From M-Library to Mobile ESL: Athabasca University as Advocate in Mobile Learning

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From M-Library to Mobile ESL Athabasca
University as Advocate in Mobile Learning

• Stella Lee
• Instructional Media Analyst
• Athabasca University

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Todays Presentation

• Introduction Athabasca University
• Why use M-learning
• Two case studies M-library, Mobile ESL
• Challenges and opportunities
• Questions and Discussions

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About Athabasca University

• Canadas Open University - distance learning and
  online learning
• Location Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
• Learning centres in Edmonton and Calgary
• More than 32,000 students
• Individualized and self-paced studies

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Mission Statement

• Athabasca University is dedicated to the removal
  of barriers that restrict access to, and success
  in, university-level studies and to increasing
  equality of educational opportunity for adult
  learners worldwide.
• http//www.athabascau.ca/

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Why Use Mobile Technology in AU?

• Accessibility of audience
• Instant delivery and updates
• Affordablility/portablility
• Novelty of gadget/display

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Student Profile

• Average age 29
• Two-thirds women
• 60 of our program students were employed
  full-time while studying
• 36 undergraduates were visiting students

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Two Case Studies at Athabasca

• M-Library Mobile Digital Reading Room Initiative
• Mobile ESL learning English as a Second Language
  Lessons for newcomers

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M-Library Mobile Digital Reading Room
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What is a Mobile Library?

• The idea of a mobile library is to provide
  learners with access to the university library
  and to course resources using mobile devices

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Why a Mobile Library at AU?

• AU students study from a distance
• Quick and efficient access to electronic
  resources and library services is essential
• Students have even more options for fitting
  learning into their busy lives. It allows
  individualization self-pace learning
• Supports those with special needs

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Special Features

• Mobile friendly AU Library site Supported
  device PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ, Smart
  phones
• The site include mobile friendly
• Digital Reading Room
• Digital Reference Centre
• Digital Thesis Project Room
• Library catalogue
• Search engine

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Special Features (ctd)

• Auto-detect and reformat
• Learning object reuse
• Easy web maintain/update
• Podcasting
• Wireless library catalogue
• Federated search
• Mobile content conversion on the fly

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Design/Technology
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Challenges and Opportunities

• Defining content for the M-library
• Define the amount and type of information
• Design of the format
• Normal website vs. mobile version
• text, images, graphics, tables, location
• Separate the content from the format
• Display models
• different display model and stylesheet

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Further Information

• Website
• http//library.athabascau.ca/drr/
• http//library.athabascau.ca/

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Mobile ESL Project
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Overview of Project

• Build on success of M-library project
• Develop and test innovative approaches to ESL
  learning using mobile devices to deliver lessons
  and allowing practice with feedback using a
  variety of testing methods

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Subjects Involved in Study

• The subjects involved were adult learners
  registered in ESL programs at
• Edmonton Mennonite Centre for
• Newcomers
• Global Community College
• Evangelical Chinese Baptist Church

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Mobile Devices Used

• Mobile phones with wireless capabilities (Samsung
  D807x )
• Desktop access support

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Content for Project

• The content is based on two of the best selling
  Penguin Introductory English Grammar and
  Exercise books
• Consists of 86 lessons and related interactive
  exercises
• Repurpose for Canadian context
• Downloadable in Word doc Acrobat pdf format

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Evaluation Methods

• The students learn the content of the lesson
  followed by difference practice exercises and
  testing techniques.
• The testing techniques used were multiple-choice,
  jumbled-sentence, true-false, and matching

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Results . . .
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Student Preference for Question Types
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Pre-test vs. Post-test vs. Retention
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Flexibility of Learning
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Take Other Lessons Using Mobile Devices
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Student Feedback in General

• Reported positive experience with the ESL grammar
  course and the use of mobile technology in
  learning ESL grammar
• Liked the flexibility of anytime availability of
  the ESL materials

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Student Feedback in General

• Students indicated that the use of mobile
  technology for ESL would be a good supplementary
  medium of learning such as when waiting for an
  appointment or being on the bus or whenever and
  wherever there is some spare time
• One concern expressed was the cost of Internet
  access

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Suggestions for Future Delivery

• Use text-to-speech technology to improve the
  learning experience
• More examples to help students understand the
  questions better
• Use the mobile device to interact with teachers
• Larger screen size for ease of reading

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Further information

• Website http//eslau.ca

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Questions and Discussions

• Contact stellal_at_athbascau.ca
• Thank you!