March Madness

No, I am not talking about basketball, but mobile learning sessions in March.

Starting with the ELI 2010 Online Spring Focus Session—Mobile Learning 2.0: The Next Phase of Innovation in Mobility on March 3–4, 2010, this has been a very busy month for presentations with growing interest in mobile learning. Educause ELI has posted all the presentations, discussions and materials from the 2-day sessions here. I was honored to present the opening keynote session and attended most of the other sessions. It was a very well run event with excellent questions and discussions. Check out the post event resources.

Next week I will be in Orlando for the eLearningGuild's Learning Solutions conference. I will be presenting on Wednesday at 4:00 and will be facilitating a breakfast bytes discussion on mobile learning that morning at 7:15. I hope to see you there.

February Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. Yes, mobile moodle for iPhone is eminent, we will release open source code soon- Ignatia Webs, February 25, 2010
2. Modern Technology and the Return of Oral Communication- The Mobile Learner, February 27, 2010
3. New Report Reinforces Mobile Learning is Best as Performance Support- mLearning is Good, January 31, 2010

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. BBC's education service Janala has delivered 1m lessons in three months | Media | guardian.co.uk, February 22, 2010
2. The iPad and its impact on m-learning., February 22, 2010

Hot Topics

Tools (22)

1. Sumo Paint: the free alternative for Photoshop, February 25, 2010
2. MASHe » Blog Archive » Mobile Learning: Some resources, tools and statistics, February 7, 2010
3. How to incorporate subtitles in a movie you are converting for mobile devices, February 8, 2010
4. Free mobile sms service getting to grips with bullying in schools: Bullyproof, February 11, 2010

January Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2010

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. Beware critics of Connectivism ! Or how I feel connectivism opens up content creation and access- Ignatia Webs, January 28, 2010
2. SCVNGR: Cell Phone Scavenger Hunt Builder!- Cell Phones in Learning, January 4, 2010
3. Digital Audiobooks, Assistive Technology and its Effects on Literacy- The Mobile Learner, January 17, 2010
4. mLearning Content Types - Level 1 Content- mLearning Trends, January 19, 2010
5. Web 4.0 works by nodes signaling each other and linking into patterns- Golden Swamp, January 2, 2010
6. My 8 learning predictions for 2010- Ignatia Webs, January 4, 2010
7. New Study: Texting Helps Children Learn to Spell.- Cell Phones in Learning, January 24, 2010

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. Keeping in touch | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, January 10, 2010

Hot Topics

RIM (7)

1. Picking the "Right" Smartphone for mLearning, January 10, 2010
2. My mLearning Predictions for 2010, January 2, 2010
3. My "Top Ten List" for Mobile Learning News in 2009, January 3, 2010
4. mLearning Content Types - Level 5: Courseware, January 26, 2010

SmartPhone (17)

1. Picking the "Right" Smartphone for mLearning, January 10, 2010
2. SCVNGR: Cell Phone Scavenger Hunt Builder!, January 4, 2010
3. mLearning Presentations using Google Docs, January 4, 2010
4. mLearning Content Types - Level 1 Content, January 19, 2010

Security (13)

1. Picking the "Right" Smartphone for mLearning, January 10, 2010
2. 2010 Horizon Report on emerging technologies' impact on education is out, January 17, 2010
3. My mLearning Predictions for 2010, January 2, 2010
4. mLearning Content Types - Level 5: Courseware, January 26, 2010

Apple (18)

1. Keeping in touch | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, January 10, 2010
2. mLearning Content Types - Level 6: Rich Media, January 27, 2010
3. Picking the "Right" Smartphone for mLearning, January 10, 2010
4. My mLearning Predictions for 2010, January 2, 2010

Android (11)

1. lff10 Androids in Africa by Nick Short, January 8, 2010
2. mLearning Presentations using Google Docs, January 4, 2010
3. My mLearning Predictions for 2010, January 2, 2010
4. Picking the "Right" Smartphone for mLearning, January 10, 2010

2010 Forecasts

I intended to write a blog entry in late December with my predictions for mobile learning in 2010, but somehow never found the time. Since then I have since been reading some other predictions and think they covered most of what I would have said. Bottom line today is that the questions are no longer "why?" but "how?".

Mobile devices have certainly come into their own with champions and examples everywhere. I no longer feel that I am a single voice trying to convince of the importance of these ubiquitous capabilities to the future of learning.

In fact, Tech Crunch's Ten Technologies That Will Rock 2010, over half of them are mobile.

