mLearning-World.com

mLearning Book to Blog

2011-06-28T12:52:00.003-11:00

Sometimes you have to make one of those decisions. I've been working on an mLearning book for several years now but life takes its twists and turns and I have files upon files of notes with no time to put it together. I've decided I'm simply going to share them with the world. Especially that through various corporate mergers and job shifts, I no longer have an mLearning focus (albeit it is still a small part of the job).

As time permits, over the next year I'll be sharing 101 Ways to go Mobile with your Learning!

These aren't your typical studies on what content development tools or LMS integration strategies you get in many mLearning books out there. Instead, these are practical solutions that you can implement tomorrow with no help from any technical support.

As a side note, although I want to keep this blog, I am considering selling the top level domain mLearning-World.com and 2mLearn.mobi. I really don't have a need for them at this time and the .com has first page level Google rankings for various eLearning and mLearning search terms. If you are interested (serious only) drop me an email at mobilelearn@gmail.com

Training Top 125 No. 3: Verizon Connects to Success | trainingmag.com

2011-02-26T08:28:00.000-10:00

Congratulations to my team for once again being recognized as one of the best in the world at what we do.

Training Top 125 No. 3: Verizon Connects to Success | trainingmag.com

MLearning-World.com: Thanks Google

2010-12-14T13:56:00.000-10:00

MLearning-World.com: Thanks Google: "Big thanks to Google, they were able to restore mlearningworld.blogspot.com. Over the next few days I'll be able to redirect mlearning-world..."

Apple Loosens Development Restrictions on AppTech Developers Using Adobe Flash Tools

2010-11-04T03:39:00.002-10:00

HOUSTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- AppTech Corp. (Pink Sheets: APCX) www.apptechglobal.com reported today that Apple's recently announced policy of loosening restrictions on use of outside development tools should substantially assist AppTech in the execution of its plan to translate and port over iPhone apps to other operating systems, such as Google Android.

Eric Ottens, CEO of AppTech Corp. stated, "Apple's loosening its policies on the ability for app developers to utilize third party tools is a strong positive step for AppTech. Apple has been such a dominant player in the app market that the previous rules restricted AppTech's ability to speedily bring apps to market on Google Android and Symbian, which are popular systems in emerging markets such as Brazil and Latin America that we wish to penetrate. Apple's new policy will facilitate the opening of new markets for us and together with our technical partners, will expedite the implementation of the AppTech international marketing plans."

Read the rest here...

Hmmm.. could there be an Apple/Adobe truce on the horizon?

What I'm Reading

2010-10-14T09:48:00.001-10:00

I'm currently reading Gary Woodill's book, The Moble Learning Edge and I am finding this is an excellent resource for mLearning strategy development. Look for a review soon.

In the mean time, a big thanks to Gary for the plug for mLearning-World in this book.

Notre Dame launches eReader study, creates first paperless course

2010-09-09T12:19:00.001-11:00

“This has become known as the iPad class,” Corey Angst, assistant professor of management at the University of Notre Dame, told his students on their first day of class Aug. 24. “It’s actually not…it’s ‘Project Management.’”

A member of Notre Dame’s ePublishing Working Group, Angst is debuting the University’s first and only class taught using Apple’s new wireless tablet computer to replace traditional textbooks. The course is part of a unique, year-long Notre Dame study of eReaders, and Angst is conducting the first phase using iPads, which just went on sale to the public in April.

Read the full article here-

Commerical Break

2010-09-06T11:14:00.002-11:00

Longview Texas Piano Lessons

Longview Texas Voice Lessons

Rapid Prototyping For Mobile Learning Applications

2010-08-27T04:07:00.004-11:00

The Updside Learning Solutions blog has three great articles on rapid prototyping for Mobile Learning applications.

Part 1 covers the initial needs assessments and questions you should ask before beginning.

Part 2 explores the levels of fidelity and how to determine which level works for the mobile application design project.

Part 3 covers what to consider when choosing a prototyping tool.

mobileDot » Using Android to Launch Mobile Learning Content [Techie]

2010-07-16T14:06:00.000-11:00

Here is a great article by mobileDot on Using Android to Launch Mobile Learning Content [Techie]

eLearning Kindle eBook

2010-07-10T06:14:00.001-11:00

The best 99c you'll spend.

From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning: Speak Up 2009: The biggest Obstacle to Using Technology in Ed...Not Being Able to Use Student's Own Mobile Devices!

2010-07-09T03:26:00.000-11:00

Very interesting research has just been published by the Tomorrow Group (Speak Up 2009) about mobile phones and education. Here are a few highlights:

PARENTS SAY YES! 63% of parents say they would buy their child a cell phone if they knew it would be used for educational purposes.

ONLY 18% of parents dismiss mobile devices as not having a positive impact on learning.

Read the rest at:

From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning: Speak Up 2009: The biggest Obstacle to Using Technology in Ed...Not Being Able to Use Student's Own Mobile Devices!

From mLearnopedia: April - June Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

2010-07-07T09:41:00.000-11:00

mLearnopedia has compiled a great list of last quarter's hot mLearning articles.

Visit mLearnopedia: April - June Hot List: Mobile Learning Content to read them all.

Mobile Learning: A 4th Reading List

2010-06-28T12:00:00.000-11:00

Here are 10 of the more recent articles and blog posts that I have read concerning mobile learning. Links to the other 3 lists can be found at the bottom of this blog post.
1) 5 Steps to Harnessing the Power of Cell Phones in Education Today: This blog post provides 5 ways that teachers can begin using cell phones in their classrooms to help their students learn.
2) 7 Things You Should Know About Mobile Apps for Learning: An article by Educase discussing the value of mobile apps in teaching and learning.
3) Kids More Likely to Own a Cell Phone Than a Book, Study Finds: A ReadWriteWeb article discussing a study on today’s ownership trends.
4) Full Interview: Marie Bjerede on cell phones in the classroom: A podcast episode from CBC’s “Spark”

Read the rest at: http://themobilelearner.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/mobile-learning-a-4th-reading-list/

Ignatia Webs: What to take into account when chosing a mobile device for learning?

2010-06-28T04:11:00.000-11:00

Ignatia Webs gives us an interesting article on choosing a mobile device for learning. I generally take a different approach, starting first with what your users already have and molding the strategy around that. This article, however, is good if you are looking at starting from scratch on a mLearning project where you will be in charge of providing the devices.

Read it at:
Ignatia Webs: What to take into account when chosing a mobile device for learning?

A few notes of contention or commentary-

* BlackBerry devices do not require the Enterprise Server software for mLearning (or even email).

* When considering a device that has Wifi, look for one that creates a mobile hotspot. You won't regret it.

* I appreciate this article mentioning screen reflection. This is something people often don't think of but regret not checking when they are shopping for a phone. For example, my current device, the Motorola DROID works great in bright light situations where one would have trouble seeing the screen on an iPhone. Considering the context of your mLearners is just as important as the content. If your learners can't read what is on the phone, what good is pushing out a text mLearning strategy?

* Later generations of a device don't always guarantee a better experience. Doubt this, just read the Apple support forums and the nightmare that many are having with the iPhone 4.

mLearnCon 2010: Dr. Mimi Ito – What the User Wants in mLearning

2010-06-22T03:22:00.000-11:00

....People will go to great lengths to have personal content at hand. Users customize their media environment themselves, filling in gaps inherent in devices. We can harvest this drive this potential.

Social Media, Mobile Media, is highly personal content shared with others. They want to, they need to share it with their mobile community (friends, not necessarily their parents).

Good to look at Japanese youth to monitor future trends as they’re about 10 years ahead of US youth...

Read the rest at:
mLearnCon 2010: Dr. Mimi Ito – What the User Wants in mLearning

Ignatia Webs: Richard Clark: mLearning on multiple devices: a practical guide at mLearnCon

2010-06-17T03:13:00.000-11:00

Ignatia Webs: Richard Clark: mLearning on multiple devices: a practical guide at mLearnCon

Ignatia Webs: David Metcalf: mLearning theory mashups at mLearncon

2010-06-17T03:12:00.000-11:00

Ignatia Webs: David Metcalf: mLearning theory mashups at mLearncon

mLearnopedia: mLearnCon Mobile Learning Content

2010-06-17T03:09:00.000-11:00

mLearnopedia: mLearnCon Mobile Learning Content

Featured mLearning Books

2010-06-11T02:02:00.003-11:00

Too Funny

2010-06-07T10:52:00.002-11:00

The Disadvantages of Mobile Learning (Only 5 years too late)

2010-06-07T08:48:00.004-11:00

Once again, we are graced with another article touting the problems with Mobile Learning. eHow gives us "The Disadvantages of Mobile Learning". The main problem with this article, is it is at least five years out of date. Not only could this article have been written five years ago, it is pretty much a re-hash, word-for-word, of many of the same misconceptions.

Let's address some of these myths.

1. Cost- While an end-user does need to have a mobile device of some sort to participate in Mobile Learning, so would a user need to have some time of Web enabled device to participate in most types of eLearning in general. Properly set-up, a mobile learning strategy should not have to require all your participants to buy new devices. One of the first considerations it would take is what type of devices do your users already have. Even if new devices were required, the price ranges presented in this article represent the premium end of the spectrum. A good mobile learning strategy can take advantage of even simple devices that cost little to nothing from most wireless carriers.

2. Size of the Device- This is only a challenge if one incorrectly plans mobile learning content to be nothing more than compressed eLearning. If your users are already using their mobile device that you plan to push learning to, your strategy should be what content do they need in the context of using the device. Add to that, the greatly improved displays, such as the OLED display on the DROID Incredible, and size isn't a detriment any more, but an advantage.

3. Battery Life- The article incorrectly states that the battery life for mobile devices is 2-4 hours. This is further evidence that this article is outdated. Your average smart phone these days has at least 2-3 days of stand-by power and the battery will run 8-10 hours of continuous operation. If a learner needs a continuous learning experience that is mobile and lasts more than several hours, you should probably re-evaluate your mobile learning strategy.

4. Technology- Two major failure points in the article. First is the issue of limited storage capacity. Not even taking into account that common memory chips now can store well over 32GB of data- far beyond the needs of most learning curriculum, this fallacy assumes the learning content would be stored directly on the device versus accessed from a remote server versus streaming. The second error in the article is the limitation because of the different operating systems. While yes, there are some limitations that various mobile operating systems have, such as the iPhone's ability to run Flash content, this is only a limitation for poorly designed mobile learning programs. A good mobile learning strategy takes into account what the learners have and need and designs accordingly. This is much the same challenge eLearning developers face when it comes to just conforming to various IT and security standards of the learners' computers.

5. Usability- Simply watch any 12 year old with a mobile device and you can kiss this limitation goodbye. Again, a good mobile learning strategy takes into account these items before a single piece of content is developed. A good strategy accounts for how users already use their mobile devices and conforms course content to that.

Don't let these challenges deter you from considering a mobile learning strategy for your organization. Remember, it is all about how you develop your strategy that revolves around your user's experience. Mobile Learning is NOT just compressing eLearning down to a smaller form factor.

mLearning and Accessibility

2010-04-08T13:51:00.001-11:00

Question of the month. What are your experiences making your mobile learning solutions accessible to people with disabilities?

6 Teachers talk about the iPod Touch and learning

2009-05-18T21:16:00.001-11:00

This new paper describes how Australian teachers are using the iPhone and iPod Touch to A. assist them as Educators, and B. to enhance learning. As such, it presents a vital survey of apps and ideas to be shared with other teachers also beginning to use this platform. Thanks to the included Teachers for their keen responses.

6 Educators Talk About iPhone Use High Qual

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Internet & Technolog Research learning iphone

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

Training Top 125: Alltel Links Training to Sales Success

2009-05-14T12:44:00.002-11:00

Kudos to my team.. Awarded the training top 125 again.

With wireless voice sales margins dwindling industry-wide, Alltel launched a big push in late 2007 to increase the company's data services revenue. "At the time, the wireless industry as a whole was no longer making much money on voice, so our sales efforts became heavily focused on data products and services, which were deemed the next big purchasing area for consumers," says Mindy Lane, Alltel's VP of training.

As part of this push, Alltel began selling data cards, which provide wireless connectivity to laptops from any area with Alltel Network coverage. Almost immediately, however, Alltel began fielding complaints about the cards, and found that many cards were being returned by consumers.

Concerned about the lack of data card sales and the number of subscribers leaving or switching to other carriers, the Alltel product marketing department assembled a task force to tackle the problem. The task force's needs analysis, says Lane, determined that most of the churn the company was experiencing was attributable to customer dissatisfaction or confusion.

"Among customers, we identified a number of misconceptions regarding what data cards were and what they could do. We also found that our sales reps and managers had misconceptions of their own. Many reps, for example, were selling data cards as ‘DSL replacements.' While that's true in most instances, a data card's ability to function as a DSL replacement depends on where the consumer is located and whether there are gaps or holes in wireless coverage in that area. Because a consumer's location also affects speed, we also received complaints from those who told us their DSL connection was faster than their data card."

To stem the tide of disaffected subscribers, Alltel reps were encouraged to do a "deeper dive" with each customer and ask more relevant questions during the buying process. "They needed to do a more in-depth job of finding out where the data card would be used, explaining the speed capabilities of data cards, and walking customers through the set-up and troubleshooting process," says Lane.

To arm reps with this knowledge, the Alltel training department developed a comprehensive training program to assist front-line reps in selling and supporting data cards. The program included computer-based training (CBT), as well as supervisor-led training on how to qualify and sell data cards to customers, questions to ask, what to listen for, and how to ask for the sale.

As a result of the training, Alltel channels experienced a 63 percent lift in data card sales and a 39 percent decrease in subscriber falloff from November 2007 to May 2008.

Interested in developing a training program to support a mission-critical product launch? Here are Alltel's tips for success:

• Tailor to your audience. Using Flash, Alltel's in-house training team developed a full-scale CBT simulation that taught sales reps and their managers how to work with data card customers more effectively. "Going through traditional training on a complex product such as wireless Internet cards would have been far too technical and boring for our sales force," says Lane. By creating an engaging, interactive simulation, she says, Alltel was able to draw learners in and grab their attention. "Sims are expensive and time-consuming to develop, and they are not the right solution for every need," says Lane, "but they are often a perfect choice when teaching workers about complex products, particularly when your audience consists of younger workers who are tech-savvy and appreciate interactivity in their learning."

• Reinforce. After going through the simulation, Alltel sales reps attended comprehensive face-to-face training that was conducted by their supervisors. In addition to reinforcing material covered during the simulation, the supervisor-led training provided a "perfect platform," says Lane, for supervisors to reinforce the data card product line's importance to Alltel's balance sheet. "We honed in on clarifying the basic value proposition of data cards, and on explaining what our churn rates were and how they were impacting us."

