Diskusjon.no - mLearning forum

Hobbes · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 1

At present mobile learning on PDAs and on mobile telephony is proceeding at different rates. There is some activity on PDAs but little on mobile telephones. In the future it may be possible to write materials in XHTML and stream the content to either type of device, and this would eventually include e-learning courses.

Aleksander · Site Admin Joined: 01 Nov 2002 Posts: 7

Is there a problem with screen size?
Storage capacity?
Bad usabillity?

Will SCORM help on the adaption of mLearning and ease the targeting of multiple devices?

Will the same material be viewable on different devices?

Kant · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 5

> "Hobbes" wrote:
> ...some activity on PDAs but little on mobile telephones.
Both PDAs and smartphones available today do not meet the minimum requirements of most people on learning media. The level of complexity and interactivity of the material is far too low.
So the small activities aren't really surprising.

> "Hobbes" wrote:
> In the future ... materials in XHTML ...stream the content
Yes, of course, but why should this promote m-learning to a large extent if it is proven that it did not even push e-learning?

Parmenides · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 3

The learning activities supported by mobile devices must be adopted to mobile use.

We will not engage learners in activities that are designed for the classroom or for the desktop pc, just by making screens bigger and increasing processing power.

My main concern is that to many people are thinking about how to port the same ol' stuff on new devices. What we need are not to look to PDA and mobile phone providers for more powerful machines. Educators and researchers must look into new pedagogical models to understand learning in a mobile setting. New methods to support learning activities. New understanding of the learning needs. New ways to understand the outcome of the activities and so on.

Descartes · Joined: 14 Nov 2002 Posts: 2

Is there a problem with screen size?

Yes. For many purposes the screen size is a problem...but maybe we should look for other solutions than larger screens...

I belive that voice synthesis could be a very good solution for many purposes. I believe that I would appreciate to use earphones listening to my PDA when it is reading an article for me at the bus...I guess that this very soon will be available for the PocketPC version of Microsoft Reader...

Sartre · Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 3

I agree that screen size is a problem, i. e. better screens will increase quality. It is difficult to get an overview of large text qunatities on a small screen, whether it is your own writings, other peoples' writings or learning materials. Bu relative to the advantages of having the equipment in my pocket anytime and anywhere, I do not see this as a main difficulty. But it is a must that the server side or the receiver side organises the materials so that it can be displayed as good as possible on the PDA screen.

Kant · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 5

> "Parmenides" wrote:
> ... Educators and researchers must look into new
> pedagogical models to understand learning in a mobile
> setting. New methods to support learning activities. New
> understanding of the learning needs. New ways to
> understand the outcome of the activities and so on.
good one; on top of that, I think we should ask and try to answer an even more basic question: under what circumstances will learners prefer mobile learning to other forms of learning?
Will they only learn mobile if they are desperately heading for a specific information? Or in places where no other sources of learning material are available [which means they badly planned this residence

]? And, if e-learning using a desktop PC will be convenient and widely accepted in some time, why should then learners be on the move anymore?
And we shouldn't neglect people's desire to meet other people; and that only few people are technically skilled and willing to use complicated devices if there's an alternative.
Or, in business English: to which features of e-learning does m-learning add value?

Parmenides · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 3

Kant · Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Posts: 5

> "Parmenides"] wrote:
> You learn to sail best in a boat rather than reading about
> sailing for five minutes when sitting on a bus. Im not sure
> if I made my point clear, but I hope so.

This gives rise to another fundamental question: which problems are suitable for mobile learning (i.e. using devices like PDAs, smartphones etc.)? In a boat, you'd better get your hands on the ropes and the rudder... but it might well be helpful to have studied the basics of sailing during the travel to the harbour... won't it?