Following are a few of the blog predictions that I have noted (in no particular order):

From the eLearning coach - 2009 Technology Trends That Impact Online Learning

Mobile Technologies
This year set the stage for a more robust mobile learning space, where limitations in access, power and speed had to be overcome. Due to more powerful mobile data networks, ubiquitous access to wireless, mobile tools that work across platforms and more smart phones and devices that are Flash ready, many types of learning can be set free from the personal computer. More organizations are exploring mobile learning to provide just-in-time resources and learning objects to an increasingly mobile and virtual workforce.

From Forrester Insight and research - Key Learning Trends for 2010: Are You Onboard?

Expect mobile learning to increase. There's been talk about learning from the handheld devices for years but I think we are close to realizing learning on-the-go. One issue is around a mobile standard for learning content. Each mobile device displays content differently and creating content for each device is unrealistic. Projects are under way that address this hurdle. The other question is about content appropriate for the handheld device. Certainly, a learner is not going to take a long in-depth course from a mobile device. Rather, assessments, simple graphical charts, and short pieces of learning without heavy text seem best suited for formal mobile learning.

From Jeanne Meister New Learning Playbook - Five Words To Describe Corporate Learning in 2010

Mobile: The same-time, same-place model of learning will slowly disappear, as corporate learners look to mobile devices for their learning. In a number of countries, there are now more mobiles than people. For example, as of 2009, for every 100 individuals in the United Kingdom there were 123.64 mobile subscriptions. Global System For Mobile Communications projects that by 2012, there will be 4.5 billion mobile subscriptions out of a global population of 7 billion. Already, several financial service firms such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo are exploring using mobile phones to deliver compliance training, product training and performance support/on-the-job aids.

From Learning Solutions Magazine by Bill Brandon - 2010 Predictions

Mobile learning
This is another area that may have suffered a bit from over-exposure. Regardless, given the rapid adoption and evolution of smart phones, the move to mobile platforms as a significant learning environment is only a matter of time. One damper on progress has been the diversity and incompatibility of devices, and the lack of Flash on one of them, but this is becoming less of a problem as browser-based applications become available. By the end of 2010, m-Learning will be well-established as a delivery option.

From Saba: Mobile Learning Becomes Wide-Spread Reality

6. Mobile learning has finally come of age
We have been talking about mobile learning for many years and, in our opinion, the platforms have finally emerged to make this a broad-based reality. Today's mobile devices are used to access a huge variety of applications and content types. Learning, connecting, and exchanging expertise will emerge across a wide range of mobile devices.

From E-Learning Queen - New Directions and a New Decade for E-Learning: 12 Predictions

Mobile learning integrated into online courses for anytime, any place data access
Ubiquitous learning is gaining speed as the watchword of the new decade. Any place, any time, and -- this is most important -- any device -- will be key.

Don't miss the long list of predictions for mobile learning from Robert Gadd at mLearning Trends - My mLearning Predictions for 2010. The list is much too long for me to include here, but right on target.

December Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

December 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. iPods in Education Part 13: Uses in Kindergarten?- The Mobile Learner, December 23, 2009
2. PhD thesis on tagging learning resources in a multilangual context- Ignatia Webs, December 21, 2009
3. Signaling cells show education how to use online resources- Golden Swamp, December 25, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. innovating education, December 10, 2009
2. Google Goggles will rock m-learning., December 7, 2009
3. Mobile Commons Powers Wikipedia’s Text-to-Donate Campaign, December 1, 2009

Hot Topics

BlackBerry (9)

1. Pontydysgu – Bridge to Learning » Blog Archive » Google Goggles – an important tool for mobile work based learning?, December 10, 2009
2. Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: St. Marys City Schools In Ohio, Verizon Wireless And GoKnow! Bring Wireless Technology To The Classroom, December 17, 2009
3. The promise of Mobile Learning is real…but it may not be what you thought it was. |, December 10, 2009
4. Learning Technology: Mobile Learning, December 9, 2009

Mobile Phone (18)

1. Google Goggles will rock m-learning., December 7, 2009
2. Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: St. Marys City Schools In Ohio, Verizon Wireless And GoKnow! Bring Wireless Technology To The Classroom, December 17, 2009
3. innovating education, December 10, 2009
4. How Mobile Cell Phones Change Everything When We Do - Ewan McIntosh | Digital Media & Education, December 15, 2009

Ipod Touch (10)

1. iPods in Education Part 13: Uses in Kindergarten?, December 23, 2009
2. How Mobile Cell Phones Change Everything When We Do - Ewan McIntosh | Digital Media & Education, December 15, 2009
3. Flux » Articles | Mobile Learning lessons from Further Education, December 12, 2009
4. PLAYBACK: Why Educators Should Embrace Texting, Tweeting and All That Mobile Technology Has to Offer » Spotlight, December 17, 2009

