Teaching Without Classroom Wall: Lessons Learned Series 2 M-learning: Teaching and Learning with PDAs

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Teaching Without Classroom Wall Lessons Learned
Series 2 M-learning Teaching and Learning
with PDAs

• Steve C. Yuen, Ph.D.
• Professor
• The University of Southern Mississippi
• steve_at_yuen.us

2006 SICET Summer Fellowship Program, CUHK and
SCNU, May 23 26, 2006
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Overview

• Background
• What is M-Learning
• Why M-Learning
• Mobile Technologies
• PDA in Teaching and Learning
• My PDA project at USM

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The Status of Learning

• The evolution in education and training at a
  distance can be characterized as a move from
  d-Learning (distance learning) to e-Learning
  (electronic learning) to m-Learning (mobile
  learning).
• d-Learning e-Learning m-Learning

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What is m-Learning?

• m-Learning is the intersection of mobile
  computing and e-learning, that includes anytime,
  anywhere resources strong search capabilities
  rich interaction powerful support for effective
  learning and performance-based assessment".
• Clark Quinn, 2000

Source Quin, C. (2000). mLearning Mobile,
Wireless, In-Your-Pocket Learning.
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What is m-Learning?

• Refers to the use of mobile and handheld devices,
  such as PDAs, mobile phones, smart phones,
  laptops, and tablet PCs, in teaching and
  learning.
• Mobile implies movement and mobility. Likewise,
  m-learning implies the opportunity to learn 'on
  the go'.

Source Vänskä, R. K. (2004). E4 Mobile Learning
in Europe A Multidisciplinary Approach
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From e-Learning to m-Learning

• Logical and natural extension of e-learning.
• Has the potential to further expand where, how,
  and when we learn and perform in all the aspects
  of our life.
• Has the potential for increasing productivity by
  making learning available anywhere and anytime.
• Allow learners to participate in educational
  activities without the restrictions of time and
  place.
• The Future of Learning From eLearning to
  mLearning Keegan 2003

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m-Learning Era

• Over 50 of all employees spend up to half of
  their time outside the office.
• The average employee had less than 3 days of
  training in 2003.
• 1 billion wireless Internet subscribers worldwide
  by 2005.
• Multi-purpose handheld devices (PDA and
  telephones) will out sell laptop/desktop
  computers combined by 2005.
• Most major US companies will either switch to or
  adopt wireless networks by 2008.
• The wireless market will grow at 10 compound
  annual growth rate through 2008.
• Global sales of smart phones will reach 170
  million in 4 to 5 years, compared slightly more
  then 20 million in 2004.

Source Empowering Technologies, Inc.
http//www.empoweringtechnologies.net/mobile.htm
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Why m-Learning?

• Enhance learner success
• Real world skills
• Lifestyle
• Access your learning materials from anywhere,
  anytime
• Just-in-time learning/reference tool for quick
  access to data in the field
• Interact with others
• Collaborate learning

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m-Learning
New Learning Paradigms Mobile Technologies
Individual / Learner Centered Personalized Services
Collaborative Learning Networked / Wireless
Situated Learning Mobile / Wearable
Contextual Learning Context Awareness
Ubiquitous Ubiquitous
Life Long Durable
Source Ferscha, A. (2002). Wireless Learning
Networks, Grundlagenkonferenz e-elearning, Wien
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Mobile Technologies

• PDAs
• Mobile phones
• Tablet PCs
• Wearable computers
• E-book readers
• Hybrid devices

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Windows XP Tablet Pocket PC Cell Phone
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Mobile Phones

• Originally designed for voice transfer, but has
  recently also been used to transfer data such as
  SMS (Short Message Service) messages, and to
  access WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) pages.
• Users can surf the Web pages and also send and
  receive email via WAP.

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Mobile Phones

• GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
• Always-on Internet service that permits mobile
  phones to access the Internet without requiring
  slow-dial-up connections.
• Transfer speeds up to 170 kilobits per second.
• SMS (Short Message Service)
• Allow single short messages of up to 160
  characters to be passed between mobile phones,
  fax machines, or email addresses.
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
• Make it possible to deliver and receive
  multimedia content such as images, audio, and
  video sequences.

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SMS (Short Message Service)

• 62 of all adults across the major European
  Countries now use a mobile phone.
• 41 of European adults use SMS, compared to 30
  that use the Internet/email.
• SMS is particularly popular in the UK where 49
  of adults use it, compared to 39 who are online
• In Germany, 43 of adults use SMS as opposed to
  29 of adults who use the Internet/email.
• In France, 30 use SMS compared to 25 who go
  online
  Gartner Group, 2002
• In China, 33.8 billion text messages were sent in
  2005. Compared to last years figure, there is a
  65.7 increase. Ministry of Information
  Industry, 2006

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Mobile Phone Technology

• GSM is the most common mobile phone technology
  today.
• Smart phone
• 3G (3rd generation) phone
• Recently been launched in Europe and Asia.
• Increase the data transfer rate up to 2 megabit
  per second.
• Allow users to make video calls and view
  instructional and training video clips.
• 4G (4th generation) Phone
• Achieve speeds of 100 megabits per second
• Enable 3 dimensional virtual communications.
• Available in 2010.