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New Apps on Blackberry Make Online Learning Easy

2009-05-14T12:40:00.002-11:00

I've always been a proponent of Blackberries in the mLearning world because I feel it is the choice device of 'road warriors' who would need an mLearning tool. Now, online schools are targeting the Blackberry for courses.

What if someone told you that you can earn a degree from your Blackberry? What if they said that you can study anywhere and anytime to fit it in with your schedule?

With this July’s updates, it will be much easier to take online classes on the go. Google plans to release software to make its email and calendar services work for the Blackberry. Google Apps Connector will allow users to access Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Contacts using built-in applications. It also connects to the Google Apps servers and synchronizes email, calendar and contacts.

Why is this helpful for online learners?

Read the rest here..

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

Perpetual motion

2009-05-06T03:09:00.012-11:00

An improv demonstration of the kitchen recording system

E-Learning for me, does not just mean developing applications and websites, no it also means creating a system or dare I use that cliched word solutions to allow teachers to get more out of a session than what they put in.

Over the last year or so I together with Impact have been developing a system that will enable our catering staff to record teaching & training sessions.

First a little information, we've got two kitchens on site Ora & Skills; Ora is a kitchen where students cook lunch and dinner for staff and members of the public, Skills is a demonstration kitchen where students learn new techniques. Each kitchen has two PTZ (pan tilt zoom) cameras, three ip56 rated televisions, a touch panel and a control lanyard each. The system is quick to boot up, easy to log in and simple to use to ensure that there is minimum disruption to any session. Once the Chef has logged on he can use the lanyard to command the entire system from anywhere in the kitchens, without having to interact with the touch panel. As soon as the videos are recorded they are transferred to our servers and (pending approval) are viewable by all staff and students. So we've created a system that records chefs, this in itself is nothing new, we've had the ability to use video cameras in class for years; where's the benefit to the learners and most of all the teachers?

Lets say we have 20 students in the kitchens watching the chef joint a chicken. The chef proceeds to joint the chicken, students watch and then try it themselves, prior to this system that's where the lesson stops. What happens if a student has a question, or wants to see it again? The chef has to grab another chicken. Not so with our new system, the chef can instantly play back the recording on any number of screens around the kitchen, enabling them to both demonstrate and instruct which better serves the students needs.

More importantly, what happens if the student has a question outside of the kitchen, or outside of College hours? In combination with our VLE our students can access all the videos from home, bookmark relevant sections and review training sessions whenever or whereever they like.

So we've seen how it can benefit students, but how can it help teachers get more out of sessions then they put in?

Over time, Teachers can record training videos of sessions & techniques to create a bank of personalised learning resources that they can access in and out of the kitchens to enhance course content and delivery. We've given them the ownership over their own content, no longer do they have to search through youtube videos from tv shows for the 10 second clip required. The chefs can simply navigate to the content they themselves have created and students can see their peers using the same techniques instead of random people from the internet, students are more likely to be engaged with content if its relevant to them and teaching staff work better with students who are engaged with the content.

By creating and using these personalised resources in class, the lecturer can literally be in two places at once, as they can be onscreen demonstrating techniques whilst being able to walk round the kitchens and supervise students replication of the demonstrated technique and support/guide students where necessary instead of just being stuck at the front of the class.

With this system staff can get more in than they get out (and its a lot faster than human cloning).

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

Interactive technology keeps classes 'relevant'

2009-05-01T02:25:00.001-11:00

http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/05/01/05012009_classroom_compare.html

Eunice Morton walked around her desk, grabbing an electronic writing tablet and quickly jabbing it with a stylus.

As the Pine Tree High School science teacher moved her hand, a presentation projected onto her classroom wall came to life. Text appeared, changed color, became underlined and then vanished. Yellow smiley faces appeared next to bullet points, and slides slid across the screen.

"I don't know how to teach without my InterWrite Pad," Morton joked, leaning against a student's desk.

The pad allows her to control the computer presentation as she walks around her classroom. Morton said the technology frees her from standing behind a desk at the front of the classroom, allowing her to interact more with her students. The students also can use the pad to answer online quiz questions and do other activities.

The electronic tablet is one example of how classroom technology has grown by leaps and bounds from even just a few years ago — and many teachers and technology directors believe the changes have improved the teaching field.

Morton said the projected presentations force her to develop focused and concise lessons. The technology helps keep students interested and alert in a course that is heavy on content and traditionally includes a lot of lecturing, she said.

"There's no wasted time in my classroom," Morton said.

Staying relevant

Mike Stanfield, Hallsville Independent School District's director of technology, said the use of technology provides a connection with students who have become accustomed to the everyday use of computers. He said many schools and classrooms continue to follow the 18th-century model of teaching — lining students in rows and lecturing them — even though a more interactive model can be effective with modern students.

"The classroom needs to stay relevant," Stanfield said. "The classroom today needs to at least reflect the state-of-the-art."

He said the district's studies of the effectiveness of some technology in education — specifically iPods and the iPod touch — indicated the multimedia approach improved students' knowledge retention.

Funding obstacles

Despite the apparent benefits, not all school districts can incorporate the same tools for their teachers. While larger districts have the resources to fund technology purchases, smaller schools can face challenges to equip their teachers and students with the latest tools.

Big Sandy Independent School District residents will vote in May on a $6.75 million bond election.

Superintendent Scott Beene said a significant portion of the bond will pay for the construction of computer labs at the district's elementary and secondary schools. Although the district has at least one computer in every room, not all of its students have access to the Internet. He said the district's different campuses share a computer lab.

"That's one of the areas that we are weaker in," Beene said.

Beene said the district is not hurting for technology. He said he believes the district is comparable with other districts of the same size.

The Pine Tree Independent School District has more equipment available in general, but not all campuses have the same access to it. Most classrooms have video projectors, which project an image of whatever is underneath their lens onto a screen, but not every campus has laptop carts and wireless internet, said Jeff Hahne, the district's director of technology.

Online learning

Much of what the Pine Tree district does technologically is actually online. Hahne said the district has created its own version of YouTube, called "ptTube," for teachers and students to use in class or to share videos with the community. Each teacher also has a Web site, and some teachers have begun using district-provided blogs. Teachers also have access to thousands of educational videos through an online subscription service.

"So much of what we do now is Web-based," Hahne said.

Hahne said a few years ago it was a big deal for every classroom to have Internet access, but most teachers now expect Internet access as standard for most school districts. The technology expectations of students also have changed.

"Kids used to be excited about computer classes," Hahne said. "That was their computer fix. Now, kids actually lose some aspects (of technology) at school."

Stanfield said reaching students' expectations in classrooms is the next step for many districts. He predicted incorporating text messages in classrooms could have a great impact on students.

"If we can mimic their culture, we won't have that as a barrier to teaching," Stanfield said.

* * *

Some technology used in local classrooms

Document camera: Overhead projector displays images of objects placed beneath camera lens

Personal response systems: Wireless remotes used to involve students in computer-generated and projected lessons

Laptop carts: Provide wireless laptops to students in classrooms

iPods/iPod touch: Used to display educational content and to create multimedia content

Interactive white boards: Display boards allow teachers and students to interact with projected objects

Source: Area school districts

The Cloud and the power cut

2009-04-30T03:01:00.005-11:00

Monday evening was eventful to say the least; there I was happily watching a movie when the lights start to flicker, ‘oh’ I thought to myself ‘a small power surge’.

The latter was true, the former distinctly not.

I’ve got an energy monitor that displays your current (badum tish) energy consumption, my normal evening power draw is circa 200-300 watts, when the surge hit it spiked to well over 1.4kw, it continued to spike in this manner for over 20 minutes. Even though all my electronic equipment is on surge protectors, I still ran to the circuit breaker to kill the power and then proceeded outside to see how it was affecting the rest of the street. The power surge eventually changed to an all out power cut and with that Honiton road was cast back to the literal dark ages. So grabbing some candles, I wondered round the house checking things out to make sure nothing was on fire, I then I smelled oh so familiar smell of burnt electrical wires and equipment. However with no power I couldn’t check to see if anything was broken, so I went to bed.

On waking the next morning I hustled downstairs and flipped the circuit breaker back on and nothing happened, no lights, nothing.

There was no power, I was cut off.

Now alongside the usual inconveniences of no kettle, hot water or being unable to cook food, I had no internet.

Big deal right? Wrong

Humans are creatures of habit as am I, before walking to work my routine is this Shower, get dressed and then Whilst making and eating breakfast (via laptop or iPod touch):

* Review twitter feeds and respond
* Read/write personal and work email s
* Check news, games and other websites
* Download podcasts & other content for the day
* View e-learning blogs for new content
* Check up on current Chess games

So by the time I walk to work I’m:

* Fully informed of current happenings in the world (useful for generating student polls),
* Have a reasonable idea of what awaits me at my desk (ensures I can hit the ground running)
* Have responded to any mission critical emails (Quality of service is important)
* Already musing about blog posts based on websites I visited that morning

In short I am a more effective employee with the internet at my disposal; I can respond to things quickly, ensuring that if something has gone wrong, by the time I arrive at work, I already know about it and can get on with sorting out.

But not on Tuesday morning (I don’t have an iPhone as of yet, so I had no external internet connection).

I then realised that my entire online life is based in the Cloud: Google apps, Gmail, Flkr, Twitter, Facebook etc. Nothing resides on my local machine, all the data and content is stored on some data centre and processed on a web server. My machine, be it laptop, pc or iPod only presents that data to me, nothing more. Of course I have some applications installed on my netbook but it is no where near the amount it used to be. If you think about it, you can pretty much do everything you would traditionally use a locally installed application online.

Word processing, Calendars, Spreadsheets are well served by Google apps, photo editing by Flkr, you don’t even have to have a printer in your house as you can use an online printing service that delivers direct to your door.

The only application you need to facilitate this is a web browser, nothing more.

Cloud computing is the future (although one could argue that it’s actually a return to the Mainframe and Dumb terminal relationship from the 1980’s), the device is becoming almost an irrelevance, merely a point of access that enables you to connect to your application and services held on the internet.

The cloud is the future; it’s the next logical step in the evolution of both the PC and the internet, but my experience on Tuesday morning leads me to think it can never replace traditional application access methods until internet access is universal.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

mLearning-World Welcomes our Newest Author- Thomas Curtis

2009-04-27T12:38:00.001-11:00

(From Thomas)

Hello, I'm Thomas Curtis and this is a little about me and a mini blog post combined.

I'm an e-learning developer at South East Essex College a FE/HE institution located in Essex, United Kingdom

I've worked at a range of Colleges and Academies, all of which pursue e-learning & ICT as a medium to enhance and support the learner experience. My education was interesting to say the least, I barely graduated from School as I had become disaffected with the learning experience, the traditional teaching methods used at that time and struggled with both the learning difficulties of Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

It was not until I went to College (ironically it is the same institution that I work for now) that reignited both my passion for learning and computing in general. Through hard work & the support of lecturers I managed to secure both a recognised computing qualification, acceptance on a university degree and without sounding too melodramatic forge a new path for myself. I also feel having studied at the same College where I initially studied gives me a unique perspective, enabling me to see both sides of the coin so to speak.

As e-learning & the Internet itself was just getting started as a learning medium when I studied at the College (99-01), teachers and students were just getting used to the Internet as a resource let alone a method to evolve learning. It was as a result of my personal experiences as a student that I decided that once I had completed my Degree that I would try and return to the education sector to 'give something back' for lack of a better cliche, as I had personally benefited from the range of e-learning tools which enabled me to attain a level of education I had initially dismissed as an irrelevance, if not an impossibility.

From the abacus to the mobile phone, technology has always been used with varying degrees of success, at College & University I was introduced to the benefits of word processing, mind mapping, spell check, font and colour manipulation to improve readability and a whole host of other resources and techniques. The tools on offer to today's learner far, far exceed anything I could have dreamed of, case in point; teachers can communicate with Students in an instant, show multiple videos on a interactive whiteboard without having to wheel in a 28 inch CRT, via mobile technology we are providing students with the ability to send/receive course content from anywhere that can connect to the Internet, be that the gym, on holiday or even in bed (now that's personalised learning)!

Enough about history, I should talk about the present, what I do and where I hope to go from here.

In my role as an e-learning professional I develop applications & solutions to support teaching and learning (based primarily on Microsoft ASP.net and related technologies), this can range from simple web forms, event management systems to project managing multimedia recording solutions and full upgrade to lecture theaters. I also Blog about ICT and Twitter with other e-learning colleagues, both inside and out of College about e-learning, what it is and how it can benefit students and teachers.

The future..

I hope to continue blogging and establishing contacts with e-learning providers across the world, one thing that hinders e-learning is standardisation. From playschool, to Junior, to high school to university we all have differing systems, schemas, teaching methods and datasources. We do not teach in English Junior school and then switch to French from College onwards, so why do we do the same when it comes to e-learning? Moodle, BlackBoard, Bespoke software, some training, no training.

E-learning is supposed to make things easier for the learner, so why do we change the game at each step? It is this that I hope to change, perhaps open source is the key, perhaps not either way I'm looking forward to finding out.

- Show quoted text -

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Now on Twitter

2009-04-24T08:51:00.003-11:00

OK, I took the plunge, I am finally on Twitter @MobileLearn.

I need your help. What are the best ways to use Twitter? Are there good ways to link posts and threads from blogs or Facebook there and vice versa? Any best practices, hints or ideas for how to use it?

Your feedback would be great.

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iLearn program launching next year

2009-04-24T04:06:00.001-11:00

Friday, April 24, 2009

KILGORE — Some high school students might have more than textbooks to lug to class next year.

School officials in the district of 3,700 students are launching iLearn, a new program aimed at incorporating iPods with daily educational instruction.

Director of Technology Mark Lane said Thursday that teachers will upload curriculum, lectures, study plans and homework assignments to computers at the high school. Students will then download the lessons onto an iPod Touch, where it can be completed at home or on the go.

"We plan to start out with 60 iPods and introduce the program to our math and science classes at the high school. Later in the year, we will introduce it to our English and social studies classes," Lane said.

"By the start of the 2010-11 school year, we hope to have the program started at the middle school and phase it into our other campuses each new school year. The goal is to provide every single student in Kilgore ISD with an iPod." he said.

Lane said the school district estimates it will cost $135,000 to operate the program. He said about $95,000 will come from the school district, while the newly chartered education foundation has pledged funds for the remainder of the project to upgrade and integrate software at the high school, to purchase iPods and to send teachers to training for the project.