Education (33)

1. iPods in Education Part 13: Uses in Kindergarten?, December 23, 2009
2. innovating education, December 10, 2009
3. Cell Phones in Education Part 4: Learning on Location, December 6, 2009
4. How Mobile Cell Phones Change Everything When We Do - Ewan McIntosh | Digital Media & Education, December 15, 2009

Articles (17)

1. Flux » Articles | Mobile Learning lessons from Further Education, December 12, 2009
2. iPods in Education Part 13: Uses in Kindergarten?, December 23, 2009
3. innovating education, December 10, 2009
4. PhD thesis on tagging learning resources in a multilangual context, December 21, 2009

November Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Best of Mobile Learning

November 1, 2009 to November 30, 2009

Featured Sources

The following are the top items from featured sources based on social signals.

1. eLearning report: Review of Learning 2.0 Practices by Christine Redecker- Ignatia Webs, November 19, 2009
2. The Powerful Combination of Mobile Devices and Learning Apps- The Mobile Learner, November 15, 2009
3. Spacing Effect for Mobile Learning- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, November 3, 2009
4. Lynda.com courses compatible with iPhone and iPod- Golden Swamp, November 19, 2009
5. PBS Kids go Mobile!- Cell Phones in Learning, November 6, 2009
6. Recent Mobile books for your mLearning pleasure- Ignatia Webs, November 24, 2009
7. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List- The Mobile Learner, November 10, 2009
8. Mobile Learning Jam Reflections- mLearnopedia on Blogspot, November 17, 2009
9. The scarcity of learning sources is contrived, the best stuff is free.- Golden Swamp, November 12, 2009
10. Android mLearning project- in Brisbane, Queensland (in today’s courier mail)- uLearning Blog, November 3, 2009
11. European report on 'The Impact of Social Computing on the EU Information Society and Economy' also mobile social media- Ignatia Webs, November 26, 2009

Other Sources

The following are the top items based on social signals.

1. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
2. The Genie in the Bottle: Unleashing the hidden power of personal mobile devices for learning (November 2009), November 10, 2009

Hot Topics

iPhone (19)

1. Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps, November 4, 2009
2. Lynda.com courses compatible with iPhone and iPod, November 19, 2009
3. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List, November 10, 2009
4. Mobile Libraries: ACU > Chemistry Labs, Classes Combine Science With Mobile Learning, November 26, 2009

Ipod Touch (10)

1. Mobile Learning: constructing a themed approach | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 29, 2009
2. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
3. How to do mLearning Research | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 3, 2009
4. October Hot List: Mobile Learning Content, November 3, 2009

Apple (10)

1. Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps, November 4, 2009
2. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
3. Mobile Learning: constructing a themed approach | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 29, 2009
4. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009

Augmented (9)

1. Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources, November 2, 2009
2. Mobile Learning: A 3rd Reading List, November 10, 2009
3. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
4. October Hot List: Mobile Learning Content, November 3, 2009

Convergence (5)

1. LearnTrends Live: Mobile Learning, November 18, 2009
2. The Future Of Learning Design, November 23, 2009
3. Mobile phones as cultural resources for learning | Personalising Learning with the iPod Touch, November 18, 2009
4. Miss Sophie Mac: QR codes and the mobile web, November 18, 2009

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.

Over 100,000 iPhone/iPod Apps

Apple just announced that the app store has surpassed 100,000 apps.

"Apple® today announced that developers have created over 100,000 apps for the revolutionary App Store, the largest applications store in the world. iPhone® and iPod touch® customers in 77 countries can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. App Store users have downloaded well over two billion apps, continuing to make it the world’s most popular applications store."

Because of the sheer volume of apps, it is getting harder and harder to locate good education and training apps. I am currently exploring a new iPhone app released yesterday entitled Chorus.

"Chorus is an intuitive, fun and easy way to connect with friends to see the apps they're using, which apps they rate highly, and to stay up-to-date on the hottest new apps available. Now available for iPhone and iPod touch®, Chorus features real-time feeds from your designated friends, displaying the apps they are downloading, and what they are saying about them. You save time and money by viewing what your friends bought, and what they think about them, before you buy or download."

I'd love for us to build a group of "friends" from the learning community to share our findings. If you are looking at educational apps for the iPhone (and other devices) why not join me there? (Judy Brown)

Mobile Industry Count

Gary Hayes has created a very interesting mobile count widget shown below.

I have been amazed at the phenomenal growth in the mobile industry and this just gives you a taste of the speed. (Note that the numbers shown are since you loaded this page.) The source articles and statistics are listed here.