insights
WHAT IS M-LEARNING?
We’ve all heard the buzz-word m-learning but no one
seems
to agree on exactly
what mobile learning
is, and how it
differs from e-learning.
Mobile Learning
Consultants Float Learning define
m-learning as: “the
use of mobile technology to aid in
the learning, reference or exploration of
information useful to an individual at that moment
or in a specific
use context.”
Meanwhile the eLearning
Guild
describe m-learning as:
”any activity that allows individuals to be more productive when consuming, interacting with, or creating information,
mediated through a compact digital portable device
that the individual carries on a regular basis, has reliable
connectivity, and fits in a pocket or purse.”
At Aurion
Learning, we see m-learning as being about:
Delivering learning
content and experiences to learners
when and where they need it. It is learning that can be accessed at any time and any place to support performance. Typically m-learning is accessed via a mobile device that facilitates just-in-time learning
and on-demand learning. m-learning can be formal
or informal, structured or unstructured. It is flexible,
self-paced and self-directed. m-learning is driven by the
learner, rather than the technology learners use to
create a platform independent set of tools aimed at
learning collaboration and information sharing on mobile devices.
Mobile learning
is supported by a variety mobile devices and technologies that facilitate the delivery of documents,
presentations, multimedia, notifications, news,
So what kind
of technology does m-learning involve?
assignments, quizzes and educational courseware that
can all contribute to m-learning. These
include:
access it.
● Smart phones e.g. iPhone, Android
and Blackberry
● Laptops
Many people are trying to predict the technology
winners
of the future
– in other words which platforms
will become favoured for m-learning delivery. Instead, we should be focusing on developing m-learning that is platform
independent. Have a look at the 22 joint-nation Mobile
Learning Environment (MoLE) project currently working to
● Tablets e.g. iPad, Android devices
● Kindle
● iPod
● Personal media players
e.g. iPod
● Gaming devices e.g. xBox 360.
While certainly due careful consideration, m-learning should not focus on the technology it
runs on – rather the
single most important aspect of m-learning is the learner – it’s a combination of how, when, where they access the learning content and what they do with that learning content that really
matters.
So is m-learning
just e-learning on a mobile device?
It’s a BIG mistake to think that m-learning is simply
e-learning on a mobile device, and an even bigger mistake (and often costly
one) to assume you can simply transport existing
e-learning to make it work on mobile devices.
M-learning requires a different pedagogical approach
to e-learning
for a number of reasons:
● Access: the way learners
access m-learning is
different
to how they access e-learning (e.g. mobile
phone
screens can limit the amount and
type of information that can be displayed versus office-based desk-top computer).
● Short courses: m-learning is also best suited to short
bite-sized learning courses, theory,
information relay rather than long or very practical based courses. No one wants to complete an hour long learning course
via a mobile phone.
● Less structured/less
formal: m-learning is often less structured than traditional e-learning which often sets
out specific learning
objectives.
● On-demand: m-learning is
more
about just-in-time and on-demand learning at the moment it is needed (think a repair worker out on a job who can access a quick check-list of ‘to-dos’ when they are actually on the job or the Bloom Liverpool Project –
a fantastic
example of delivering mobile learning
to taxi drivers)
whereas traditional e-learning is
more
about
● Assessment: Mlearning requires a whole new strategy for assessment. Traditional Elearning often includes a
final knowledge check / assessment with the initial results recorded on an LMS but given that there is often a time delay before
the learner is actually meant to put the learning into action, it can be difficult to measure and evaluate long-term
behaviour change and the effects
on the business. The time between Mlearning taking place and the learner putting what
they have learned into
action is
relatively
short, so it can be easier
to measure behaviour change and impact on the business.
What makes good m-learning?
● Bite-sized short
chunks of learning
● ‘Just-in-time’
‘just-enough’ or even ‘just-for me’
learning
● Easy to use
● Practical and contextual
● NOT e-learning delivered on a mobile device
● Informal –
‘on the go’ learning
● Interactive (including appropriate opportunities to
share
knowledge)
● Knowledge distribution rather than knowledge
presentation
● Portable –
can
be accessed anywhere
the learner goes with their device
● Platform independent (however
this is still somewhat
aspiration
