Mobile Learning in low resource settings: 3 cases and discussion

Inge de Waard

Making the wiziq session participative

You can provide your questions via chat or ‘raise hand’

If you ‘raise hand’ I will give you the controls (audio or audio/video depending on the devices you use)

If you have additional information that can be usefull that are available on the net (links or pdf…) kindly put the link in the chat window. We will all be happy with your input

Our session moderator Florence Beraud will keep an eye open for all your questions and the raised hands.

Let’s go!

This is the global knowledge revolution!

Human history has never before witnessed such a massive global content creation, this is a knowledge revolution boosted by technology.

mobiles are increasingly the computers of the future

The mobile market is expanding in now-emerging countries

Mobile roaming Data per country

Bangladesh: 2,5 million mobile users added in Jan 2008

So anything (growingly) is possible!

Is that woman with the headset kidding?!

What about Electricity? Connectivity? User friendliness?

YOU CAN develop mobile projects 3 examples with different technologies

co design and co deploywith all stakeholders

The general basicsMobile learning = nomadic = possible

Advantages:

eLearning for adults & sporadic learners: reach anyone who has a phone or knows someone who has one

Funding: it gives ‘big chiefs’ a good feeling to be involved in m-learning

learners learn - when they want; - where they want; - keep in touch while in the field.

Low technology threshold: people have cell phones

No electricity needed => solar panel

Prepare beforehandMobile learning = learning

Keep this Ethiopean proverb in mind: “I want the wheat flour, I don’t care about the mill”, focus on what matters, not the technology.

Make sure you have a realistic need for mobile learning before jumping in.

Content is the essence => without quality content, your learning won’t be saved by any technology.

Reaching clear defined learning objectives is crucial.

Start small, grow big!

Case 1: Telemedicine: peer to peer

discussion forum with mobile access

website

Starting from web-based contentUser created content + peer to peer knowledge exchange

Provide content which is cross media/platform

Think about copyright and disclaimers also between peers!

Know the needs that your learners face and adapt

Wimaxbluetooth

Some programming

Connect your mobile to a television set and use it as a desktop for bigger screen (this technology will be standardized in new mobile devices, you can even use it as a desktop check it out on another youtube movie, it is a brandname, sorry for the marketing)

connect and spread the message

Having mobile plans?

Join iamlearn the international association for mobile learning

Attend mobile conferences and learn, discuss and connect (iadis2009, mlearn2009…)

Connect with funding agencies;

Connect with partners;

Make your ideas known!

Case 2: research based on simple data exchange: FAMACHA anaemia

analyze before setting up a mobile project

Target GroupBuild on what existsCost

incorporate all the stakeholders

SmsDelimiters

Sms: 8431,1,3,2,1,3,2,4,2

farmer cattle eye data

Assure benefits for all stakeholders

Mobile data connection: great for statistical, rural research!

Case 3: eSCART online courses

Different media suit different learners’ skills

Redesign existing strong projects

eXelearning.orgJavascript

Html & CSS

Big mobile multimedia files? consider sending SDcards to learners to reduce download costs.

Make learning a multi-sensory experience

Natural Evolution HIV/AIDS

Screen capturing (captivate, camtasia)

Video editing (final cut, premiere)

Audio editing(audicity = free)

Asynchronous discussion +

Explore your (future) software

Mobile offline possibilities enabling multimedia courses.

Mobile = mp4 conversion so you have any video you want. Use cheap video converter software like AVS4you (39,95 EUR)

Connect your mobile to a television set and use it as a desktop for bigger screen (this technology will be standardized in new mobile devices, you can even use it as a desktop check it out on another youtube movie, it is a brandname, sorry for the marketing)

Solar panels are already out there.

Wrap up: the mobile learning essence

analyze before setting up a mobile project Explore the latest mobile world for ideas and possible

technical solutions Only start with content that reaches its learning

objectives Incorporate all stakeholders from the start Understand the technical conditions your learners face

(and find solutions were needed) Keep the courses simple/intuitive and clear Diversity in courses, fit different learning skills Engage the learner (interactivity, implement context as

much as possible, user generated context).

Addenda: useful links

Conferences to attend for networkingKiwanja.net for mobile social change

Open Educational Resources (OER): http://www.oercommons.org/

Africa is e.g. producing technology that fits all, look at Afrigadget to really start dreaming!

Explore video converter software AVS4youand convert any multimedia course you have

Mobile developing…. YES!

Go open source (free) and all the way:(for would-be mobile developers)

Openmoko the world’s first integrated open source mobile communications platform

mobile2.0 messaging: funambol develop your own mobile apps with betavine or dev.mobi Other mobile programming:

Dotnet for mobile: free course; Linux for mobile: free course;

Standards for the mobile web from W3C

Meet Africa’s social media aggregator Afrigator

Contact

Email: idewaard@itg.be

Blog: ignatiawebs.blogspot.com (click the ‘mobile’ tag) Slideshare (ppt): http://www.slideshare.net/ignatia

linkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ingedewaard