Implement and deploy mobile learning at open universities --The big promise and many challenges ahead

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Implement and deploy mobile learning at open
universities--The big promise and many
challenges ahead

• Harris Wang
• School of Computing and information Systems
• Athabasca University
• Canada

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Outline of the presentation

• Mobile learning at Open Universities
• Frameworks for mobile learning
• Learning management system for mobile learning
• Server design
• Learning objects for m-learn
• The many challenges for m-learn
• The big promise and possible solutions
• Concluding remarks

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Mobile learning at Open Universities

• What is open university?
• Adult students with different background
• Part time study
• Distance learning, or online learning
• On the move

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Mobile learning at Open Universities

• What is mobile learning
• E-learning on mobile devices
• Advances in mobile devices
• Advances in e-learning technology
• Distance learning becomes more creditable and
  acceptable
• Thus, mobile learning would be an ideal way of
  learning for students at open universities

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Frameworks for mobile learning

• Two modes
• Standalone mode
• networked mode
• In most cases, it is hybrid mode online only
  when it is necessary due to cost and bandwidth of
  data communication on mobile networks

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Frameworks for mobile learning

• Components of framework for mobile learning
• Mobile devices
• Learning materials available for various mobile
  devices
• Networked servers
• Wireless networks connecting mobile devices and
  servers
• Host computers at homes or offices
• LO development servers

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Frameworks for mobile learning

• 1. Standalone mode for m-learn

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Frameworks for mobile learning

• 2. Networked mode for m-learn

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Learning management system for mobile learning

• An LMS can be divided into two oor three
  portions client portion, server and/or portion
• An LMS for m-learn should have most
  functionalities implemented on the server or host
• The portion on mobile devices may be only an
  interface and data collector

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Server design

• Functions implemented on the server
• Mobile devices detection
• Server side portion of m-LMS
• Automatically generating/selecting learning
  objects for specific mobile devices
• Automatically generating personalized learning
  objects for individual specific learners

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Learning objects for m-learn

• Problems we may have with learning objects for
  m-learn
• Images and diagrams too big for the data
  network, too large for the small display
• HTML tables may not fit in a small display, and
  are not resizable or content is hard to read
• Big trunk of text it may be hard to read
  through on a small display

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Learning objects for m-learn

• What learning objects are appropriate for m-learn
• Concise notes with condensed info or summary
• Simulations to illustrate a particular concept,
  principle or theory
• Games that can help learners to learn

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The many challenges for m-learn

• Limited processing power of mobile devices
• Small size screen
• Low network bandwidth
• High cost of subscription of wireless data
  network
• High cost of developing quality learning objects
  for mobile devices

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The big promise and possible solutions

• What is the big promise?
• To realize the dream of learning anywhere anytime
• What are the solutions for realizing the dream?
• Develop and advance technologies for mobile
  learning adaptive learning, intelligent system
  for mobile learning
• Invest resources to develop learning objects for
  mobile learning concise notes and summaries
  simulations games for mobile devices.

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Concluding remarks

• Mobile learning will help open universities
  further realize their mandate students can learn
  anywhere anytime
• Mobile learning can only be part of the learning
  solution due to the limit of mobile devices and
  mobile networks
• To make mobile learning more helpful and
  effective, we must overcome the many challenges.