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

1. Athabasca University in mobile learning: seven years of mobile learning projects and research Steve Schafer, Director, Library Services Tony Tin, Head, Electronic Resources & Digital Initiatives

2. About Athabasca University • Canada’s Open University - distance learning and online learning • Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada • Learning centres in Edmonton and Calgary • More than 38,000 students with 830 courses • Individualized and self-paced studies

5. Why Advocate Mobile Technology in AU? • Accessibility of audience • Instant delivery and updates • Affordablility/portablility • Novelty of gadget/display • Supports those with special needs

6. Mobile Library Project • Provide 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

7. Special Features • Mobile friendly: Supported device: PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ, Smart phones, Iphones • The site includes mobile friendly: • Digital Reading Room • Digital Reference Centre • Digital Thesis & Project Room • Library catalogue • Search engine • Model adopted by UK Open University

8. Desktop Version

9. Mobile Friendly Version

10. M-library Design/Technology

11. Mobile Workplace English Project • Built 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 2008 CNIE Conference Excellence and Innovation in Use of Learning Technology http://eslau.ca http://wpeau.ca

12. Mobile Learning Lessons in Different Sectors

13. Workplace specific grammar Mobile ESL Mobile WorkPlace English

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

15. Multimedia Features -audio • Vocabulary lists • Dialogues • Audio questions

16. Multimedia Features -video

17. Mobile French • French Language Content developed for beginners. • designed especially for the iPhone • http://www.fslau.ca/

18. Features • Grammar and audio exercises to improve comprehension in beginners

19. Canfilm App • Promote App-based learning of Canadian films. • http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canfilm/id457316427?mt=8

20. Contents . Demo

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Calendar Function: • Users will be able to track their cumulative exercise time with the calendar • Demo

25. 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

26. Testing Group 68% 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

27. 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.”

28. General Comments Positives • “Increased font size, very useful” • Small, light, portable • Auto-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!”

29. Challenges • Defining content • Define the amount and type of information • Design of the format • Normal website vs. mobile version • text, images, graphics, tables, location • different file types (pdf, flv) • Display models • different display model and stylesheet • Different standards, data networks, and operating systems • Language compatibility • Bandwidth

30. Final Remarks • It’s not about devices, but capabilities • It’s not about technology, but experience

31. 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

32. Further Information • Website: Mobile Library: http://library.athabascau.ca/ Mobile learning content http://eslau.ca http://wpeau.ca http://fslau.ca • Publications:Ally, M. (2009). Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training.