Implementing mobile learning

ExploringMobile learning

By: Akhlesh Agarwal

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NIIT University

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Journey of teaching tools

Blackboard+ Chalk

Digital content+ Learning portal

Mobile learning tools

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Mobile learning

• Pros– Anytime anywhere

connectivity– Always “on” with Gen Y– Phones becoming

Smarter

• Cons– Small screen– Different platforms (iPhone,

Android, Bberry)– Different connectivity (SMS,

Blutooth, Wifi, 3G GPRS…… Too complex?)

– Cost of data transfer

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Exams

Hands on / Labs

Collab oration

Content

Guru

Traditional learning

processes

Phone based lecture delivery ?(What an !dea sir ji )

Small videosAudio Podcasts

PPT, PDF,Quick ref guides

SMS based messaging and Q&A,

Attendance

OS specific Apps

Small text based quizzes

Possibilities with mLearning

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Choosing the right teaching processes for mLearning

Tools available on phone

Connectivity available on phone

Usage behavior

Bite-size content Simple to create by faculty Simple to use by students

Min keyboard requirementCost of downloadingOffline options

Voice callSMSAudio file (MP3)Pictures/ImagesVideo file eBooksInternet BrowserPlatform specific App

GSM/CDMABlueTooth GPRSWiFi3G

Campus WiFi for student phones. So that they don’t need to pay for using 3G or GPRS for accessing content

from phones

Mobile content should be small duration and it should be easy to create by faculty

Mobile content should use tools which are available on most

phones not just latest smartphones

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Results from student surveyon technology availability

in student phones

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Phone Technology

(Feb 2012)

26%

25%8%5%2%

34%

AndroidSymbianBlackberry iPhoneWindowsNo smartphone

65%13%

22%YesNoDon’t know

Bluetooth Wifi GPRS 3G0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%95%

56%

82%

59%

Java application support

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Usage behavior23%

77%

YesNo

Have you ever accessed NU moodle from your phone

60%

40%

YesNo

Do you use some SMS facility to send cheap SMS to your friends 25%

26%

45%

Yes (almost every hour)

Yes (Twice a day)

Yes (once a day)

Yes (But not regularly)

Don’t chk mail on phone

Do you check your NU mail on your phone

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Exams

Hands on / Labs

Collab oration

Content

Guru

Traditional learning

processes

Phone based lecture delivery ?(What an !dea sir ji )

Small videosAudio Podcasts

PPT, PDF,Quick ref guides

SMS based messaging and Q&A,

Attendance

OS specific Apps

Small text based quizzes

mLearning: recommended processes for NU

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Key findings

• Allow NU-WiFi for student phones for them to use “NUcleus” (NU-Moodle) and other internet based content. Students would not want to pay for using GPRS/3G

• SMS, Audio (MP3), Images tools available on most phones.

• OS specific Apps not recommended in initial Phase.

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Recommended processes

• Audio podcasts– Easy to create by faculty, can be downloaded and used offline

by students– http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

• Small articles, quick ref guides– Can be in eBook/PDF or image formats

• SMS based collaboration– Teacher to students (From phone or from portal) – student to students

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Mobile learning at NU campus

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Mobile learning also includes using the laptop with campus wide WiFi in open lawns. Here a students clarifies her doubts in

discussions with a faculty.

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In the cafeteria when students have an argument on a technical query, mobile learning access immediately provides the right

answer.

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Listening to a downloaded podcast from her faculty, this student is actually learning while jogging.

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akhlesh.agarwal@

@akhlesha