Lane said the goal of the program is to give students another resource to grasp educational concepts that some find difficult learning during traditional school instruction. He said school officials hope the new program will raise test scores and overall student achievement.

Kilgore won't be the first East Texas district to use the handheld electronic devices in school.

Hallsville High School students participate in a similar program using iPod Nanos and iPod Touches.

Toni Erickson, assistant technology director for Hallsville schools, said the program has been successful.

"We have added 450 new iPod Touches this year at the high school for math and science classes to continue the program," Erickson said. "So far, so good for us."

Lane is hoping Kilgore schools will experience the same success.

"The community has been so supportive of this project," Lane said. "I think our residents and businesses realize that our economy is changing, and we must prepare our students for it."

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Mobile wireless eReader a sign of the ubiquitous future to come

2009-03-06T10:37:00.004-11:00

(Guest post by Jonathan Nalder)

I’m not a fan of Amazon’s Kindle eBook Reader. Not only is it not available in my country, but I feel the days of paying over US$350 for a device that only does one thing are long gone. Having said that, as en educator and former libary worker, I can see several direct eduational applications, especially with the just announced Kindle 2 having the ability to read out its content. Read a detailed overview via Appleinsider.

Why I’m writing about it however is more because of what the Kindle 2’s other features don’t do - they don’t sync with a PC or laptop. Just as Google’s Android mobile operating system gets all its contact and calendar data directly from the cloud, so too does the Kindle 2 interface via 3G connection only with a home eBook site, or with other Kindle eReaders. This is the future of mobile, wireless devices and why they are leading towards a true ubiquitous, everware future. Even small mobile devices now have the ability to connect wirelessly to all the information etc they need to be fully functioning.

Are education departments setting up such networks to unleash the power of having this kind of computing available 24/7 from any location?

You can read more posts on emerging mLearning devices ad ubiquitous learning at Jonathan Nalder's 'uLearning' blog.

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How to Create a Flash Lite RSS Reader- Part 1

2009-02-16T14:40:00.002-11:00

One of the easiest ways to push content to your mobile users is through an RSS feed. With an RSS reader, a mobile device can be set up to read feeds. Feeds themselves can be customized display differently on a mobile device. You can see this with the mobile version of this site, 2mlearn.mobi. There are several RSS readers available for mobile devices, the most popular is the one I use on my Blackberry, the Google Reader. For your users, however, a customized solution may be necessary. With Flash Lite, you can create a customized RSS reader that will work with many mobile devices.

Important Note: As you may know, Flash Lite does not parse XML directly. This may seem like a road block to creating an RSS reader, but it really is an easy obstacle to leap.

The first thing we’ll need to do is parse the XML feed and change it as to be loaded by Flash Lite. This is written in PHP, however, this could also be easily reproduced in Pearl, JSP, or with many other scripts.

First, define the link to the RSS feed:

$link_to_rss_feed ="http://mlearningworld.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default";

The link above will be the input of the simplexml_load_file PHP 5 function call as described below:

$xml = simplexml_load_file($link_to_rss_feed);

The $xml variable will now contain the entire XML feed from the above link. Notice that the above function can access XML content directly from the Internet, but it is subject to security restriction of your PHP server engine (visit www.php.net for more details).

At this point you are interested in parsing each <item> node and selecting the content of <title> and <description> to be returned to the Flash Lite 1.1 application. For this reason you use the foreach function to loop each node and extract the content.

First you need to strip out HTML tags from the text contained in the <title> and <description> tags. Do this by using the strip_tags function. Flash Lite 1.1 dynamic text does not support HTML tags.

Also—and this is very important—you must strip out any & symbol contained in the text enclosed in the <title> and <description> tags. You do this using the str_replace function. Flash Lite 1.1 recognizes variable data loaded by having a & symbol as the prefix, so any & contained in the text will break this data structure.

The following two lines will create the & name/value pair data structure for the title and description, which will be the variables used in the Flash Lite 1.1 RSS reader:

echo "&title$i=".$title;
echo "&description$i=".$description;

The above echo will return the following output for the first <item> block:

&title1=Tips for Developing a Flash Lite player&description1=New article on developing a Flash Lite player.

Because an RSS feed contains more item nodes, you will end up having several &title and &description data, such as &item1, &description1, &item2, &description2, and so on. Append the loop index $i to each item and description variable to create a different set of each node.

The &totalitems is the total number of items parsed and the &end variable is the flag that we will use to indicate to Flash Lite 1.1 that the data is over.

Flash Lite 1.1 does not have the capability to check for the end of data. So the solution to this problem is to return a flag at the end of the data.

Note: You can use other methods to achieve the same results. Also keep in mind that you will probably need more error checking.

At this point, you have built the main structure of the server RSS parser. Place the file on your server that is accessible from the Internet. To test the parser, just enter the link to the script into a browser.

Next week, we’ll explore building the player in Flash Lite for your mobile device. After that, we’ll discuss a strategy to choose what content to push out and when. Keep watching.

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Announcement New Mobile Learning Content Community Resource Available

2009-02-15T07:09:00.003-11:00

mLearnopedia.com partners with TechEmpower to provide information source for mobile learning

Greenville, WI February 16, 2009: With an increasingly mobile society and the need for instant information for employees and students everywhere all the time, mobile learning and mobile performance support are growing at a rapid pace. Ambient Insight recently reported that the US market for Mobile Learning products and services is growing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7%.

To provide access to the latest news and best practices a new content community has been created at http://cc.mlearnopedia.com. Content is aggregated from sites such as Cell Phones in Learning, Golden Swamp, mLearning is Good, mLearning World, mLearnopedia, moblearn, Mobile Commons, and MobileDot.

“The mlearnopedia project is a terrific idea at the right time! I look forward to being part of it,” states Judy Breck from Golden Swamp. Ben Bonnet from mLearning is Good commented “The cc.mlearnopedia.com community has already benefited me by providing exposure to content I normally would have missed.” The aggregation technology, called BrowseMyStuff, comes from Tony Karrer of TechEmpower with the support of Judy Brown from mLearnopedia.com.

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Who are the post-millennials?

2009-02-06T17:53:00.003-11:00

We've been thinking a lot about the millennial generation, but I've come to realize that within a few years, the next generation will start hitting middle school and the computing world. The post-millennials, born in the mid 90s, have not had a transition period into technology. Their parents, GenX or GenY, from before the post-millennials where born, have been bombarding them with technology.

We've all seen movies where women put headphones on their belly to give their unborn children a head start with Motzart music. These children will never know dial-up. Cracking a book in college will something in the history books. Video games will never be solo, but always an interactive experience.

We have all had the concern that keeping up with the millennials technological demands would be a challenge, but what of their younger siblings or children? Possibly, they may revert and become educational Luddites, but I truly doubt this.

My question is triggered from the thought that as education professionals, we are always behind the curve, trying to react to each generation's needs. Now, maybe if we start thinking about the need early, we may be ahead of the curve. What can we put in place to nurture them early, where there transition is smooth, and education doesn't follow technology, it is integrated with it.

Just a thought for open discussion.

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Hot Lava brings science to 100,000 people over three months at sports stadiums.

2009-01-17T09:02:00.001-11:00

Very impressive by Hot Lava, teaching science through mLearning at sports stadiums. Brilliant. Great job guys.

Is Twitter Being Used As A Training Tool? | New Learning Playbook

2009-01-07T17:38:00.000-11:00

Twitter, a social networking platform used for microblogging, is a free service that lets you send the briefest of messages (with a maximum of 140 characters) to everyone in your network. It marries the mass appeal of blogging with the speed and ease of text messaging.

There has been a growing interest in how to use these new forms of social media for learning & development. Driving this interest is the fact that Millennials, or those born after 1981, make up 22 percent of the workforce now and will grow to comprise 46 percent of the workforce by the year 2020...

Read the rest at: Is Twitter Being Used As A Training Tool? New Learning Playbook

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100 eLearning Articles and White Papers : eLearning Technology

2008-12-23T09:58:00.000-11:00

Many thanks to Tony for this excellent resource. The title says all that needs to be said about this.
100 eLearning Articles and White Papers : eLearning Technology

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Forget the laptop? Use your iPod/iTouch/iPhone to view slideshows on TVs.

2008-11-22T04:56:00.000-11:00

Some iPod models allow you to play a slideshow with music and transitions, either on its own display or on a television. Models that can display to a television currently include:

Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video)
iPod with color display (also known as iPod photo)
iPod Touch
iPhone

If you're not sure what iPod model you have, see "Identifying different iPod models."
To access slideshow settings, select Photos > Slideshow Settings. Although iPod nano has a color display, it won't output a slideshow to a TV.

Choosing the display

To display slideshows on the iPod display, set TV Out to Ask or Off.

To display slideshows on a television, set TV Out to Ask or On.

If you set TV Out to Ask, iPod will give you a choice of display every time you start a slideshow. The first time you use a TV, you'll probably need the Tips for TV viewing and Connecting to a TV sections below.

Slideshow settings

To set how long each slide is displayed, select Next Slide and choose a time.

To set the music that plays during slideshows, select Music and choose a playlist.

Tip: If you're using iPhoto, you can choose From iPhoto to copy the iPhoto music setting.

To set slides to repeat, set Repeat to On.

To set slides to display in random order, set Shuffle Photos to On.

To set slides to display with wipe transitions, set Transitions to On.

Playing a slideshow

Select any photo or album and press Play, or select any full-screen photo and press the select button.

Play/Pause will pause the music and slideshow.

To skip to the next or last photo, press the Next/Fast-forward or Previous/Rewind button.

Connecting to a TV

iPod models that support displaying video on an external video source can do so in two different ways.

Method 1 (Composite video)

Using the AV cable connected directly to the top of the iPod or to the line out port on the Universal Dock.

Method 2 (S-video)

Using S-video when the iPod is in the Universal Dock.

Method 1 setup (Composite video)

This method can be used when the iPod is either in or out of the dock. Additionally, you would need a television or other video device that has RCA inputs.

Connect the AV cable into the iPod (where the earbuds would normally connect) or to the line out port on the Universal Dock.

Connect the red RCA connection into the right audio input of the television.

Connect the white RCA connection into the left audio input of the television.

Connect the yellow RCA connection into the video input of the television.

Tip: The RCA input connectors on a television are usually color coded to match the colors on the AV cable.

Method 2 setup (S-video)

This method provides slightly better image quality and should be used if possible. This method requires a television or other video device with S video inputs. Additionally, S-video can only be used when the iPod is in the Universal Dock.

Place iPod in the Universal Dock.

Connect a S-video cable to the S-video out port on the Universal Dock. This connection provides the video signal.

Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input on the television.

Connect the AV cable to the line out port on the Universal Dock. This connection provides the audio signal.

Connect the red RCA connection into the right audio input of the television.

Connect the white RCA connection into the left audio input of the television.

Some televisions may need to be set to channel 3 or 4 or "video" to receive input. Check with the documentation for your television if you're not sure.

Important: You should only use the included cable. Other RCA video cables won't work. Though other cables may look similar, only the Apple iPod AV Cable works with the iPod Headphones and AV port.

Tips for TV viewing

NTSC or PAL?

Compatible iPod models can deliver video out in either NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) or PAL (Phase Alternation Line) video formats. You will have to set the TV Signal setting to either NTSC or PAL when viewing on a television. These are two different broadcast standards, and your TV will only work with one of them. If you don't know which your TV is, simply try both settings to find the one that matches.

NTSC is the standard broadcast signal received by televisions in the United States. PAL is the standard broadcast signal received by televisions in many European countries.

The main difference between NTSC and PAL is that NTSC delivers 525 lines of resolution at 60 half-frames per second, whereas PAL delivers 625 lines at 50 half-frames per second.

iPod will attempt to guess the appropriate video format to use based on the geographical region that it was sold in. If the incorrect video format is used, the image displayed on the television will be poor or garbled. Additionally, if the incorrect video format is selected, it can be changed in the following menu location:

Photos > Slideshow Settings > TV Signal

Video input on TV

You may then need to select the correct video input on your television. If you're not already familiar with the input features of your TV, you'll need to read the manual that came with your TV. If the TV is not set correctly, the slideshow will not appear.

Don't forget the sound

The video cable does not carry sound, so you'll need to use the regular audio connections regardless of which display you choose. Run an audio cable from the Line Out port on your Universal Dock to an input on your TV or receiver, for example.

(...next, loading a PowerPoint on your iPod...)

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Nominate 2009 Top Young Trainers Today! (Training Magazine)

2008-11-11T14:11:00.000-11:00

If you know an up-and-coming training leader age 40 or under, someone who is an outstanding training professional with excellent leadership qualities, send in your nomination today. Criteria include:

• 40 years or younger by December 2008

• Has at least 3 direct reports OR has orchestrated a large-scale training/learning & development initiative requiring management/leadership of a group of people within the last year

• Demonstrates leadership qualities (i.e., motivates/inspires direct reports and co-workers; acts as mentor/coach, either formally or informally; thinks strategically)

• Successfully met a significant training challenge in the last year

• NO SELF-NOMINATIONS

The list of all winners will be published in the May 2009 issue of Training magazine; winners also will be recognized at a congratulatory event at The Leadership Summit in San Diego in May.

Deadline: December 12, 2008

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Open Discussion- Is There an Educational Laffer Curve?

2008-11-11T13:33:00.000-11:00

I've been doing some research with a friend on educational spending and performance in the key areas of math, science, technology, etc. We have stumbled upon an interesting anomaly, a correlation with the less a school spends on education and higher performance in these key areas. If you are not aware of the Laffer Curve, this is a economic theory that lower taxes generate more revenue (think of this as a farmer planting more corn versus eating it himself.) This trend can be seen comparing public schools in the US to other parts of the world, as well as comparing to private schools and home schools.

Of course, there is a limitation to this where a lack of funding can obviously not support education, but this does seem to counter the trend of constantly putting more money into the system.

Some of our theories as to why this happens include:

Lower funding forces focus on the important subjects.
This requires teachers to be creative and innovative in educational approach.
Less waste creates an environment of efficiency and productivity, creating a culture that ends up in the classroom.
It is a coincidental relationship. The first rule of statistics is correlation does not equal coordination. More funding is the result of existing poor schools, not the cause.

What are your thoughts? Why do home schools or private schools who spent a fraction per child continually outperform higher funded public schools?

Of course, these are all general statements and not to say that there are not creative, innovative, and overachieving teachers out there in public schools (I know, I'm married to one). I just feel this is something we should step back and look at. Is more funding the solution to failing schools? Is there another, unrelated issue? If you where to start from scratch with the US Public School system, what would you do differently?

