Often misunderstood, mobile learning oozes potential — particularly in areas like performance support and informal learning.
In this presentation we outline valuable insights into benefits, content, design, planning and challenges of a successful adoption of mobile learning. For audio, please see https://www.tp3.com.au/ideas/webinars
2. #TP3MobileLearning
Mobile Learning - Agenda
• New ways of working
• New ways of learning
• A new generation of learners
• Why does mobile learning work?
• When does mobile learning work?
• How?
• Questions
3. #TP3MobileLearning
New Ways of Working
• Continuous communication
across time and distance
• Communicate with co-workers
inside and outside the
organisation
• Key enablers:
– Capabilities of workers
– Technology
4. #TP3MobileLearning
New ways of learning
• Learning & work are
converging
• Business focused learning is
achievable
• Torrent of data
• Rise and rise of informal
learning
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A new generation of learners –
The Millenials (Gen Y)
• First generation to have always
used technology
– Not just finding facts; but reaching
people
• Traditional learning techniques
aren’t appealing – they learn
differently
• By 2015 - most significant part of
the workforce
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Why Does Mobile Learning Work?
• Mobile use is twice as likely to enable learners to communicate and
learn from each other, encourage peer-to-peer feedback, share
experiences and solve problems online
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Why Does Mobile Learning Work?
• Seventy percent reported an increase in their
motivation to learn when mobile devices are used
properly
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Who Benefits?
• Learning something for the first time
• Learn more and extend the breadth
and depth
• When people need to remember
• When people face a challenge and
need
• When people need to learn
something new due to a change in
the previously learned information
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Where to Next?
• An expanded definition of mobile
• Not just phones and tablets anymore
• Wearable technology
– Google Glasses
– Samsung Watch
According to the 2013 study “Mobile Learning at Work,” mobile users are two times more likely to enable learners to communicate and learn from each other, encourage peer-to-peer feedback, share experiences and solve problems online. Furthermore, they are two times as likely to be using podcasts and blogs and signifcantly more likely to be using videos.
Studies show that mobile learning increases motivation and, in turn, increases attendance. Seventy percent of the students surveyed in this study report an increase in their motivation to learn when mobile devices are used properly.
Dr. Conrad Gottfredson, a senior partner and CLO at TRCLARK, has proposed the requirement to utilise a mix of performance support tools that meet the learner’s moment of need. He suggests to successfully perform, learners should continually pass through five phases. He defines the five phases as five moments of need:
When people are learning something for the first time
When people learn more and extend the breadth and depth of what they have previously learned
When people need to remember and/or act on what they have learned
When people face a challenge and need to address something that has gone wrong, or haven’t gone to plan
When people need to learn something new due to a change in the previously learned information
Typically as learning professionals we have been focused on the first two moments of need, as these are easiest to address through formal learning. With the use of a well planned mobile learning strategy, we are able to provide the learner with support for the balance of the five needs. As above, bringing to the learner the ability to assist their learning with access to relevant resources at the time they require them, allows us to meet the moments of need that Gottfredson aspires to.
SUE asks – So – how do we do this… what has worked and what traps do we need to prepare for?
Web-based application: This is an HTML mobile-optimised website that looks, feels, and runs just like an app. It uses standard HTML coding which means it’s accessible by anyone with internet access, whether they’re using an iPhone, Android and some Blackberry’s. Using responsive design, the same version can also be deployed to PC’s. The downside is that because of the cross-platform functionality, it can’t access the functions of the device such as camera etc. You also need to be connected to the internet to access the app.
Native application: This is an “app” that is loaded onto your phone or tablet such as the ones you would find in the Apple/Google app stores. It is installed onto the device just like software installed onto a PC, and if designed can take use device-specific functions like the camera and GPS. One of the main benefits of the native app is that it doesn’t need to be connected to the internet for it to be used. One of the downsides is that you need to build one app per operating system (iOS, Android, Blackberry) as well as another version for the PC.
Hybrid application: This app mixes the above two deployment styles by storing some data on the mobile device and integrating with the web for actual information and data. Most online banking apps work in this way. You download an app to the device, and when you log in your data loads into the app.
Web-based application: This is an HTML mobile-optimised website that looks, feels, and runs just like an app. It uses standard HTML coding which means it’s accessible by anyone with internet access, whether they’re using an iPhone, Android and some Blackberry’s. Using responsive design, the same version can also be deployed to PC’s. The downside is that because of the cross-platform functionality, it can’t access the functions of the device such as camera etc. You also need to be connected to the internet to access the app.
Native application: This is an “app” that is loaded onto your phone or tablet such as the ones you would find in the Apple/Google app stores. It is installed onto the device just like software installed onto a PC, and if designed can take use device-specific functions like the camera and GPS. One of the main benefits of the native app is that it doesn’t need to be connected to the internet for it to be used. One of the downsides is that you need to build one app per operating system (iOS, Android, Blackberry) as well as another version for the PC.
Hybrid application: This app mixes the above two deployment styles by storing some data on the mobile device and integrating with the web for actual information and data. Most online banking apps work in this way. You download an app to the device, and when you log in your data loads into the app.
WHERE TO NEXT?
An Expanded Definition of Mobile
When most people think about mobile technology, they think of mobile phones. Smart phones continue to evolve at a rapid pace, and each new iteration brings new features that expand the definition of what mobile is. But in 2014 the definition of mobile is expanding beyond the phone paradigm.
Wearable technology is going to be a very big deal in 2014 and beyond. Technologies like Google Glass, Samsung’s Smart Watch, and Nike’s Fuel Band are rapidly becoming more popular. These technologies collect performance data in new ways, provide contextual information on demand, and streamline user experiences in ways that mobile phones do not. Wearable technology is in it’s infancy, but I expect it to change the way we look at and define mobile technology quickly.