Mobile Learning an Inclusive Approach

Alamdar Khan, Petter Karlstrom

• Teacher Training in Pakistan

• (LMS, Collaboration, Authentic Environment, Discussion forum, Social Media)

• Problem based learning

• Mobile Technologies

Background Multan, Layyah, Chakwal

MKFC eLearning Model

Research Problem

Challenges for Inclusion in Learning

•Internet access

•Remote living

•Mobility constraints

•Electricity shortfalls

Transactional distance

Picture Courtesy: Mr. Babar Maqbool

To investigate whether mobile technologies support the inclusion process in learning in the remote areas of Pakistan in terms of accessibility, usability, affordability and flexibility?

‘Ford and Leinonen (2009) have discovered a need for a new approach to develop a model to include technology in learning environment,

particularly in the developing world environment. The model needs to take into account issue of usability, accessibility and affordability’

Research Question

To explicate how mobile technologies affects flexibility, usability, affordability, and flexibility in e-learning in remote areas and to propose a learning model, which blends mobile technologies with existing eLearning system to make learning experience more interactive, inclusive and flexible.

Goal

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Accessibility: whether mobile technologies could enhance the access to learning contents and collaboration with teaching team in Sweden.

Usability: perceived utilization of mobile technologies and mobile itself.

Affordability: whether mobile technologies are cost effective regarding time and space.

Flexibility: whether mobile technologies provide flexibility regarding their daily life, interaction with school and working from anywhere anytime.

Criteria

Methodology

Survey

• Online questionnaire

• Interviews

Responses • ‘I feel its not irritating on getting messages on mobile phone; in my

point of view it is more valuable if receiving notices on phone.’

• ‘Not more then 50 messages’

• ‘Yes I download material and video's through my mobile and i feel its more easier to get materials through mobile phones sometimes while traveling in such areas there net is not easily available then mobile can give the full entertainment of learning though downloading.

• ‘It is expensive but not significantly that one cannot afford. But sometime there is difference of speed so one can prefer it to save time’.

• ‘Yes I publish posts and receive notices also. I feel to be well informed with this service’.

• ‘if I get more connection speed through mobile operator (like 3G) then I would prefer to use it even with a little higher cost’.

Responses continued… • ‘Long texts are always irritating and time consuming whether I read

them on normal phone or a smart-phone. Yes, I am using a smart-phone n I guess messages containing 2 to 3 hundred words are appropriate to read on mobile’.

• ‘I feel it is more safe if use personal mobile. Some time on shared environment when connecting to the internet in an internet cafe, hotspot or other public connection you could be opening yourself up to serious security issues’.

• ‘yes personal mobile is most suitable for access material because we set the pin code when we want to save the use of cell phone from other’.

• I’m using ufone Internet speed is very slow but I surf on mobile twice a week not more than that but when I will get good net speed I think I mostly surf net on mobile because it is very easy or accessible at anywhere’.

Results • Video conferencing enhances understanding about work

• Mobile technologies increase the sensation of personalized learning (one-to-one)

• More secure to access materials through mobile (shared environments, viruses, system crash)

• Easy to access materials on the move

• Mobile phones are more user friendly • Navigation is convenient through apps

• Mobile has longer battery times

• No significant cost difference to access Internet but rather speed

• Higher mobility cost • Reading messages and replying through mobiles is more convenient • SMS notifications through online social networks • 50 SMS per week

Recommendations • Precise communication with learners

• Information flow, 8-10 messages daily

• Video conferencing schedule

• Teachers feedback, comments, assignment reviews, reminders may be sent through mobiles

• Course contents compatibility with mobiles and Internet bandwidth (Digital Ecosystem)

• Native apps and Web apps

• Craigslist architecture for mLearning platform

• Anticipating the change, Smartphone and Tablets are on rise, hence this trend will increase the opportunities to reach learners

• Mobile broadband availability (3G) on rise

• Reaching learners through SMS

• UID (Universal Instruction Design)

• Hybrid learning model

Hybrid Learning Model

Thanks

alamdar@mkfc.se KhanAlamdar

Picture Courtesy: Ayesha Babar