mLearningKris Rockwell

Hybrid Learning Systems

What am I going to talk about?

• What is mLearning?• What is an mLearning device?• Why do I (you) care?• Content for Mobile Devices• What may be ahead?• What can we do?

“Learning that happens across locations, or that takes advantage of learning opportunities

offered by portable technologies.”mLearning, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Learning with portable technologies, where the focus is on the technology (which could be in a fixed location, such as a

classroom); learning across contexts, where the focus is on the mobility of the learner, interacting with portable or fixed technology; and learning in a mobile society, with a focus on

how society and its institutions can accommodate and support the learning of an increasingly mobile population that is not satisfied with existing learning methodologies.”

mLearning, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Let’s try to narrow it down…

• Learning information delivered to and presented on a mobile device

• Information that can be accessed on-demand or presented “Just In Time”

• Content accessed in an offline format• Content that MAY report information to a

learning management system

According to Gartner Research, worldwide smartphone sales are expected to reach 1.28 billion units this year, an

11 percent hike over 2007's 1.15 billion devices sold.Wi-fiplanet.com

Mobile Learning Devices

• Hand held devices, running on batteries that provide some form of network access

• Lower processing power than traditional laptop or desktop computers

• Instant or “always on” functionality• Extended battery life

eBook Readers

• E-ink technology duplicates the experience of reading a paper book

• Limited network or wifi access in most cases• Battery life of 12+ hours• Very limited processor

power• Very limited input

methods

Mobile Internet Devices

• Devices that provide access to the internet viawireless connectivity

• Usually provide some form of multimedia support

• Two to Six hour battery life, limited input functionality

• Moderate computing power• Expandable storage capacity

Mobile Gaming Devices

• Devices that provide access to the internet viawireless connectivity

• Two to Six hour battery life, limited input functionality

• Strong computing power• Powerful graphics engines• Expandable storage capacity

Mobile Phones/Smart Phones

• Small screens, limited text input capabilities in some cases

• Long battery life• Limited multimedia capabilities

except for smartphones• Wireless access via wifi or EDGE/3G• Low cost and global reach• Low end of the computing spectrum

“Why do I care?” Kris Rockwell, for the purposes of this presentation

“We think the mobile internet is the dominant driving force in the industry.” Chris Shloeffer from T-Mobile Germany

Mobile Device Ubiquity

• Cell phone and smartphones are everywhere• Platforms are becoming more robust and the

devices are becoming more powerful• Device cost is going down• Younger generations are becoming more

dependant and more familiar with mobile culture

• Devices are becoming a “lifestyle statement”

“"Consumers like smartphones because open platform[s] mean bigger development

communities and a better ease of use." ” Carolina Milanesi, The Gartner Group

Device Platforms

• Devices continue to develop based on bigger, more open (in most cases) platforms

• Open platforms spur large development communities and broad support

• More powerful devices can support more powerful software (more on this later)

• Faster network components allow for more robust content

What about the content? or: “How I learned to love the 1996 internet standards (sort of)”

(With respect to Stanley Kubrick)

Rethinking Content

• Mobile content suffers from many caveats– Wide variety of device types– Small device screens and resolutions– Low power device processors– Limited bandwidth– Limited browser functionalities– Shorter user attention spans

It’s All About the Context

• Understanding the user can help you define the content

• Consider the “two minute lesson”• Job aids and support• Short refresher courses• Assessments and “on-the-go” exams

Simplifying the View

• A reduction in the uses of images– Small screens are hard to see

• Text based information in short pieces• Simple, basic HTML content is suitable• Limited, if any, multimedia files• Basic interactions that utilize one of two “soft

buttons”

Possible Strategies

• Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) based content• XML based content– On the go content generation accessible over

existing networks– Simple content rendered using XSLT

• Possibility of a mobile SCORM/AICC player• Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA)

• DITA Document viewer for mobile devices

• Server-based application• Works with mobile browsers

that have AJAX support• Open Source software• http://monkeywrench.hybrid-

learning.com/

And then I saw this…The Future of mobile devices

Enter the iPhone

• Mobile devices are taking a quantum leap forward in power and functionality

• Devices are becoming integral parts of life• Information is becoming easier to access in a

quicker more robust manner• Input methods are becoming more intuitive• Content that runs on a desktop PC can run on

a mobile phone

The “I can’t believe it” App

X-Plane on the iPhone

A full fledged, 3D flight simulator

The Google Effect

• In November 2007 Google unveiled“Android”, it’s mobile phoneplatform

• Open, Java based programming platform available under the Apache free-software

• Coincided with the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) to develop open standards for mobile phones

Improved Platforms

• New devices offer better opportunities and lifecycles

• “Field Refresh” capabilities allow for a longer lifespan

• Expanded device ecosystems build better relationships between vendors, operators and providers

• Larger infrastructure for easier distribution

What Can We Do?

• Recommended device standards• Content guidelines• Case studies and scenarios• Player guidelines• LMS integration scenarios• Mobile track at an upcoming meeting

Questions/Comments

Kris RockwellHybrid Learning Systems

kris.rockwell@hybrid-learning.comTel. 1 724 628 6800

www.hybrid-learning.com