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New mobile platform arrives: Android

2008-10-06T12:56:00.002-11:00

By Jonathan Nalder of www.mLearnxyz.net

As most geeks would know, the Google-developed mobile OS known as Android had its public unveiling last week. While only available on one handset in the US at the moment, its open-source nature and backing from Google mean that it is destined to become a major new mobile platform alongside the existing Palm OS, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry, and iPhone OSX.

We’re not interested in the competition between these OS’s here, but in what new features Android brings to the use of mobile devices for learning. In this case, what Android brings is an acceleration of the mobile access to cloud computing that iPhone OSX began 18 months ago. Because Google itself has no interest in desktop computers, Android devices currently link in directly with online services rather than syncing with a home computer as every other mobile OS has always done.

This means that files, music, video etc are all either accessed online, downloaded directly from the net, or streamed to the handset. What does this mean for education? Well, perhaps its another sign that our many labs stocked with desktop PCs are becoming less and less relevant. Perhaps forward thinking education departments need to start planning a cloud-computing based model for getting out content and services to its students. There’s a few interesting years ahead!

To read more on the Android launch (and a whole heap of interesting, though not-education focused comments) read the engadget article HERE.

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mLearning and Geocaching

2008-09-21T23:26:00.000-11:00

GPS-based spatial learning (geocaching) is a new form of mobile learning for me. I had the chance to experience it in person recently and came away with a new tool in my mLearning kit. Basically, it entails being out and about, using a GPS to find items placed around a physical site.

With our guide (Teacher Alan Morely, who has developed the program) dressed as a pirate, we ventured out all over a university campus, deciphering clues to find a treasure. Along the way, we learnt some of the basics of using a GPS such as its digital compass, latitude and longitude readout, and how it only works when moving and out in the open.

As far as getting students out of the classroom, the potential of using mobile GPS devices in this way almost limitless. From scenario-based projects like our treasure hunt, to mapping or distance, angles, degrees etc, it has the advantage of being highly practical, while providing a built-in movement/kinesthetic element that many learners need for their learning to go into long term memory.

Go HERE to read the full article by Jonathan Nalder at mLearnxyz.net.

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What we've been up to?

2008-09-16T12:28:00.000-11:00

Almost a month since you've seen something from us? Apologies all around. Between two hurricanes (Gustav and Ike), work, and just craziness, I've been a little distracted. Keep your eye's open though- my eLearning book is coming along and I've had a couple of leads on publishers based on the concept alone. More to come soon...

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Uploading 2008 Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards Icon

2008-09-16T12:22:00.000-11:00

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Mobile Learning Device Poll

2008-08-02T04:22:00.002-11:00

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog Flux

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mLearning and Baseball

2008-08-01T15:38:00.000-11:00

For those of us who are baseball fanatics, (not Crickett for my EU and Indian readers, although I love that game as well) HotLava Software is bringing mobile learning to the baseball diamond.

Fans attending the game have the opportunity to not only see a homerun hit, but learn how friction and drag affect the path of a baseball traveled. Although many learning institutions have attempted to teach science through the use of sports delivered by traditional methods, Kauffman and Hot Lava are taking mLearning inside the stadiums to deliver accessible and captivating on-demand Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education via mobile devices.

Baseball has always been a mathematical game. I remember from my undergraduate statistics class how much it was involved in the game, now, everyone can take part in expanding their knowledge.

Home run to HotLava!!!

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Making the classroom a playground for learning (Innovations Report)

2008-07-30T16:52:00.000-11:00

Playing computer games in school may sound like the kids rule the classroom. But European researchers have shown that such games can be used to boost learning.

What’s more, the special computer games developed by the eMapps.com project could help build communities of creative, networking children across Europe, especially in the new Member States.

In the past, the playing of computer games was sometimes thought to be unhelpful, disruptive, and potentially dangerous for a child’s development. Attempts to use them for education were not always successful.

But research has shown that people learn best when they are entertained, when lesson plans stimulate both thinking and emotion, when they can creatively work towards complex goals, and when the consequences of actions can be observed.

By using mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and portable phones, researchers in the EU-funded project developed interactive tools, primarily games, to achieve learning objectives and deliver the curriculum using information and communication technologies (ICT).

Read the rest here->

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iTunes 7.7 Warning

2008-07-27T06:10:00.000-11:00

Just a note to everyone. Do not download the iTunes 7.7 upgrade. Wait for the 7.8 patch. There is a major problem with 7.7 where it will not recognize your iPod or iPhone when you plug it in, and that will freeze up iTunes. The solution is to back up your entire library, move your library xml, and have iTunes recreate your library. You will lose all your playlists and spend hours trying to build everything back. This problem is multiplied if you have multiple computers, multiple iPods and iPhones, and an AppleTV. Everyone on Apple's support forums are suggesting waiting for the 7.8 patch before you upgrade.

I just want to know, did Apple hire some Microsoft engineers? (just kidding)

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Three Great iPhone Tips Courtesy of eWeek

2008-07-22T12:05:00.001-11:00

Capture iPhone Screenshots

As product reviewers, we at eWEEK Labs find frequent occasion to grab screen shots in order to illustrate the software and services we cover. The PrtScn key is our pal, but not every screen we wish to capture rides on a keyboard-toting device. We've resorted at times to photographing device displays, but those pictures tend to turn out poorly.

In previous iPhone tests, we hacked the device to install a screen shot application, of which there were a handful in the unofficial software channels. When the App Store came online, we disappointed not to find an Apple-blessed screen grabber, but it turns out that the iPhone's new 2.0 firmware includes a built-in screen capture function.

To capture screens on your iPhone or iPod Touch 2.0... Read the rest here ->

Put iTunes on a Diet
With iTunes 7.7, Apple has given Windows administrators a little more flexibility in how the music and device synchronization manager can be installed. Not only can administrators control which elements of iTunes get deployed, they can also push the software out to desktops via Microsoft's Active Directory Group Policy.

Although Apple has made it easier to synchronize certain data (e-mail, calendar and contacts) to the iPhone without requiring a direct connection to an iTunes-enabled PC, administrators will find that iTunes is still necessary is some cases. iTunes will continue to be needed for further iPhone software updates, to unlock iPhones that had an illegal passcode entered too many times or to add homegrown enterprise software to the devices.

To streamline the operation of iTunes just a little to fit the new role Apple hopes it will find on the enterprise desktop.. Read the rest here ->

Control Your Desktop from Your iPhone

One of the App Store's most popular pieces of software is Remote, an application that allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to control iTunes or Apple TV from their beloved devices.

If you wish to extend your iPhone-based control beyond those applications to your desktop as a whole, you'll be pleased to know that a client for the popular VNC (Virtual Network Computing) server. The client, called Mocha VNC Lite, is freely available from the App Store and is fairly easy to use.

The Remote Desktop features of Apple OS X and of the GNOME and KDE open-source desktop environments are based on VNC, so viewing and controlling these desktops from Mocha VNC requires only...Read the rest here ->

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Is Your Training in the Red or in the Green?

2008-07-21T11:40:00.003-11:00

For those folks who know me, they know I am the farthest thing from an 'environmentalist' and you sure don't want to know my views on Global Warming. With that said, however, I am very much an advocate of conservation, both of resources and of budgets. Have you ever thought how much your company spends to educate employees?

Sure, you have your budgets for your trainers, for those who supervise trainers, and the extra time employees spend going to training, however, there are many more costs to consider.

What about the time spent training your trainers? You will spend for both the trainer's time, as well as the time of the person who conducts the trainer's training?

How about facilities? Do you lease spaces for training or conferences? Does your office maintain a training facility? If it does, how much extra have you invested in that facility? Did you have to double your budget of computers? Do you pay for janitorial services?

How about electricity? Imagine one training room with thirty PCs left on, as well as projectors, lights, audio equipment, and other support tools always running? Don't forget when your employees are in the training room using those PCs, they probably left their own computers on. How many thousands of dollars do we spend just supplying electricity to training rooms?

Do your employees travel to come to training at a central location? What about travel for conferences? Airfare, hotels, meals, not to mention the 'carbon' usage that the greens are always refer?

Why hasn't your company embraced mLearning? Instead of sending your employees to training, send the training to your employees. Almost everyone is connected somehow, be it the Internet or mobile phone. mLearning is far beyond just a CBT on a cell phone. mLearning is about delivering the learning content your employees need, when they need it, to the device they have at the time.

I doubt mLearning will replace the ubiquitous 'new hire' training, where your employees are welcomed into the team and go through all the necessary evils like HR guidelines. Still, have you ever considered how much you spend each year just to maintain facilities, resources, and personnel dedicated to ongoing, face-to-face training?

I would love to hear your stats. How much have you saved moving your learning online? Have you done a cost-benefit analysis that includes all of the items some companies normally overlook in training budgets, such as electricity?

How have you gone green? Have you calculated how much carbon your employees use to attend training events? If tomorrow, you faced taxes or fees from the government based on the amount of carbon you use in training, are you prepared to scale back? Do you have a strategy?

I would also like to propose a challenge to the eLearning Guild, ASTD, and other training organizations to completely replace one of their on-location conferences with a green, virtual conference.

If you have any other ideas or stories about 'going green', please email me at mobilelearn@gmail.com.

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The Art of Learning Better: 101 Tips to Find and Fit Your Learning Style

2008-07-14T14:40:00.000-11:00

From our friends at TeachingTips.com- The Art of Learning Better: 101 Tips to Find and Fit Your Learning Style

Sometimes, information is hard to understand just because it’s presented in a manner that just doesn’t quite appeal to the way we like to learn best. While it isn’t always possible to take every class or complete every project in a way that fits into your individual style, there are ways that you can help to ensure that you’re making the most of the material at hand. Here are a few tips to help you start improving your learning experience by helping make it work a little better with your needs, whether you’re a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner.

Visual Learners

Those who are visual learners understand concepts and ideas better when they are presented in pictures, text, drawings, graphs, charts or other visual representations. Here are some tips for making your coursework and schooling a little easier if you’re a visual learner.

Organization

Keeping your stuff together and staying on task can sometimes be a challenge. These tips can give visual learners a leg up on organization.

Color code. If you color code classes, assignments or anything else you’ll be able to identify and locate these items just at a glance. It can be helpful if you’ve got a habit of being messy.

Make lists. One way to organize your thoughts is to put them on paper or on the computer. Once you’ve created this visual representation it will be easier to see what you need to get done.

Keep like materials together. Creating groups can be one way to keep yourself visually organized. If you’ve got books and notebooks for one class, try keeping these together.

Diagram how things are related. Whether you’re trying to get research done for classes or just figuring out anything in your day to day life, you can benefit from creating a diagram or mind map to show how elements are interconnected and how you need to proceed.

In Class

Keep focused in class with these tips.

Always take notes. If you have a hard time remembering things that you hear, make sure to write them down. This can give you a visual reference later.

Visualize how to spell words. Spelling words in your own language or in another can be hard for visual learners who are just hearing them. Tying spellings, especially difficult ones, to visual cues can make it easier.

Relate things through graphs and charts. If your class is filled with facts and figures it can be helpful to lay them out in ways that make more sense to visual learners, like graphs, charts or diagrams. Your information will be more organized and easier for you to understand, helping you in the long run.

Use several colors. Some visual learners find that it helps to use different colors of ink to highlight different areas of their notes. Vocab words can be in one color, definitions in another and so on.

Sketch. Whether you’re taking a class on architecture or human anatomy it can be helpful to sketch out concepts sometimes. It will help you to better remember and understand how they work later.

Look at your professor. Because visual learners are so dependent on seeing things to understand it can help to sit near the front of the class and look at your professor. This can alert you to subtle body language and help you stay more engaged and focused.

Copy information off the board or overheads. If your professor is providing you with visual information to use in class, copy things down to your own notebooks, even if you can look it up later.

Studying

Studying can be a bore sometimes, but you can make the time you spend more effective with these tips.

Create a timeline. When dealing with a sequence of events you’re trying to remember or understand it can be useful to lay them out in chronological order on a timeline. This way, you’ll be able to more easily visualize how things changed over time.

Make outlines. Whether you’re writing a paper or just condensing your notes to key concepts, creating an outline is a great way to organize information in a way you can see.

Study in large blocks. Visual learners are often very good at concentrating for long periods of time. Take advantage of this and get your studying out of the way in big chunks.

Diagram anything you can. Diagramming can be a good way for visual learners to understand a variety of topics, from geological processes to sentence structure.

Make lists of important topics. Listing out the most important topics from your notes or readings can be a good way to help you remember the key elements and provides a visual reference for later.

Watch videos on relevant topics. Videos can be a big help to visual learners when trying to understand coursework. Search the Web for videos that apply to your topic to see if you can find some great visual tools.

Take notes on reading material. While understanding reading material is generally second nature to visual learners, taking notes can help improve the amount of information you retain and gives you something to study from later.

Use flashcards. Using images or text on flashcards can be a great way to associate concepts or vocabulary words with visual representations. Create separate piles for cards you answer correctly and those you miss. Go through the missed ones until you can get them all right.

Highlight, circle and underline. Creating visual cues for yourself as to what parts of your notes or reading are most important can be a a great way get more out of the time you spend working on homework and studying.

Look for photos. If there are images of what you’re learning about in class try to find them. This can often be all you need to understand even the most complex of concepts.

Implement mind maps. Mind maps can be a great way for visual learners to organize information from a class or to come up with ideas for projects and papers.

Use the computer. Much of our interaction with the computer is done in a visual manner, and this can form an ideal learning environment for visual learners. Check the Web for programs and sites you can use to improve your learning experience.

Try creating mental images. When you’re struggling to remember things, sometimes creating a mental image for yourself can help, especially when it comes to things that aren’t visual by nature.

Find visual representations of audio recordings. If your class relies on historical recordings or other audio materials try finding text versions of the same things. This can be a great way to help you get some visuals and possibly remember more.

Keep things quiet. Most visual learners are very easily distracted by noise in the background or other people talking around them when they’re trying to do work or study. Find a quiet place like the library to do your work.

Engage your imagination. Visual learners love to use their imaginations and think of new things. Use your imaginative abilities to come up with new ways of seeing topics in class, ideas for papers or great ways to visually represent an idea.

Read the rest here ->

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mLearning Developing while Mobile

2008-07-09T12:22:00.001-11:00

Most of my mLearning friends are undoubtedly aware, but there is a great tool for developing learning content while mobile. Google Docs are available on mobile browsers. I have found in my adventure drafting my first book on mLearning, that inspiration can happen anywhere, at anytime. I caught myself recently in a restaurant waiting for my order with a thought about something to look into. I grabbed my Blackberry Pearl, opened Google Docs, and added my thoughts to a notes document I created.

