M-Learning for tutoring: M-Learning for tutoring Technical Writing Team, authorGEN Technologies Inc.


Slide2: The purpose of this presentation is to Deal with m-learning paradigm Study the transition from e-learning to m-learning Relate growing wireless & broadband connectivity with m-learning Discuss the facts about m-learning environment & study how it works Track the emerging and future trends in m-learning Study the reasons that propelled the ubiquity of m-learning List the benefits of m-learning Analyze facts about developing an m-learning session for PDA Envisage a future for m-learning


What is m-learning?: What is m-learning? As defined by Clark Quinn [Quinn 2000] as “… the intersection of mobile computing and e-learning: accessible resources wherever you are, strong search capabilities, rich interaction, powerful support for effective learning and performance-based assessment; e-learning independent of location in time or space.”


Tremendous increase in usage of wireless devices: Tremendous increase in usage of wireless devices 2,000,000,000th mobile phone user worldwide was connected over the first weekend in June 2006 New users are signing up at the rate of 1000 per minute, says the GSM Association. More than 72 million of these users are 3G customers. (Posted by ZDNet Research) 2 bln mobile users worldwide (Posted by ZDNet Research) The total number of subscribers on all 3G networks totaled 55 million by March 2006 as per GSM Association.


Increasing internet penetration, wireless & broadband connectivity : Increasing internet penetration, wireless & broadband connectivity Market Penetration % Extrapolated by Website Optimization, LLC from Neilson// Net Ratings Data Month starting at March 2005 Figure 1: Increasing internet penetration in US


Slide6: Increasing internet/broadband penetration up to 73% - June 2006 Bandwidth Report Home broadband growth doubles with 42% of all Americans on high-speed Internet Connections The number of Wi-Fi users is expected to soar 57% in 2005-2006, to 118 million worldwide, according to Pyramid Research Some observers believe the fixed broadband wireless market will pass the $2 billion mark by 2010. Some 100 countries, for example, now offer Wi-Fi access and there are over 65,000  Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.


Slide7: Expected number of Wi-Fi users in North America in 2007: 31 million Expected number of commercial hot spots by 2006: 50,000 Expected number of US users paying to access Wi-Fi hot spots by 2006: 5.5 million Computer Industry Almanac has reported that internet users worldwide are foreseen to approach 1,800 million in 2010 and the number of broadband subscribers will hit the 500 million mark by 2010 (Enrique De Argaez)


Learning in the past: Learning in the past Instructor led training era (Before 1983) Multimedia era (1984, around 10 years) First e-learning wave (1994, around 5 years: transition from d-learning to e-learning) Second e-learning wave (2000, around 5 years) Transition from e-learning to m-learning


Transition: e-learning to m-learning: Transition: e-learning to m-learning Dependence on availability of a wired connection to internet Restricted use among professionals on move Advanced features of handheld devices Growing popularity of wireless technologies Demand for learning at anytime, any place, any pace, and of any subject Reference: http://www.dye.no/articles/a_glance_at_the_future/introduction.html


E-learning vs M-learning: E-learning vs M-learning Pedagogical Comparison Instructor & Student Communication Student to Student Communication Table 1: Comparison between e-learning and m-learning


M-Learning environment: M-Learning environment Figure 3: The M-Learning Environment


How does m-learning work?: How does m-learning work? Figure 4: Wireless learning environment of to-morrow, Keegan 2002


Emerging trends in technology & m-learning: Popularity of handheld devices more than PCs and laptops Mobile telephony and WiFi- the two competing approaches to provide wireless. High bandwidth wireless data transfer Communications Cost 3G mobile telephones (devices) and PDAs with integrated communication technology Wireless internet access Tablet PCs becoming fully powered personal computers Emerging trends in technology & m-learning


Main drivers providing critical impetus to m-learning: Main drivers providing critical impetus to m-learning Upcoming key technologies like WiFi, Wimax and GPRS/3G Availability of high bandwidth together with 3G mobile telephones (devices) and PDAs with integrated communication technology Worldwide move towards wireless networks and broadband connectivity Extension of e-learning programs to mobile workers Immediate time / location based learning needs


Benefits of m-learning: Benefits of m-learning Portability and ubiquity Access Rich content Collaboration and interaction Efficiency and flexibility Security and reliability Motivation Just-in-time learning


Finding other m-learning applications: Finding other m-learning applications Automated attendance at classes Sales demos On-the-job training High school courses “Knowledge for Nomads” Automated building security Young adult literacy


Slide17: User clicks on one menu item The Quiz opens up The user can navigate to next page Examples of m-learning scenarios Example 1: A typical m-learning scenario


Slide18: Examples of m-learning scenarios Learners logs in with the user id and password Authentication and quiz composition at the server side A typical quiz session starts Example 2: An intelligent tutoring system on a hand held device