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PDAs in Teaching Learning

• Course management
• Content Delivery
• Assessment
• Communications
• Calculations
• Research

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Leadership Functions of Handheld Computers
Teaming and
Collaborating
Sharing
Wireless Communication
Team Planning
Project Scheduling
Presentation
Communicating
Beaming Information
Email
Faxing
Electronic
Business Cards
Paging
Learning and
Self-Improvement
Diary and Journaling
News Web Pages
Professional
Articles
Gathering and
Tutorials
Analyzing
Evaluations
Budget Analysis
Expenses
Surveys
Reference
Information
Network Logons
Staff and student Information
and Passwords
Policies
Pownell-Bailey Leadership Model of Handheld
Computing
Organizing and
Planning
Scheduling
Task List
Addresses
Notes
Reminders
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PDAs in K-12 Education

• Northline Elementary School, Houston, TX
• Sherrard Elementary School, Wheeling, WV
• St. Vincent Ferrer School, Cincinnati, OH
• Forsyth Country Day School, Winston-Salem, NC
• Consolidated High School District 230Oakland
  Park, IL, Illinois
• Derby High School, Derby, CT

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PDAs in Higher Education

• University of South Dakota
• www.usd.edu/palm/
• Indiana State University
• odin.indstate.edu/mercury/
• Central Carolina Technical College
• www.sum.tec.sc.us/wireless/wireless.asp
• University of Pennsylvania
• www.wharton.upenn.edu/spike/

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PDAs in Higher Education

• East Carolina University
• www.ecu.edu/handheld/
• Carnegie Mellon University
• www-2.cs.cmu.edu/pebbles/
• Penn State Abington Campus
• www.palm.com/education/studies/study10.html
• University of Minnesota at Duluth
• www.d.umn.edu/itss/computing/ipaq/

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PDAs in Higher Education

• Harvard Medical School
• avantgo.com/products/customers/demos/harvard/harv
  ard_casestudy.pdf
• Pepperdine University School of Law
• www.palm.com/education/studies/study2.html
• Kansas State University
• www.palm.com/education/studies/study11.html
• Stanford University
• palm.stanford.edu
• Wake Forest University
• www.palmone.com/us/enterprise/studies/study9.html

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My m-Learning Project at USM

• Funded by the Title III Faculty Technology Mentor
  Program, LEC and Summer Instructional Grant at
  USM
• Purposes
• Integrate PDA technology to foster active and
  collaborative learning experiences in the
  classroom.
• Explore ways in which PDAs can be integrated
  seamlessly into the courses.
• Provide students with valuable insights into
  real-world applications of handheld technology.

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Project Activities

• Re-design curriculum, instructional and learning
  activities
• Distribute class news, handouts, lecture notes,
  assignments, and collaborative projects with PDAs
• Manage attendance, assignment tracking, grades,
  and lesson planning
• Enable classroom communications -- email and Web
  access through WIFI or EthIR LAN
• Develop the class Mobile Web Channel using the
  AvantGo mobile Internet service.

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Mobile Web Channels

• Provided by AvantGo Mobile Internet Service
• Enable the student to subscribe class channels,
  or Web pages, to download at regular intervals
  and store to read at a more convenient time
• Free for limited use
• Access instructor information, course
  information, class schedules, calendars, syllabi,
  assignments, lecture notes, resources and
  reference materials

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AvantGo
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Web Channels
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Sample Mobile Sites
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Sample Mobile Sites
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Sample Mobile Sites
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EthIR LAN

• Clarinet LAN ESB301/3011b
• Infrared network connectivity in the classroom
• Support Palm, PocketPC, and Windows notebook
• SNMP, DHCP or static IP address configurable
• Up to 4Mbps, Wire and Wireless (802.11b )
• Provide dedicated network access through IR via
  TCP/IP/PPP for PDA and laptop users
• Allow students to use their PDAs to
• access the Internet
• sync their PDAs with the class Web channel
• send and check email

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EthIR LAN
Clarinet LAN ESB301/3011b
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IR Information Broadcasting

• Clarinet LAN ESB1000
• Onboard memory to store large amount of data for
  content beaming
• 550 KB local storage
• Content beaming
• on-demand by using a push button
• programmable constant broadcasting at predefined
  intervals
• Deliver static contents such as application
  software, instructional materials, class
  schedule, map, menu, etc. in the classroom

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IR Information Broadcasting
Clarinet LAN ESB1000
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Project Results

• Data collection is still ongoing
• So far have been positive from both students and
  instructor perspectives
• PDAs provide students a dynamic and interactive
  learning experience
• Students found that PDAs give them more
  flexibility in where, when, and how they interact
  with the learning materials, and allow them with
  different learning styles to learn successfully
• The use of PDAs enhances the classroom learning
  experience and allows students to participate and
  collaborate in a ways that would not be possible
  in a traditional classroom

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Lessons Learned

• Problematic of delivering multimedia
• Security issues
• Low bandwidth
• Could be a threat to classroom order and student
  integrity
• The strengths of m-Learning lie in a
  communication approach rather than a content
  approach
• Not all courses are suited to the m-Learning
  environment

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Lessons Learned - Continued

• Purely technical and practical courses are not
  suitable.
• Short courses and mainly theory and information
  type courses are suited to the mobile learning
  environment.
• The learning environment can be enhanced by the
  use of quizzes to test knowledge, summary of main
  learning points, and interaction with other
  students and the teacher via mobile learning
  devices.

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Conclusions

• m-Learning may currently be most useful as a
  supplement to ILT, online learning and more
  traditional learning methods, but can do much to
  enrich the learning experience.
• As devices become integrated, and mobile phones
  combine PDA functions with cameras, video and MP3
  players, and as tablets combine the portability
  of PDAs with the functionality of desktops, the
  world of learning becomes more mobile, more
  flexible, and more exciting.
• The success and impact of m-learning does not,
  however, solely depend on the technological
  developments and the possibilities they provide.
  The ability of educators to design and develop
  didactical sound m-learning opportunities and
  environments that enhances learning is
  imperative.

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THE END
Questions or Comments?
This presentation is available on the Web at
dragon.ep.usm.edu/yuen/present/sicet/summer06.pd
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