Of course, there are many ways you can do this, from the good old notepad, to text messaging yourself or leaving a voicemail to yourself (very guilty of this) or even using mobile blogger to post a message from your phone (as I am doing now). Google Docs has an advantage that you can append an existing document from any device at any time.

I'll post more on this later. My sushi is almost ready.

Message sent via Blackberry wireless messaging.

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Detecting Mobile Browsers- Applying CSS

2008-07-08T14:53:00.000-11:00

In my previous articles on detecting mobile browsers, my scripts redirected the viewer to a mobile formatted page, such as the xfruits site I use for 2mlearn.mobi.

Greg at Brain Handles offers another suggestion, using the script to reformat a page using mobile detected CSS scripts. There are some challenges to his script, specifically for designers who aren't familiar with php scripting.

Personally, I prefer using the simpler script and having a completely customized page for mobile users. This way, you aren't just reformatting the content for mobile, but you can customize the content completely. The php script Greg offers, however, has advantages for internal users who want to reuse content that is simply reformatted instead of offering completely custom content for your viewers.

Click here to see Greg's suggested script.

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Script to Detect iPhone and Blackberry

2008-07-02T11:49:00.000-11:00

The most visited post at mLearning-World.com is my scripts for how to detect if a visitor is hitting your site with a mobile phone and redirect them to a mobile friendly version of this website (at 2mlearn.mobi).

I have received a lot of emails asking how we can modify this script to detect iPhones or Blackberry browsers. For the most part, the script is identical.

First, the original script-

With the iPhone, it is fairly simple. in your "if" string, include the following:

if((navigator.userAgent.match(/iPhone/i)) (navigator.userAgent.match(/iPod/i)))

A Blackberry is a little more challenging as you can have different browsers. For example, I am using Opera Mobile on my Blackberry Pearl. With a Blackberry, the browser detect in the first script should work, however, Opera Mobile reformats the page automatically and thus, the script shouldn't be needed.

I am currently experimenting with several other browser options. I'll add a new post as I discover more scripts to help your mobile learners.

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OnPoint Digital CellCast- Opinions

2008-07-01T14:01:00.002-11:00

Has anyone had a chance to use OnPoint Digital Cellcast? OnPoint seems to offer an interesting mLearning tool, allowing users to create audio, video, or assessments sent to mobile devices. This looks like a service our readers would be interested in, however, I would like to hear from anyone who has used this service.

Click here for more information on OnPoint's Digital Cellcast.

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Our Domains Reminder

2008-07-01T14:01:00.000-11:00

Want to access mLearning-World.com from a mobile phone. Remember, 2mLearn.mobi is a mobile friendly version of mLearning-World.

In addition, you can also reach mLearning-World through:

developLearning.info

and

InstructionalDesigner.info

I am still trying to determine specifically what to do with my new .info domains. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

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Learning Solutions Mag- Mainstreaming Mobile Learning

2008-06-30T12:28:00.000-11:00

In this month's Learning Solutions Magazine, there is a great article on Mainstreaming Mobile Learning.

Discussion of Mobile Learning (m-Learning) has been going on for almost ten years, and
we only now seem to be approaching actual deployment. However, there are still some barriers. In anticipation of the upcoming Guild Research 360° Report on Mobile Learning, an industry expert this week presents a summary of what it will take to bring m-Learning to real life in whatever neighborhood you happen to find yourself.

Click here to read this great article. Come back and discuss in the comments section. Also, if you haven't joined yet, the eLearning Guild is, in my opinion, the best Learning Technology industry group you can join. Unlike some other organizations, there is a lot more emphasis on practical application and instruction in the eLearning Guild.

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Matrix Learning Coming Soon- From Telegraph UK

2008-06-29T14:47:00.000-11:00

Matrix Style Brain Downloads 'Will Make Lessons Pointless'.

Children will learn by downloading information directly into their brains within 30 years, the head of Britain's top private schools organisation has predicted.
Chris Parry, the new chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said "Matrix-style" technology would render traditional lessons obsolete.
He told the Times Educational Supplement: "It's a very short route from wireless technology to actually getting the electrical connections in your brain to absorb that knowledge." Dr Parry, a former Rear Admiral, spent three years determining the future strategic context for the military in a senior role at the Ministry of Defence.
Read the rest here->

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mLearning World is on Facebook

2008-06-25T14:18:00.000-11:00

In case you didn't know, mLearning World is on Facebook.

Click here to join our Facebook group.

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BJ gets it- Starting Slowly with mLearning « eLearning Weekly

2008-06-18T13:54:00.000-11:00

Another eLearning developer understands the concept that mLearning is not just about compressing a CBT into the size of a mobile device. Read his experiences here:

Starting Slowly with mLearning « eLearning Weekly

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100 Helpful Web Tools for Every Kind of Learner | College@Home

2008-06-12T12:12:00.000-11:00

The College at Home blog offers us 100 Helpful Web Tools for Every Kind of Learner. I would recommend everyone bookmark this link.

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Eee PC hands-on

2008-05-09T11:32:00.000-11:00

Jonathan Nalder
www.mlearnxyz.net

I’m on secondment from my Learning Support teacher job this week to a Master Class in using ICTs for Inclusive Education. Always on the lookout to try out new mobile technology, I did of course grab the opportunity for a hands-on with not one but two Asus Eee PC’s (the slightly older 7 inch model).

They are of course very small and very desirable! Back to being professional however, it is obvious right from the start that they would be very useful in an education setting, especially given their around A$500 price tag. You’re not getting top of the line specs for that kind of money, but 512mb RAM and 4GB storage would be more than enough for the primary age students I work with.

Their size is around that of an exercise book and blends in very well with the items you’d normally find on any kids table. Even the small-ish keyboard is not a problem for younger kids. What else? Its very light, but has a sturdy build-quality, and being able to record audio, pictures and video as well just multiplies the possible educational uses. Plus they are available from just about all chain electronic stores, so support and availability should be good.

As you can see from the images at right, one was running Windows XP, with the other one running the Eee PC’s Linux OS, and it was interesting to compare the two. The XP model is the one that my school system would adopt as it will work with our networks, and of course the familiarity for students of this OS is a plus.

On the downside though, 7 inches of screen real estate is just a bit too small for prolonged use of XP. The Linix OS on the other hand has been designed for the smaller screen and with its icon and tab-based GUI is very intuituve - students would have no problems navigating its various programs, which include all the productivity and communication software students could need. It even includes some educational games by default.

There is a 9-inch screen model coming soon (a few days), as well as similar-sized machines from just about every major PC manufacturer, so this is definitely one class of mobile devices to watch.

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Mobile quiz tests Games knowledge

2008-05-06T12:43:00.000-11:00

From: The Standard - Hong Kong's First FREE English Newspaper

AN INTER-SCHOOL mobile quiz contest organized by the Department of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering at Hong Kong University that aims to promote mobile learning as well as to celebrate the Beijing Olympic Games is now open to registration by schools.
Primary and secondary school students will be able to test their knowledge of the Olympics and about HKU, while also deepening their understanding of mobile learning through the contest, HKU hopes.

The contest is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, from 1.30pm to 5pm at
Rayson Huang Theatre at HKU.

Each school can nominate four to six students and they will be required to answer a series of quizzes on mobile devices. The student who answers the most questions will be declared
the champion.

There are individual awards and accolades for schools as well.

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Nokia gets educational with M4Girls pilot project. | GoMo News

2008-05-02T12:23:00.000-11:00

Nokia gets educational with M4Girls pilot project. GoMo News

In a bold move to turn handsets into a more educational tool Nokia have teamed up with the not for profit organisation Mindset Network and the South African Government’s Department of Education in order to trial a pilot project based around the Nokia 6300 handsets. Called M4Girls the handsets come loaded with educational material designed to “help improve the mathematics performance of Grade 10 girl learners.”

Reportedly, the initiative will be piloted in two South African schools, and students lucky enough to take advantage will have access to educational games and other material created to meet the needs of the national curriculum according to Engadget Mobile.

In a Nokia press release they expand on their aims. “This project demonstrates the potential of mobile phones to enable social development and improve education especially in underprivileged areas, ” says Micheline Ntiru, Head of Nokia’s Community Involvement Programs in the Middle East and Africa. “Young people are increasingly using their phones to gain knowledge via the internet, social networking and interaction with their peers, so it makes sense to introduce learning through these devices. By combining Nokia handsets with innovative content, and the enthusiasm of the teachers and pupils this scheme creates an opportunity to really help create new skills and opportunities.”

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Flypaper- Opinions Requested

2008-05-02T12:16:00.000-11:00

I have been asked to look into a product called Flypaper. Has anyone tried this out? What are your opinions? How have you implemented this in your training programs? Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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COMING SOON!

2008-05-01T12:15:00.000-11:00

It's Vegas Baby! A new paradigm in learning.

...just thought I would give everyone a little tease...

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Trying out a new tool- Voice2Text

2008-05-01T11:46:00.000-11:00

Quick note: I've been trying out a great new feature that Alltel has, Voice2Text. This service converts voicemail to text messages. I can see a lot of great mLearning opportunities with this. A service like Voice2Text allows the end user to choose how they are presented with the information. If they aren't in a place where they can listen to voicemail, it may be more convenient to simply read a text message.

Imagine pairing this with a voicemail distribution system. I'll start working on how this can be used on more specific learning applications.

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Newswire / Press Release: Atlantic Link Launches Rapid e-Learning for the Sony PSP - Education/e-Learning/Training - Atlantic Link | NewswireToday

2008-04-30T11:48:00.000-11:00

Newswire / Press Release: Atlantic Link Launches Rapid e-Learning for the Sony PSP - Education/e-Learning/Training - Atlantic Link NewswireToday

Atlantic Link's ground breaking rapid e-learning authoring tools have taken
another significant leap forward. The software now allows courses to be designed
specifically for the Sony PSP Slim & Lite.

The courses can be deployed locally (from
the Memory Stick Duo) or from the Internet, giving users a true mobile learning
experience. They also look superb, because all the functionality of Atlantic
Link’s rapid e-learning authoring tools can be applied to small screen format.MD
Mike Alcock explains, "The traditional problem with courses on the PSP is that
they’ve never been designed for the smaller screen and are often shrunken
versions of courses designed for viewing on PC screens. To tackle this we have
enabled our software to author at the native screen size of a Sony PSP. Because
the output of Content Point is Flash, the courses still contain all of the high
quality and interactivity of Atlantic Link’s usual output, but with the benefit
of small screen design. Quizzes, games, activities, audio, video and Flash
animations are all supported, giving users the richest possible course
experience." Authoring is undertaken with the same software that is already
delivering the fastest e-learning authoring for major companies across the
globe.Mike Alcock continues, “The potential applications for this technology are
huge and almost mind-boggling. Tourist guides, language training, product
training and updates, maintenance guides and training, medical training,
interactive museum guides, schools training, the list is almost endless. With
the government focusing on ‘personalised learning’, we believe that we are at
the forefront of the next wave of e-learning. Because our rapid e-learning
software is so incredibly quick at producing courses, content producers now have
a method for producing huge volumes of highly interactive content for the Sony
PSP in hours instead of weeks. Needless to say we are enormously excited about
the possibilities."If you have a PSP Slim & Lite (or just want to look at a
course), view a sample of Atlantic Link's PSP e-learning at the link below.

Download a Sample eLearning Course for the PSP

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480 x 320 is the new 1024 x 768 (From Clark Quinn's Learnlets Blog)

2008-04-30T11:17:00.000-11:00

Clark Quinn has an interesting thought I would like to challenge:

How do we achieve a balanced solution for mobile content and applications? The iPhone has really raised the bar for mobile web browsing, and most mobile devices will soon have high quality browsing even if the screen remains small. Similarly, the growth area in handhelds are so-called ‘converged’ devices: smartphones or wireless-enabled PDAs. Consequently, I propose it will be a plausible approach to start thinking of web apps as a delivery vehicle for mLearning.

Web standards for screen size started at 640 x 480, and have ranged through 800 x 600, to 1024 x 768. The iPhone has established a significant enough market presence to drive a variety of sites to create a version that accommodates the iPhone’s resolution of 480 x 320. Phones can go down to as low as 160 x 160, so that might be your lowest common denominator, but I believe a safe bet could be 320 x 240 which is fairly common on a variety of devices. The new 800 x 600?

The point being, that thinking about small web apps may be the cost-effective and logical approach to provide mobile access, content. 160 x 160 is the new 640 x 480, etc. Already there are blogging tools for phones/mobile devices, and wikis are just web pages, etc. Web 1.0 is likely to be a viable solution, and the convergence of Web 2.0 and mobile is a promising place to play. Anyone game?

I would like to challenge Clark on one more thought. Maybe no standard size is the new standard? We have years of instructional design methods and standards regarding when to put what content in training. With mLearning, it seems many folks are trying to smash existing content standards into preset screen sizes. Instead of thinking lowest common denominator, why not consider mailable content to the end-user's situation? By this, I mean that content isn't written with one single screen size in mind, but instead, we take the approach of creating content that, by design, will modify itself to the user versus simply the screen size.

Think about it this way, if a user is accessing training on a 160x160 handset, he obviously is looking for something, at a time or in a location, that prevents him from accessing this content from a different venue. Does he need a quick answer? If he needs a quick answer or quick training, is a truncated eLearning course the best solution?

Over and over, it has been said that one of the factors in mLearning not taking off is screen size. Maybe we as developers are partially to blame as we've been focusing on fitting old eLearning models into new formats? Maybe we need to start changing our models to fit our user's full experience, not just his screen size?

Just something to chew on for a while........

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iGo uGo weGo moGo! Mogopop your iPod and 5 other mLearning Ideas (More from technoLOTE.com)

2008-04-29T13:09:00.000-11:00

technoLOTE.com is becoming a great mLearning resource. Here are some more iPod/mLearning ideas from technoLOTE.

This post is a follow on from iPod mLearn oCool!

Most students at most schools will own, if not, have access to, at least one device that can be used for mlearning. iPods and mp3 players are a great place to start - especially if school policy doesn’t allow mobile phones in classrooms. I don’t have the option of using mobile phones in the classroom (as much as I would like to) simply because we don’t get phone reception at our little school in our little country town! One major advantage of integrating some form of mlearning into your courses is that it leaves classtime for other activities that you may not have originally had time for. I’m hoping to use some mlearning to get my students to learn certain amounts of vocabulary so that instead of explicitly teaching the meaning of words in class we can spend the time chatting to other classes on Skype, or creating wikis, blogs and movies.