Slide19: User clicks on one menu item A single-player snap game opens up. Example 3: Learning activities like snap games on a hand held Ref: http://portal.m-learning.org/ppc.php Examples of m-learning scenarios


Slide20: Essentials of a good m-learning session Usability Ease of learning Efficiency of use Retention over time Error frequency and severity Subjective satisfaction Security & Reliability Protection of content from unintended recipients Consistent display of content Efficiency & Interactivity Supply of information anytime and anywhere Use of illustrative text and animation Free interaction with other users


Slide21: What should we show our mobile users? Interface Design (Keep it Simple) Content designed for 320X240 pixels screen resolution 240 x 270 (width x height) pixels optimal size for screen format The whole screen of the PDA can be used by installing FlashAssist from Ant Mobile Software Use of ‘Web Safe Colors and Fonts’ Large amounts of text cumbersome to read; text is legible at a minimum size of 14pt


Slide22: Buttons and icons need to be small, clear and simple. The contrast of images may need to be increased to avoid glare on the screen from artificial lights inside and sunlight outside. Use vector-based graphics for images that need to be larger than the screen size and panned around (e.g. maps). Text instructions and explanations can be replaced with audio guides. Do not include complex flash animations for PPC due to low processor power. Use the minimum number of key frames.


Slide23: Menu (Place it right) Remember the size of the screen at all time Hide what is not useful and clean up the cluttered menu Right menu placing e.g on the top to give the content the full width of the mobile browser Instructions and other similar text should be used sparingly and only when necessary Use Titles on cards to ease navigation Links should be brief and contain only necessary key words; should be distinguishable from the text Consistency - place links in same place throughout application Always provide link to Start or Index Page Avoid underlined text as this will be mistaken for Links User control and interactivity should be confined to stylus point and click, so some standard mouse controls are not used, e.g. roll-overs, drag and drop Use Tabloid format - headlines and summaries Navigation (Make it intuitive)


Slide24: How to create flash content for the pocket pc? Using Internet Explorer You can embed a Flash movie in an HTML page Make sure the page margins are set to 0 pixels Training application should be designed with screen real estate in mind Check out the templates provided by Flash MX 2004 for real estate decisions and previewing Keep an eye on the image of the device that Flash provides so that you can easily visualize the user experience


Slide25: Using a Flash player Flash player application to package the Flash movie as an exe. Use Macromedia’s development version of the Flash Player for Pocket PC devices that allows you to create a stand-alone application (it creates an EXE file) from a Flash movie Third-party solutions: There are other Flash players available on the market. The most popular is Flash Assist, from Ant Mobile Software


Future trends for m-learning: Future trends for m-learning Interfaces to Information Technology in future World to the desktop interface Multi-user virtual environment (Alice in Wonderland) Ubiquitous computing Provides access to distant experts and archives Enables collaborations Mentors relationships, and virtual communities of practice Alice-in-Wonderland" multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) interfaces Enables interaction with computer-based agents and digital artifacts in virtual contexts Mobile wireless devices Infuses virtual resources as we move through the real world


Future envisaged: Future envisaged


Slide28: Future envisaged


References: References http://knowledgetree.flexiblelearning.net.au/edition06/download/geddes.pdf http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/182/report_display.asp http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/edition-9/mlearning-a-future-of-learning/ http://www.educause.edu/er/erm05/erm0532.asp?bhcp=1 www.eduworks.com/Documents/Publications/Mobile_Learning_Handheld_Classroom.pdf http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0602/ http://knowledgemanagement.ittoolbox.com/groups/vendor-selection/e-learning-select/elearning-software-and-implementation-588690# https://www.cs.tcd.ie/Owen.Conlan/publications/eLearn2004_brady_v1.2.pdf


Slide30: http://learning.ericsson.net/mlearning2/project_one/thebook/chapter2.html http://learning.ericsson.net/mlearning2/project_one/thebook/chapter2.html mLearning: Mobile Learning and Performance in the Palm of your Hand by David Metcalf. http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/thomas.pdf www.stc-india.org/indus/032004/mlearning.htm Five Questions...for Christopher Dede By Lisa Neal, Editor-in-Chief, eLearn Magazine in http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=35-1 http://www.mlearn.org.za/CD/papers/Laouris%20&%20Eteokleous.pdf http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000552781.cfm?x=b11,0,w


Slide31: We invite you to suggest revisions and to join us in the discussion. If you have any queries, you are most welcome to contact us at: Corporate Address: US Office: authorGEN Technologies 9220, Fairbanks, Suite 205, Raleigh, NC, 27613 Ph. 919.673.5147 Fax: 919.882.9917 Check out our website at: http://www.authorgen.com/ OR Email us at: hsingh@authorgen.com rod.deter@authorgen.com