Last week at Elliott Masie's Learning 2009 in Orlando, Elliott asked the group of about 1300 learning professions to respond to a question on their audience response pads. The question involved over hyped learning categories:

I was very pleased that mobile learning was in a class with performance support and user generated content. Learning professionals are beginning to understand the importance of mobile access to learning and support at the time and place of need.

Spacing Effect for Mobile Learning

For some time I have been reviewing research on the spacing effect of learning for maximum recollection. This research has been documented for over 100 years. In the past with teaching at specific times and places, this has been difficult and expensive to implement, but today with ubiquitous communication devices in our pockets and purses, it is easy to accomplish.

Dr. Will Thalheimer has been reviewing the literature and writing about the spacing effect for some time. See Spacing Learning Over Time: A Research Based Secret from the June 2007 ASTD Annual Conference.

Several mobile learning products have integrated the capability to send reminders and spaced knowledge checks, but they have not been implemented to any degree yet.

SpacedEd has a Beta site called Addictive Learning That Sticks using the research on the spacing effect. You can also view their list of frequently asked questions or check out the peer-reviewed research behind spaced education in their Research section.

This is how SpacedEd has structures their materials:

• Each learner receives 2 questions every day via email.
• If a question is answered incorrectly, it will be repeated 1 week later.
• If a question is answered correctly, it will be repeated 3 weeks later.
• If a question is answered correctly two times in a row, the item is retired from the course and is no longer repeated.
• The learner completes the course when all of the questions are retired (answered correctly twice in a row).

Today MIT's Technology Review ran a story An App so You'll Never Forget: Adaptive-learning algorithms calculate how often people need to see information to remember it about a new iPhone app based in Tokyo called Smart.fm.

Spaced learning is one application of mobile learning that will grow in importance as we open our eyes to the additional capabilities afforded by using mobile devices.

Mobile Learning Tools #2

In January I posted a listing of tools for mobile learning and received some great comments. (Thank you)

Now I am working on presentations and workshops for upcoming conferences this Fall and Winter and have been updating a much longer listing. I know that there are several missing in the content and K-12 areas, but what else? Are you using any tools for mobile learning development or deployment that are not listed on this new listing? If so, please leave a comment below. Thank you in advance.

I hope to meet many of you in person at the upcoming conferences.

iPods in the Classroom

Just discovered a publication with lots of good information and suggestions for using iPods in the classroom. Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More technology

Types of Mobile Learning

Most conversations about mobile learning I have had recently seem to start with the assumptions that mobile learning is e-learning on small screens. Although it can be that, it is so much more!

Mobile learning can occur in the classroom, during an online course or anywhere the learner has their mobile device. He/she does not even have to be mobile. It is not about the device, but about the connectivity, capabilities and experience. Access through mobile devices should be a choice and a part of the total learning environment.

I believe that we are at the beginning of discovering all the possibilities and benefits and have started a list of opportunities today. What did I miss? Please add your comments.

Mobile Learning Opportunities
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Is "Mobile" Limiting Our Discussions?

Lots more mobile learning discussions this week... On Monday I presented at the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association Conference, Tuesday and Wednesday attended the Design4Mobile Conference virtually as well as attending the Mobile Learning Innovation: Healthcare Leads The Way webinar by Ambient Insight, and on Thursday discussed mobile learning on the Masie Consortium call (with over 250 registered participants.)

Starting the discussion of mobile learning is often difficult because of existing perceptions about what it is, let along what it can be. With the K-12 audience it tends to be more about policies that prohibit the devices, than about the potential of having ubiquitous digital access to the world.

Most people unfortunately think of mobile learning--or mlearning--as elearning on a small screen. I think that a definition of “learning at the point of need” used by Dr. Conrad Gottfredson and Bob Mosher may make more sense.

Should we drop the word mobile? Is it keeping us from discovering the potential?

I depend upon my always-available, always-on mobile devices throughout the day whether I am on the road or in my office, and continue to find more benefits. We are carrying a powerful multimedia computer in our pockets and purses. Isn't it really more about the capabilities, availability, connectivity, useful applications, and convenience?

The power of always-available access to learning materials for review, expert assistance, updates on what I have already learned, or new learning when I need it (or can find the time) can’t be underestimated.

What do you think, should we come up with another term for this powerful continuous learning tool? Would that help to change the discussions about the potential for the future? Please leave your comments below.