Some mlearning Ideas for your LOTE classroom:

Create vocab lists for students to learn and review (this could be audio or visual for mp3 players)

Create recordings of dialogues for students to listen to repeatedly

Record grammar explanations and any other part of your class that students might need to hear more than once

Create iPod quizzes. First search the iTunes store for iQuiz and purchase it for $1.69. Then you can play the built in Quizzes (US based music and movie stuff) or you can create your own quizzes by using iQuiz Maker.The quizzes can have True/False or Multiple Choice questions or a mixture of the two.

Create simple question and answer .txt files that will display on an iPod. Just create a file of whatever you need and put it in the Notes folder in the iPod. If they are .txt files they will then display on the iPod screen. Students could simply scroll through questions and answers or a block of text you need them to read. Yes, they could just read a book or a photocopied piece of paper, but there is a chance they will be more engaged and more likely to actually read it if they can do so on their iPod - and maybe study on the bus on the way home without others knowing what they are doing!

I’m not an expert on how to use mobile/cell phones and am a bit unsure about their capabilities - how would you use them for mlearning activities?

Mogopop your iPod!

Read the rest at TechnoLOTE.com

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My iPod and its Voice Recorder in My Classroom (From TechnoLOTE.com)

2008-04-29T13:00:00.001-11:00

TechnoLOTE.com has great post along with videos of using iPods in the classroom.

My iPod and its Voice Recorder in My Classroom

Here are two short videos that I made yesterday (recorded with a digital camera) that show how I use my iPod with its voice recorder in my class as a tool for recording students spoken work. Well, I really should say how my students use my iPod with its recorder, because even though I changed the display language to Chinese, they still want to get their hands all over it.

The voice recorder I bought to go with the iPod is an XtremeMac Micromemo for around $60.

Read the rest and watch the videos at technoLOTE.com.

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Adam S. Brooks: Mobile Learning :: Abilene Christian University (ACU) is the first university in nation to provide an iPhone or iPod Touch mobile device to all incoming freshmen

2008-04-29T06:21:00.000-11:00

Adam S. Brooks: Mobile Learning :: Abilene Christian University (ACU) is the first university in nation to provide an iPhone or iPod Touch mobile device to all incoming freshmen

An Apple iPhone or iPod touch will become a central part of Abilene Christian University's innovative learning experience this fall when all freshmen are provided one of these converged media devices, said Phil Schubert, ACU executive vice president. At ACU - the first university in the nation to provide these cutting-edge media devices to its incoming class - freshmen will use an iPhone or iPod touch to receive homework alerts, answer in-class surveys and quizzes, get directions to their professors' offices, and check their meal and account balances - among more than 15 other useful web applications already developed, said ACU Chief Information Officer Kevin Roberts. ACU's vision for technology has been captured in a forward-looking film called 'Connected,' found online - along with information about ACU's other ground-breaking mobile learning efforts - @ www.acu.edu/connected. [read more]

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More thoughts on Branching Simulations

2008-04-28T08:23:00.002-11:00

In a previous post, I challenged my readers on what they felt was more important with branching simulations, the tool or the process. I recently re-discovered a post by the eLearning-Guru that challenges the effectiveness of branching simulations in general.

In this interview branching simulations come up in the topic:

Clark Aldrich: Any time you don't have the right simulation genre that is a failure. A lot of early "simulation" attempts were to use branching videos and other forms of branching stories to teach high potential managers new skills. A branching story is where you're given a bit of background and you have to make an A, B or C decision to move to the next branch in the programming tree and it's a series of answers to questions and you move along through the experience that way.

Branching stories turned out to be remarkably ineffective for high potential managers who really like and value creativity and who come to the table with a pretty good skill set and want to hone and refine their own skills as opposed to being put through a maze. That use of branching story simulations probably is one of the early spectacular simulation failures. You can't use those kinds of branching stories to teach high level management skills to high potential managers.

Karl Kapp: I'd imagine there are still vendors doing just that.

Clark Aldrich: Even as we speak. And in a lot of cases people say, "oh yeah you know we tried those simulations for our managers and it didn't work, therefore, we're not going to do any more simulations." You have to understand where those concerns stem from. The real news is that the exact same model, the same branching story model, works fabulously well with new employees and works fabulously well with unmotivated employees

In this case the branching simulation genre is not a bad genre. It was simply used in the wrong way. When that happens it creates a ripple effect. And that's the whole premise of the book…the proper application of a simulation genre depends on the audience and the content. If you ask an audience their opinion of a certain simulation genre invariably people who give an unfavorable opinion were those who took the simulation in the wrong place and those who have a very strongly favorable opinion took it in the right place.

I personally find a lot of use in well done branching simulations- showing consequences of possible option paths. What are your thoughts on Clark's comments?

A Must Read Blog- New Learning Playbook

2008-04-28T06:08:00.000-11:00

I've discovered a new blog today that I would recommend for everyone to add to their feed list.

The New Learning Playbook tracks innovations and trends in corporate learning and talent management among corporations, universities and government agencies.

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From Corporate eLearning Blog- Request for Training via Blackberry

2008-04-27T07:45:00.001-11:00

"I am looking for the ability to send an email to all our Attorneys via
BlackBerry (1000+) that contains a link. Upon clicking the link a multimedia
file will either download and play or stream (with buffer). The multimedia file
can be actual video or a PowerPoint-type stack that contains audio and automatic slide changes or similar functionality. I understand the BB does not have a
Flash driver, yet, but that might be optimal, if it is in the works.The critical
factor is that our Attorneys do not have to open up a separate application on
the BB and drill down to play a file and that the file includes audio and visual
information (slides or video). Currently I have tested Chalk and Sona Media
Player. Both play video, but I did not see the ability to launch it via an email
link. Also, I took a look at Impatica's technical specifications and they were
conspicuously silent regarding audio.I am told that the BB 9000's will play
PowerPoint, but have not had a chance to get my hands on one to see if that
includes audio. Cost is also a factor, so attrition of old units for new ones is
more viable than purchasing a whole integrated system (e.g., new BES server
software, or license per user pricing), especially if newer units will include
this basic functionality.Of course, this functionality can be accomplished on a
mobile phone. Nevertheless, all our Attorneys carry BlackBerries. Thanks for
your help with this. I don't mind answering questions, having this request
posted somewhere for discussion, or beta testing (non-disclosure OK, agreement
for purchase NOT) device software (not BES software). The vendor who can rise to the challenge will conquer the Attorney Training market"

http://elearndev.blogspot.com/2008/04/request-for-training-via-blackberry.html#links

I have recommended the following solutions (from an email conversation):

First, this should be easy to download so just having a formatted video is important. Of course, your client will need a host server for the video. You can use a product like the Blackberry Video Generator.

This product will create optimized videos for the Blackberry (used on the Pearl and it works, they should have a version for the 9000.) They can then store the file (AVI) on a web server, send thelink to the file via email, and it will trigger a download. (Save>Open should be automatic prompt)

A few other creative ways one could do this via streaming video would be to use one of the streaming webcam viewer software applications like this.

What solutions would my readers recommend? Please visit the Corporate eLearning blog link at the top of this article and submit your recommendations.

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Branching Simulations Best Practices- Your Thoughts

2008-04-19T10:05:00.000-11:00

Creating branching simulations in eLearning is often an exercises in patience and organizational skills. There are several development tools out there that say they specialize in branching simulations. What are your thoughts?

Tools or process? What is more important in creating branching simulations in eLearning?

What best practices have you run into? Lessons learned?

We want to hear from you. Leave your comments here or, if you would like to post an article on branching simulations, email me @ mobilelearn@gmail.com.

mLearning-World.com is always looking for more authors. If you would like to be a one time or regular contributor to our site, please let us know.

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Death of the PDA

2008-03-14T12:01:00.000-11:00

By Jonathan Nalder, www.mlearnxyz.net :

A now finished Palm special deal giving away a z22 handheld with every TX handheld sold (see HERE) has been called the beginning of the end for PDA’s. Conducted in February, just shortly after Palm had closed its retail stores, it seems obvious that this special was nothing more than a chance for Palm to clear out unsold stock of the PDA’s it still (obviously) has.

Seeing as only one company has even released new model PDA’s at any time IN THE LAST THREE YEARS!, (HP) it seems pretty obvious that the PDA as a standalone device has long been on its way out.

This is made even more obvious as company that made its name making PDA’s (remember when ‘a Palm’ was as synonomous with handheld computers as ‘a Hoover’ is with vacuum cleaners still ...) starts clearing out stock in this way. Speculation is that they have already stopped production of their TX, z22 and E2.

Perhaps this has been inevitable since the time when smartphone sales picked up. Indeed, my recent pick as my school’s next handheld was a Palm smartphone. What’s sad for Palm is that they are potentially killing off the TX, a large-screened, wi-fi mini-tablet, just as the iPod Touch is showing that there is life for non-smartphone devices that focus on being MID’s (mobile internet devices) rather than just PDA’s.

Oh well. The PDA is dead. Long live the PDA (in other guises).

Let me add however, that for schools, this may all be good news as cheap units start appearing!

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My local school districts embrace mLearning

2008-03-11T13:28:00.000-11:00

iLearning: Elementary, high school students use Apple devices in IDEA pilot program

HALLSVILLE — Fourteen-year-old Amy Myers does not own an Apple iPhone, but she knows how to work one. Depending on the results of a Hallsville Independent School District pilot program, she might soon get a similar device to aid her education.

Amy is one of about 65 Hallsville High School students and four elementary classes participating in the IDEA (Innovative Devices for Educational Assistance) Pilot Project, which aims to determine whether using personal, handheld computing devices helps students. High school students are using iPod Touches in the project, and elementary students are using iPod Nanos. The project began three weeks ago.

Although the devices have not seen much use in classroom instruction, Myers said teachers have downloaded educational videos and audio recordings to the devices. The downloaded material is assigned as homework, and students must watch and listen before answering a worksheet.
"We like watching movies," said Myers, who credits the technology for a slight increase in her grade in biology class.

Her classmate, Ryan Cole, said one benefit of the recorded lessons is that they can be paused and watched again. He said he can also take notes in classes on the tiny computer.
Mike Stanfield, district technology director, is hoping grade bumps will be seen across the board. Stanfield said if the project produces a noticeable increase in learning and retention, every student could receive an iPod Nano or iPod Touch for educational use.

Stanfield said the pilot project, which has a budget of $100,000, was the result of wanting to expose all students to technology, even if the students cannot purchase the devices themselves. He said the Apple devices were purchased at discounted prices.

Read the rest here->

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Cloud Computing and mobility Part 2.

2008-02-18T19:55:00.001-11:00

In part one we looked at how computing may just become a service utility in the same sense as electricity or water, and be accessible anywhere via wireless technologies.

Not accessible on a desktop PC you can’t lug anywhere. And available to devices that don’t have the processing power of decent laptops. But is this what we see happening around us?

There are at least two ways in which I believe you can see the beginnings of this happening - all of them outside the corporate, big server IT industry where cloud computing is usually talked about due to its potential to reduce the cost of running in-house IT departments.

The first is the availability of devices designed for this whole new category - a class that has only appeared in the last 18 months. Sometimes known as MID’s (Mobile Internet Devices), there are now major examples being sold by none other than Nokia, Sony and Apple. Certainly the iPhone and iPod Touch you’ve heard of, devices which boasts desktop-class browsing abilities as a major selling point.

The Nokia n810 tablet, though larger with its button keyboard and bigger screen, is still portable and configured primarily to access the internet. Likewise the smaller (and yet to prove itself) Sony Mylo resembles a PSP, but is built for messaging and VOIP rather than gaming.

The recent CES tech conference saw a plethora of other such devices from LG, Intel and Asus unveiled as well. Apart from the iPhone, none of the above contain phone functionality, but instead assume that easy access to the web is the new killer app.

Alongside this new found rush to supply consumers with ‘always-on’ wireless devices capable of accessing the internet as ‘cloud’, comes a push now to have the experience enhanced by having the ‘heavy-lifting’ of processing web data conducted by remote servers so as to enhance the mobile experience.

Introduced as a beta just recently, the Skyfire browser is an example of just this, supplying to mobile devices only an easily processed image file of any web page, thus making zooming and panning of content almost simultaneous. Available for windows mobile devices, it significantly lowers load times, all thanks to work being done ‘off-device’, the very model that cloud computing allows, albeit in a mobile access focused way.

This kind of service combined with Google Docs (and similar online ‘Office’-like suites) offering of free online use of productivity and business software, means that the ability to leave behind expensive and over powerful computers for sleek and accessible devices is becoming a possibility for many.

So will these trends impact mobile learning? Well, there’s dozens of new mobile devices becoming available, check. There’s access to the total of human gathered information and online software such as Word processors, Photoshop and video editing, check. There’s much greater interactive communication than just the txting, non-connected programs or basic web pages that many mobile learning projects have relied on so far, check. That seems like a winner.

Just watch and wait for them to be banned but still turn up at a school near you!

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Training Top 125 2008: Winners- Congrats to my team #38

2008-02-12T13:09:00.000-11:00

Training Top 125 2008: Winners

Congrats to my team, ranked 38- and in the top 125 for eight years in a row!

For the seventh year in a row, Training tackled the task of ranking the top
companies of employer-sponsored workforce training and development. Each Top 125 company was measured on quantitative (75 percent to total score) and qualitative (25 percent to total score) data.What factors influenced the rankings? Training tied to business objectives. Number of trainers. Employee turnover and retention. Leadership development. Tuition assistance. Corporate university. Certification. Dollars spent on training. Percentage of payroll. And, much, much more.
An outside research and statistical data company, under the guidance of Training magazine, scored companies on this data supplied by applicants. Then, our editors subjectively reviewed each application. This year, there were 37 newcomers to the list, including five in the Top 50. All of these Top 125 companies invested tremendous time, dedication, commitment, and resources in learning and development excellence—and had the business results to show for
it.

Best Practices and Outstanding Training Initiatives also are recognized in this issue. Learn about Aetna Inc.'s Generational Diversity initiative, QUALCOMM's Online Employee Tradeshow, AlliedBarton's Leadership Boot Camp, ADP's SBS Sales Leadership Academy, Best Buy's Women's Leadership Forum, Lockheed Martin's Safety Award for Team Excellence, and more.

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Cloud Computing: money and mobilty

2008-02-01T19:22:00.000-11:00

by Jonathan Nalder
mLearnxyz.net

So what does mobile learning have to do with ‘cloud computing’? And just what is ‘cloud computing’?

