Athabasca University in mobile learning: seven years of mobile learning projects and

research

Steve Schafer, Director, Library ServicesTony Tin, Head, Electronic Resources & Digital

Initiatives

About Athabasca UniversityCanada’s Open University - distance learning

and online learningLocation: Athabasca, Alberta, CanadaLearning centres in Edmonton and CalgaryMore than 38,000 students with 830 coursesIndividualized and self-paced studies

Why Advocate Mobile Technology in AU?

Accessibility of audienceInstant delivery and

updatesAffordablility/portablilityNovelty of gadget/displaySupports those with

special needs

Mobile Library ProjectProvide learners

with access to the library services and learning resources using mobile devices.

Recipient of 2006 CLA Library Research and Development Grant award. http://library.athabascau.ca

Special FeaturesMobile friendly: Supported device: PDA,

Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ, Smart phones, Iphones

The site includes mobile friendly:Digital Reading RoomDigital Reference CentreDigital Thesis & Project RoomLibrary catalogueSearch engine

Model adopted by UK Open University

Desktop Version

Mobile Friendly Version

M-library Design/Technology

Mobile Workplace English ProjectBuilt on the success

of the previous mobile ESL project (2007)

Improve workplace communication

Provide practical and useful vocabulary

Introduce relevant situations

Optimized for iPhone use http://eslau.ca

http://wpeau.ca

2008 CNIE Conference Excellence and Innovation in Use of Learning Technology

Mobile Learning Lessons in Different Sectors

Workplace specific grammar

Mobile ESL Mobile WorkPlace English

Interactive ExercisesM/C, True/False, Matching, Word Order

Multimedia Features -audio

Vocabulary listsDialoguesAudio questions

Multimedia Features -video

Mobile French

French Language Content developed for beginners.

designed especially for the iPhone

http://www.fslau.ca/

FeaturesGrammar

and audio exercises to improve comprehension in beginners

Canfilm AppPromote App-

based learning of Canadian films.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canfilm/id457316427?mt=8

Contents

.

Demo

• Explore the use of mobile technology as a tool for delivering health and wellness information.

• reminding and teaching of simple exercises that can be done at the workplace.

• This application will operate under the iOS platform and run on the iPhone/iPad device.

• 2012 Athabasca University Wellness Award.

• http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wellnessatwork/id554485674?mt=8

Mobile Wellness App Reminder Tool:

Using the reminder tool, user can set reminders for him/her to practice. (e.g. every hour, or every day at 10 a.m. , 12:00 p.m. and 3 p.m.)

This reminder tool will be integrated into the calendar function in the iOS.

Audio: At the beginning and end of

each session, a reminder chime will sound.

The audio sound of the application can be switch on and off by the user.

Lesson Videos: There will be

five short exercise set lessons available in the application.

User can select and play any one of the five lessons.

Calendar Function:Users will be able to

track their cumulative exercise time with the calendar

Demo

Canadian Seniors and E-Readers

• Canadian seniors (aged 55+) were provided with an Amazon Kindle for 4-weeks, a book of THEIR choice, a newspaper subscription, and a training session.

• Ongoing technical support was provided for the length of this project (by e-mail, phone or in person)

• 56 responses in total for the final questionnaire session (so far)

• 55/56 had never read an e-book before

Testing Group68% had never used a mobile device in the past (including: smart phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Blackberry)

61% usually access their internet at home

16% access at both home and work,

9% do not access the internet

Increase Access? 73% either Agree or Strongly Agree

that E-readers will increase access to reading materials.

Sample comments “Ideal for someone with restricted

mobility/ access to other resources” “With living in a small town, it's

difficult to get to a book store on a regular basis, and when ordering online, it takes time before you receive the book. However, with an e-reader you have immediate access to books or other reading materials.”

“Great for anyone who needs to have a number of books readily accessible, e.g. Students. The social network functions may be interesting, e.g. comparing comments on books read, etc.”

General CommentsPositives

“Increased font size, very useful”

Small, light, portableAuto-bookmarking (“my

bookmarks always fall out of my paperbacks”)

Good for travel“I like not getting ink from

newspapers on my fingers”“Easy on my eyes”“Loved the Search

function”

Concerns• Screen did not light up• Page numbers? “I don’t

like seeing a percentage, I want to know the number of pages in my book!”

• “I missed holding a book”• “I wanted to flip pages”• Colour pictures?• “black on black buttons, I

couldn’t see what to push”• “I was scared to use it, I

didn’t want to break it!”

ChallengesDefining content

Define the amount and type of information

Design of the format Normal website vs. mobile versiontext, images, graphics, tables, locationdifferent file types (pdf, flv)

Display modelsdifferent display model and stylesheet

Different standards, data networks, and operating systems

Language compatibilityBandwidth

Final RemarksIt’s not about devices, but capabilities

It’s not about technology, but experience

It’s not about knowledge, but Imagination

“All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose” Brian Tracy

Further InformationWebsite:

Mobile Library:http://library.athabascau.ca/Mobile learning contenthttp://eslau.cahttp://wpeau.cahttp://fslau.ca

Publications:Ally, M. (2009). Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training.