Anyone who has been into tech for even 10 years will remember the big step it was to buy that first PC. Mine was via my parents in 1988 - the screen was CGA with wait for it - 3 colours! It cost over $2500 at the time. So did our next PC - a 386. So did the next, a Pentium IV. My latest machine, a Macbook Pro also cost just over this same $2500 line. What’s with that?

Doing the sums (and adding in a 2004 iBook - cheap at $1800) shows that just on PC hardware, thats more than $12000 - admittedly this has been over nearly 20 years. But something has been happening that might just end this cycle for ever. More on that shortly.

But first, just imagine I wasn’t just one guy, but a large organisation that needed 100 computers, like my school. Multiply the average PC costs by that many with a replacement every 3-4 years and the costs really start to add up. And we haven’t even added software and printers, routers etc. Now imagine that computing power and the software it runs could be available not from your own expensive and energy sucking tower, but from the air.

From the air you say? Well, ‘wirelessly’ might be a better way of putting it - because its the development of the wireless internet that is making this rather fanciful sounding idea a very real possibility as the tech industry goes forward. Its starting in small ways, from two different angles, but could soon just rise up and overturn the accepted computing model we have always lived with.

The first angle its coming from has nothing to do with mobile technology, but I’ll detail it briefly in this mLearning blog just for context. It stems very much from the money side of things we’ve already discussed. Keeping up to date with computing power is expensive! Not to mention the waste the industry generates (National Geographic article). So now that large amounts of networking and productivity software via the Web 2.0 have arrived, a machine capable of running a good browser is all that many people, including large business looking to save on hardware costs, may need.

With Yahoo!, Google, Amazon, .Mac etc online storage options reaching the many gigabytes now, many users may not even need much more now than a cheap usb drive and internet connection - all the rest is supplied as a service. Cloud computing then (also called utility computing) foresees that supplying this service will eventually look much like the other utility service providers we take for granted - such as power, electricity and water. Instead of $2500+ every few years, you’ll just have a bundled monthly fee.

The one problem with this model is that its only as good as where you can access it. 3G, wi-fi and wimax technologies however mean that staying in contact with ones online files and software can now be deployed anywhere. This is where mobile devices come in. One doesn’t have to lug a PC tower or even laptop around to still be able to perform desktop-class tasks - even Photoshop is being brought online by Adobe soon.

The next part of this article will examine just which mobile devices are leading this change, and what it means for mobile learning... until then, go here for further reading:

WIRED ‘The Information Factories’

MIT Review ‘Computer in the Cloud: Online desktop systems could bridge the digital divide’.

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Jane in Java 2: mLearning in my school

2008-01-28T14:37:00.000-11:00

A teacher's report on mLearning from: Jane in Java 2: mLearning in my school

Jane in Java 2 reports-

Have you had experience using m-learning devices in a learning environment?Currently the use of mobile phones at my school is more directed at the parents rather than the students. We use SMS to inform/invite parents to workshops and meetings. My parents often contact me using SMS but I only reply if it is before 7pm. I believe that after that time is my family time so I will reply the next day. My students in Grade 5 all have mobile but I prefer to email with them because it’s free rather than using up my personal phone credit. Our school has a dedicated mobile phone for each Principal for school meeting announcements. Teachers must use their own phones and pay for phone credit themselves.
Do you see possibilities for using e-learning devices to either enhance existing learning practices or enable emerging learning practices? I have heard from a friend of mine who used to work in Japan that SMS is used to track students as they move from tutoring class to tutoring class. As the child checks in an SMS is sent to the parent’s phone to alert them to the whereabouts of their child. In Japan mLearning is a happening thing. Here is a link to a blog
post about a new university course offered http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/28/college-course-via-mobile-phone-being-offered-in-japan/
I have been experimenting with podcasting in my classes recently. This has developed into also using ebooks and audiobooks. I was surprised to find that there are many free ebooks and audiobooks available on the Internet. Podcasts are numerous and mostly free. I found some great ones called English Bites from iTunes. These are video podcasts and focus on real situations. In each episode words and phrases from the footage are focused on. My students love making podcasts in the classroom and my Grade 3 are calling these podcasts Gigglecasts
as they really like to tell jokes. I will take them to the Jakarta Gemstone markets this Wednesday and I hope to make use of my new voice recorder there. I have bought a new iPod classic and a microphone attachment that enables recording. It is really clear. We hope to make or first field trip podcast about what we will see on the trip. I like to use podcasting as it has made my students more aware of how important it is to be able to speak loudly and
clearly. You can hear our podcasting attempts here on my blog,
http://janeinjava2.blogspot.com

Read the rest at Jane's Blog.

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The Face of Learning: Generation M

2008-01-21T12:54:00.000-11:00

From: the Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia (SPERA), links people with a diverse range of interests in education and training to promote the development of rural Australia. The theme of the 2008 Annual Conference is: The Face of Learning: Generation "M".

The conference will explore and reflect upon the impact, in our rural communities, of learning with, and teaching the mobile generation.

Article:http://admin.edna.edu.au/dspace/retrieve/132/SPERA+invitation.pdf

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The iPod in Education - video overview

2007-12-14T14:03:00.000-11:00

//This new mLearn Vidcast looks at how the iPod can be used for educational purposes - over 7 different examples are detailed and demo’d, with practical uses of things such as quizzes, podcasts, audiobooks and more covered.

For Part 1 (setting the master volume, coverflow, Audiobooks, iQuiz maker, exporting quizzes to the iPod) click HERE.

For Part 2 (podcasts, iTunes U, adding your own video, world time, stopwatch) click HERE.

or to watch other mLearnxyz.net videos.//

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Setting Up Mobile Posting

2007-11-20T04:38:00.001-11:00

This is just a placeholder post to test and set up mobile blogger settings. This should allow me to pick up posting on a more regular basis.

Developing Us! M-Learning and More… Mobile Learning

2007-11-20T04:32:00.000-11:00

Leonard Low once again provides us a brilliant discussion on developing mLearning and more.

» Developing Us! M-Learning and More… Mobile Learning

snip:

There are many barriers to teachers trying out and using new and innovative approaches in teaching and learning. It can be hard to find the time to explore and develop new ideas; online “social learning” sites such as YouTube may be blocked; or teachers may not be able to access equipment or funds needed to try out new ideas (such as for mobile learning activities). And that’s if a given teacher even has the inclination to pursue innovative teaching and learning practices; while most teachers are at least interested in new ideas for teaching, there are many more who are just fine with doing it the way they’ve always done it, and see no reason to change.

A bright future for mobiles in schools? Yes.

2007-11-04T21:38:00.000-11:00

//Rather than just reporting on what others have been saying about this new frontier in mLearning - that being kids using their own mobile phones for learning - I’ve written my own paper dealing with policy responses from schools and Education departments. Mostly these have only touched on safety issues - but I also include in the paper plenty of examples of their positive use in education. I even talk about why they should be used and make reccomendations that hopefully future policy makers can use to get the balance right. Enjoy!

Policy before practice: Reactions, Revisions & Recommendations for the educational use of mobile phones.

Copyright 2007 Jonathan W. Nalder
QUT Masters of Learning Innovation Program, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane.
Learning Difficulties Support Teacher, Tullawong State School, Caboolture.
jnald2@eq.edu.au
www.mlearnxyz.net

Abstract
Although ICT integration is growing across all sectors of Education, the one device that most symbolises the current stage of the Digital Revolution, the mobile phone, has not been welcomed into classrooms. Many policies have been written to deal with the negative social and disruptive consequences of the use of digital mobile devices in Education; however less effort has been made to balance such policies against the educational needs of students dealing with the ongoing impact of the Digital Revolution. This paper aims to examine the reactions of current policy to the presence of mobile phones in education and then detail emerging examples of their use to enhance learning. The paper concludes with a summary of recommendations drawn from these examples that may form the basis for more learner-centered policy to be developed in the future.

Keywords
Mobile phones, policy, school practice, mobile learning, mLearning, ICT in Education

Introduction 1.0
The widespread introduction of the printed book from 1650’s onwards put large amounts of information in a portable form for the first time, enabling it to be taken wherever a learner traveled. Policy at the time involved a range of responses to this information revolution, from book burnings to the passing of restrictive legislation. By the 1800’s however, the ability to access and then build on the stored information made possible by printed books contributed in turn to the Reformation, the Age of Reason, the Industrial Revolution and the Digital Revolution.

Introduction 2.0
The widespread introduction since the 1980’s of the personal computer, the internet, and now ubiquitous mobile devices, has allowed large amounts of information to be carried and accessed wherever a learner goes. Policy responses to these developments has ranged from widespread adoption, to the banning of websites and devices. What future developments this ‘always on’ access to local networks and the entire internet, combined with the digital storage capabilities of todays devices will lead to has yet to be determined.

It is important when examining any issue to know what has come before. While technology is always changing, be it from scrolls to printing presses, or room-sized computers to handheld ones, the reactions of those who use it may not. After all, it was over 200 years after printed books became available before the University of Paris allowed students access to its library on the grounds that they undermined the authority of the Teacher and the importance previously held by oral debate (Farrell, 2001, p41).

Background:
The benefits of the micro-chip (developed in 1971) and the hard disk drive, while confined at first to large corporations and universities, have since impacted wider society (and by implication, Education) in three successive waves. The first was the appearance in the early 1980’s of several ‘personal’ computers that were affordable to consumers and schools. According to Culp, Honey and Mandinach, a 1983 report by the Commission on Educational Excellence was the first to include a recommendation that all high school graduates in the United States should “understand the computer as an information, computation and communication device; [be able to] use the computer in the study of the other Basics and for personal and work-related purposes; and understand the world of computers, electronics, and related technologies”(“A Retrospective”, 2005, p280).

Growing out of smaller Government and University computer networks of the late 1980’s, the internet became widely accessible to general users from the early 1990’s. Thus desktop computers could now not just create and store large amounts of information themselves, but use new software by AOL (which allowed access to a restricted web) and Netscape to ‘browse’ thousands (and now millions) of databases and websites. For educators and students, this has allowed research to extend beyond the walls of the classroom and to usher in the use of e-learning incorporating email and chat rooms. More recently, the development of online sharing and social tools (known as Web 2.0) has added another layer of networking to the uses of the internet such that now, “students are not learning alone, in their room, in silence”(Breuleux’s, 2001, p3). The net is initiating a transition whereby ‘school’ as a controlled, separated entity will move to having “a more fluid relationship” between places of learning and the once outside places of work, practice, and play.

Despite the wishes of many Education departments, not all rollouts of these new technologies have gone smoothly. A report in 1999 from the UK Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) stated that there are acute problems in IT in 4 out of 10 schools, and that “[in secondary schools] there is little sign of the technology being used to support deep learning”(Sharples, 2003, “Disruptive Devices”, p505). Cuban, in Reeves, (2002) concluded that in Universities, dominant teaching practices remained largely unchanged in the years where new technologies were introduced and that “traditional forms of teaching seem to have been relatively untouched by the enormous investment in technologies that the university has made since the 1960s”(p129).

In Australia, the Queensland Department of Education has recently released a ‘rollout’ policy to cover its current educational ‘Smart Classrooms’ initiative. It states that “Schools are now educating a generation of students who are growing up in a digital world” (2007, p5), but doesn’t mention the latest development in the digital world. Parallel, but now combining with the rise of Web 2.0, has been the continuing minutiarisation of computers to the point where mobile digital devices such as MP3 players, PDA’s (personal digital assistants) and handheld game systems are proliferating. One device stands above them all in its adoption to the point of becoming ubiquitous - the mobile phone. As of 2003, approximately 95% of all nations have mobile phone networks, with “the majority of the world’s countries have more mobile phone subscribers than fixed landline ones (Katz, Rice, 2003, “ Comparing internet and mobile phone usage” p602). Indeed, it “has become one of the fastest-growing communication technologies ever, with subscriptions reaching over two billion worldwide”(Campbell, 2006, “Perceptions of Mobile Phones”, p280).

Partly because of this, Sharples (2003, “Disruptive Devices”, p505) suggests moving beyond desktop PC focus to mobile networked devices because: “The assumption that computer-mediated learning will occur in the classroom, managed by a teacher, is now being challenged”. This is due to the rise in use of mobile communication computers even by children, to the point where in 2001, a UK survey found that “48% of children aged 7-16 owned a mobile phone and that on average they send 2.5 text messages per day”(Ibid). Attewell and Savill-Smith report even more alarming 2002 figures for the UK showing that 90% of the 15-19 age bracket owned mobile phones (2004, p4).

----------------
To read part 2 (Reactions), part 3 (Revisions) and part 4 (recommendations) please click HERE to download the .PDF file.//

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When is an ipod not an mLearning device?

2007-09-05T20:57:00.000-11:00

There has been a debate over this for a while, but today’s new ipods seems to have started debate again! Especially because the new Touch model (here via engadget) will sport a browser allowing access to all kinds of extra functionality like the web and online document creation (such as google docs).

Not everyone is happy though - see this post by fellow Australian mLearn blogger Leonard Low AND the comments that follow. Why not get into the debate here or there as well (also features Tony Vincent from the excellent ‘Learning in Hand’) ?

My take (commented as jnxyz) is that “no one ever said the ipod was built as a ed device. I’m only aware of one portable digital device that ever truly has been (OLPC). All the rest we’re just adapting and working with it. We should never be dazzled Leonard, but why not take whatever advantage we can of the tools that are common. Until all schools get OLPC’s or similar, that’s our educator’s lot I’m afraid… Or is there another alternative device out there?”

What’s yours?

See also these previous articles here about ipod’s and education:

- Let’s get the ipod’s in schools debate started!
- Schools ditching technology

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Kids, Mobiles and the what it all means

2007-08-27T21:37:00.000-11:00

Yes, the issue that won't go away - especially as far as schools are concerned. Not only is there the problem of them being stolen from students bags, there's the 'status' problem for kids who don't have them, and cyber-bullying for those who do. Despite this, there is a huge potential for the use of mobile phones in learning, especially for those school districts whose ICT funds still go largely to maintaining desktop labs.

I know at my school, up to a third of upper students have them - even if only a percentage have camera's or bluetooth capability, there still may be 100 or more mobile devices in my school every day - certainly swamps the 5 PDA's I have access to.

To access the full article and links, head to www.mLearnxyz.net

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The 360 mLearning Report from eLearning Guild

2007-08-22T16:59:00.000-11:00

The 360 mLearning report from the eLearning Guild is now available to download.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get the OK to release the two case studies I had prepared for the report in time for the publication, however, there are two excellent case studies included with this report:

Case Study: Integrating m-Learning with a Learning Management SystemTristan
Evans, president of Perago Learning Solutions, Inc., explains how his company
integrated m-Learning with a Learning Management System, and how you can do the
same.
Case Study: A Look at Mobility within the Walls of Tyco International,
Ltd.Don McDougal, Director of Learning Technology at Tyco International shares a
view into his company’s mobility strategy, and provides us with a unique
opportunity to see their progression from pioneers to accomplished experts.

Download the full report from the eLearning Guild here:

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Answering LinkedIn: Will it (mLearning) become a worthy alternative for ILT/CBT/eLearning?

2007-08-15T11:26:00.000-11:00

There was an interesting question posted on LinkedIn recently.

mLearning is the talk of the day. Will it become a worthy alternative for ILT/CBT/eLearning?

This question does go to show that people still look at mLearning as a replacement for eLearning instead of a tool to be used in the learning function.

To properly look at mLearning, one needs to not think of the 'm' in mLearning as 'mobile' and instead replace it with the term 'my' (as in myLearning). This is because the key to mLearning's success thus far has been that people are becoming more and more mobile and devices are becoming capable of accessing a wide variety of content. We are at the branch point now where 'mobile learning' has lost its newness and now we can clearly look at it as another tool in our chest.
mLearning should fit the need of:
The Right Content
on the Right Device
in the Right Format
at the Right Time
in the Right Context

mLearning is exploding right now, but, if any of us thinks it will replace the ILT/CBT type learning, then we will lose it's true power.

From Leonard Low» Mobile Blogging + GPS data = Locoblog Mobile Learning

2007-08-15T11:20:00.000-11:00

Further extending the concept of blogging beyond blogging mobile-ly (moblogging), Locoblog automatically uses embedded GPS data in uploaded images to associate each image with a location as soon as it is uploaded; these locations are then viewable on a Google Maps map embedded in a viewer’s web browser, where they can be browsed sequentially or visually (using the map).

Read the rest here:
» Mobile Blogging + GPS data = Locoblog Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning is Best Practice

2007-08-14T13:52:00.000-11:00

In the school system in which I teach, laptops are being made available for every Teacher over the next 3 or so years. Exciting as this is, there are some districts overseas where every student has a laptop. In particular, the state of Maine in the USA is in its fifth year of providing iBook laptops to all its thousands (25,000+) of students. This kind of long term project has great potential to provide feedback then on whether the technology is just a gimmick, or if it has had a positive impact.

As reported by 'The Ellsworth American', a Main newspaper, surveys of nearly 5,000 middle school teachers from throughout Maine show that laptops improve motivation, engagement and class participation for special needs students and for students considered “at risk” for low academic achievement.

The results have been overwhelmingly positive. To read the rest of this post, go HERE.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

mLearning with PDA survey's

2007-08-04T20:28:00.001-11:00

For my first cross-post from the mLearnxyz blog, I'd like to zoom right back to my frontline: Tullawong State School, Caboolture. This is the second year in a row we have run a unit using the free Ninepoll survey program on our Palm Z22's.

Year 7 students with learning difficulties are required to brainstorm different survey ideas before writing them out with A,B,C and D answer options. They then enter these into Ninepoll and check their spelling and punctuation. Next up students rehearse approaching other kids and teachers to ask politely if they have some time, then read out their questions and answers before using the software to record the responses. Ninepoll adds up all the responses in different categories and displays the data as bar and pie graphs.

There are of course several reasons why we use this unit with our students. Obvious ones include exposure to the survey genre, practice at editing, and learning PDA skills. But their are two others also which I have observed that are just as important. The first relates to confidence, and it is truly remarkable to watch kids who are used to struggling when it comes to literacy task gain the confidence to approach even the Principal and clearly state their questions. The other area is about bridging the digital divide. Its no secret that many students with learning difficulties come from disadvantaged backgrounds. For these kids, the chance to learn how to use a PDA in primary school is just the sort of headstart they need to expose them to a wider world of digital possibilities than they may otherwise be exposed to.

So yeah, we're proud of these students, as are their classroom teachers. So do you think that there should be a skatepark at school? There are screenshots of this and other survey's the students created available at flickr group 'mobile tech'

- Jonathan Nalder
www.mlearnxyz.net

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

Everyone Welcome our Newest Author- Jonathan Nalder

2007-08-04T04:41:00.000-11:00

I've decided that mLearning-World.com is not just about my opinions and experience, but should be more of an open forum. With this said, I've invited several new authors to share their experience.
Our newest author is Jonathan Nadler.

Jonathan Nalder is a 32 year old Learning Support Teacher currently studying a Masters with a focus on integrating technology into education. Having first opted for a PDA instead of a desktop back in 2003, he has since set out to explore the rich world of mobile learning - where the advantages brought by technology can be accessed anywhere, not just in one lab, or on an old PC at the back of a classroom. First writing about mLearning in early 2006, Jonathan has now published over 60 articles and posts at mlearnxyz.net, authored video podcasts (over 16,000 views at youtube and teachertube), and continued to explore the improved engagement and outcomes his students experience through being able to access digital devices such as Palm PDA's, digital camera's, voice recorders and even pedometers!

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

mLearning is not just Mobile- m(y)Learning now means YOU.

2007-08-02T14:37:00.000-11:00

I've received a lot of emails asking where I have been the past several months. Yes, I'm still alive. As other designers can attest, there are times when the you have so many large enterprise projects hitting that you just want to set your computer aside when you get home.

During this time I have been thinking about what mLearning really is and what should be the goal of mLearning-World.com.

I've come to realize that the m in mLearning is far more than being mobile.
mLearning is the new paradigm of education. One could look at the m in mLearning as MY.

Being mobile is one part of mLearning, but the most important part is that education is
written and delivered to the learner in the way that is best suited for their specific function
and need at the time they receive the training.

With this said, I will be expanding mLearning world beyond Mobile Learning and look more at how learning can be personalized for all learners.

Mobile Learning will still be a large part of this site, first because it is a large part of my job and second,
because it is a crucial part of personalized learning.

In addition to expanding my scope, I have also decided to share mLearning-World. If you would like to take part in posting articles, please drop me an email at mobilelearn@gmail.com.
I am looking for one or two people who would like to share your educational technology experience on this site.

Thanks for your patience, look for a lot more articles soon.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

Elliot Masie's Learning 2007 Conference

2007-06-16T07:24:00.000-11:00

It's time to register for Learning 2007

Dear Learning & Training Colleagues:

You are invited! Learning 2007 is the annual global gathering of learning professionals focused on Learning Changes!

Changing Learning Content: Faster, Shorter, View/Listen, Collaborative, Search
Changing Learners: Impatient, Overwhelmed, Self-Service, New & Retiring
Changing Learning Systems: Evolving LMS, LCMS, Authoring, Social Networks
Changing Learning Issues: Governance, Talent, Assessment, Compliance
Changing Learning Models: e-Learning, Classroom, Gaming, Performance Support

Join Dan Pink (A Whole New Mind), Jenny Zhu (ChinesePod), Tony Bingham (ASTD), Don Tapscott (Wikinomics), Jane McGonigal (Performance/Gaming), Bob Pike (Creative Training) and our two dozen Learning Deans (CLOs of Key Corporations) as we discuss how Learning Changes!

Learning 2007 is presented by our Learning CONSORTIUM and co-hosted by ASTD. Check out the content, activities and learning options that are detailed on this site.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

eLearning DevCon 07- mLearning Session Updates

2007-06-04T16:49:00.000-11:00

I've received a lot of emails asking for information on the two sessions I was scheduled to present at eLearning DevCon 07. Unfortunately, some situations have changed and I won't be attending DevCon. I will, however, post the information from these presentations here at mLearning-World.com. I am also working on creating a 'virtual' session through SecondLife. When I am able to source a meeting hall & time, I'll post the information for these sessions here.

For more information on eLearning DevCon 07, click here.

Information on the two sessions I was originally scheduled to present:

mLearning is Here-
In almost every mLearning conference & presentation, we've been told that mLearning is the 'next big thing'. From more powerful PDAs, the $100 laptop, the iPod, to SmartPhones, every speaker has always touted the upcoming mLearning revolution.

Generally, these speeches have included disclaimers about the roadblocks to this 'revolution'. Be it battery life, screen size, non standardized devices, or technology adoption, there was always something that prevented the revolution from happening now.

This course discusses how the mLearning revolution is already happening, only it has, like it's generation's (X) early adopters, rebelled against being labeled.

We will look at examples of how mLearning is going on all around us from toddlers to large corporations.

This course is designed to stop people from waiting for the mLearning revolution and instead, jump on board.

Start a mLearning Program Today-
Rapid and Cheap Create Rapid and Cheap Mobile Learning with tools such as text messaging, podcasting and rss feeds.

It is wrongly assumed that mobile learning is 'around the corner.' The fact is mobile learning is here and booming. This program will describe how to quickly create and deploy an mLearning strategy with tools your organization may already have.

In this course, we'll look at how to use text messaging in the classroom for interactive games, creating short podcasts that can be downloaded to different devices and use rss feeds to quickly disperse information to your employees.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

iTunes' Big mLearning Leap

2007-06-02T04:38:00.000-11:00

With the newest release of the iTunes store, Apple has made a big mLearning leap.

This content which is available through the iTunes store itself has been provided by top US colleges and universities such as Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Duke University and MIT.

According to Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, “iTunes U makes it easy for anyone to access amazing educational material from many of the country’s most respected colleges and universities. Education is a lifelong pursuit and we’re pleased to give everyone the ability to download lectures, speeches and other academic content for free.”

So if you’re planning on going to college or even university, then you must check out iTunes U via the iTunes Store. Here you will receive free and informative content that can be loaded onto any iPod with just one click, after which you can view it via your iPod anywhere, anytime.

“From its earliest days, Stanford has sought to serve the public by sharing the knowledge generated by our faculty and students,” said Stanford Provost John Etchemendy. “Our partnership with Apple and iTunes U provides a creative and innovative way to engage millions of people with our teaching, learning and research and share the experience of intellectual exploration and discovery that defines our university.”

Remember, you don't need an iPod or other MP3 player to use iTunes. Simply download iTunes from Apple.com and in the store, browse to iTunes U.

The improvements, however doesn't stop with iTunes U. Apple has also released the Learning Interchange, giving educators and students the opportunity to share courses and resources.

Kudos Apple!

I'm downloading several courses today and will report on the quality and overall experience. If you haven't purchased an iPod yet, see the links below for some iPods and accessories on sale.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning

mLearning-World.com

mLearning Book to Blog

Training Top 125 No. 3: Verizon Connects to Success | trainingmag.com

MLearning-World.com: Thanks Google

Apple Loosens Development Restrictions on AppTech Developers Using Adobe Flash Tools

What I'm Reading

Notre Dame launches eReader study, creates first paperless course

Commerical Break

Rapid Prototyping For Mobile Learning Applications

mobileDot » Using Android to Launch Mobile Learning Content [Techie]

eLearning Kindle eBook

From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning: Speak Up 2009: The biggest Obstacle to Using Technology in Ed...Not Being Able to Use Student's Own Mobile Devices!

From mLearnopedia: April - June Hot List: Mobile Learning Content

Mobile Learning: A 4th Reading List

Ignatia Webs: What to take into account when chosing a mobile device for learning?

mLearnCon 2010: Dr. Mimi Ito – What the User Wants in mLearning

Ignatia Webs: Richard Clark: mLearning on multiple devices: a practical guide at mLearnCon

Ignatia Webs: David Metcalf: mLearning theory mashups at mLearncon

mLearnopedia: mLearnCon Mobile Learning Content

Featured mLearning Books

Too Funny

The Disadvantages of Mobile Learning (Only 5 years too late)

mLearning and Accessibility

6 Teachers talk about the iPod Touch and learning

Training Top 125: Alltel Links Training to Sales Success

New Apps on Blackberry Make Online Learning Easy

Perpetual motion

Interactive technology keeps classes 'relevant'

The Cloud and the power cut

mLearning-World Welcomes our Newest Author- Thomas Curtis

Now on Twitter

iLearn program launching next year

Mobile wireless eReader a sign of the ubiquitous future to come

How to Create a Flash Lite RSS Reader- Part 1

**Announcement** New Mobile Learning Content Community Resource Available

Who are the post-millennials?

Hot Lava brings science to 100,000 people over three months at sports stadiums.

Is Twitter Being Used As A Training Tool? | New Learning Playbook

100 eLearning Articles and White Papers : eLearning Technology

Forget the laptop? Use your iPod/iTouch/iPhone to view slideshows on TVs.

Choosing the display

Slideshow settings

Playing a slideshow

Connecting to a TV

Tips for TV viewing

Nominate 2009 Top Young Trainers Today! (Training Magazine)

Open Discussion- Is There an Educational Laffer Curve?

New mobile platform arrives: Android

mLearning and Geocaching

What we've been up to?

Uploading 2008 Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards Icon

Mobile Learning Device Poll

mLearning and Baseball

Making the classroom a playground for learning (Innovations Report)

iTunes 7.7 Warning

Three Great iPhone Tips Courtesy of eWeek

Is Your Training in the Red or in the Green?

The Art of Learning Better: 101 Tips to Find and Fit Your Learning Style

Visual Learners

mLearning Developing while Mobile

Detecting Mobile Browsers- Applying CSS

Script to Detect iPhone and Blackberry

OnPoint Digital CellCast- Opinions

Our Domains Reminder

Learning Solutions Mag- Mainstreaming Mobile Learning

Matrix Learning Coming Soon- From Telegraph UK

mLearning World is on Facebook

BJ gets it- Starting Slowly with mLearning « eLearning Weekly

100 Helpful Web Tools for Every Kind of Learner | College@Home

Eee PC hands-on

Mobile quiz tests Games knowledge

Nokia gets educational with M4Girls pilot project. | GoMo News

Flypaper- Opinions Requested

COMING SOON!

Trying out a new tool- Voice2Text

Newswire / Press Release: Atlantic Link Launches Rapid e-Learning for the Sony PSP - Education/e-Learning/Training - Atlantic Link | NewswireToday

480 x 320 is the new 1024 x 768 (From Clark Quinn's Learnlets Blog)

iGo uGo weGo moGo! Mogopop your iPod and 5 other mLearning Ideas (More from technoLOTE.com)

My iPod and its Voice Recorder in My Classroom (From TechnoLOTE.com)

Adam S. Brooks: Mobile Learning :: Abilene Christian University (ACU) is the first university in nation to provide an iPhone or iPod Touch mobile device to all incoming freshmen

Announcement New Mobile Learning Content Community Resource Available