ML11 Assignment1

Assignment 1: For discussion purposes, write a brief review of a resource or an organization that has recently changed your understanding of mobile learning and post in the Angel forum.

Resource reviewed: Why Mobile Learning http://www.upsidelearning.com/why-mobile-learning.asp

I am fully cognizant of the pervasiveness of technology in our daily lives. I consider myself somewhat fortunate to have been born in an era where cyclostyle machines, overhead projectors, chalkboards, black and white televisions, transistor radios and typewriters were a common sight. Why do I feel fortunate? I have witnessed the world during its infancy stages of technological innovation as a child, I was a young adult to understand its use and potential when technology began to revolutionize the way we communicated in the form of computers and I am today able to use most of the tools and platforms that have been created through human curiosity and ingenuity. In essence I am very appreciative of the potency of technologies, especially information and communication technologies in education because I lived through the times of its early innovation and revolution.  Figure 1.0 below generally illustrates the types of ICT tools I experienced while growing up, todate.

Figure 1.0

Since I am not a ‘digital native’ and have seen instructional and learning practices succeed without the aid of sophisticated technologies of the digital world, a pressing question about why and when one would introduce mobile learning in an organization prompted me to lookup the internet for articles pertaining to my query. For clarification purposes I am going to stress the fact that I am an advocate of change but with a purpose so I embrace the wonders that technology brings to the domain of learning and development but I do this not because of its novelty but because of its appropriateness to the needs of learning.

To address the question on why and when to use mobile learning, I googled it  came across this concise article on the Internet. I was intrigued by this very simple piece of information. There was nothing that was new fangled about the explanation but it was what I needed and to the point. In fact it reminded me of the rudimentary steps of conducting a learning needs analysis. Here is the excerpt from the article:-

Dr. Conrad Gottfredson’s defines Five Moments of Learning Needs as below.

.    When Learning for the First Time

.    When Wanting to Learn More

.    When Trying to Remember

.    When Things Change

.    When Something Goes Wrong

If we were to use mobile learning to meet these learning needs, we’d find that it fits best into the last three. (In theory, you could use it for all though.).

The above excerpt changed my understanding of when and why mobile learning should be utilized. I mentally reevaluated the scenario in my organization and what I had read resonated with me. I know that mobile devices are used universally to communicate or socialize if you will but I could not see an argument to introduce this concept to my organization without understanding its actual or full potential coupled with the needs of the learners in my organization.  I had also read other resources about mobile learning to get a true understanding of its concept. Chen, Kao, Sheu, and Chiang (as cited in Milrad, Hoppe & Kinshuk, 2003) say that characteristics of mobile learning must include:

•   Urgency of learning need


•   Initiative of knowledge acquisition


•   Mobility of learning setting


•   Interactivity of the learning process


•   ‘Situatedness’ (sic) of instructional activities


•   Integration of instructional content

I thought that these were all desirable characteristics but to say that they are all ‘must haves’ in mobile learning did not reverberate with me.  In my opinion the engagement or need for interactivity can be addressed through e-learning in general. To me, the concept of mobile learning had its plus point in the fact that learning could be delivered ‘at any place at any time’.  If the other said characteristics were deemed to be ‘must haves’ then I would add assessment of learning into the definition as well.  It would be a bonus to have Kinshuk et al’s characteristics of mobile learning but in my opinion the capacity to deliver information at any time and potency of context are the most critical attributes of mobile learning. The need for mobile learning and an appetite for it are critical for the successful application and performance of mobile technology in learning.

Going back to Dr. Conrad Gottfredson’s definition of learning needs and where mobile learning could possibly add value to the learner, I can see mobile learning meeting the learning needs of the learners in my organization.

Very often, as an organization we review policies which affect the different areas of practice. Sometimes the change is due to changes in regulations, a direct response to non-governmental organizations or a strategic initiative to improve current practice. Each one of these causes often requires something new to be learned and demonstrated at work. Having an audience that is geographically dispersed, stringent funding and no back fillers in the fields make it unfeasible to gather learners in a classroom. If learners have the appropriate tools that are able to receive updated learning material irrespective of where they are or what they are doing at that moment gives just in time learning a brand new definition.

An organization that often relies on procedures when carrying out tasks can be quite overwhelming for new employees especially. It is one thing having procedures made available electronically and another for an employee who needs to access it when the information is needed. In my organization, blackberry devices are given to employees depending on the need of their portfolios. Imagine the benefits of accessing information from a remote area while handling a caseload if these devices could be linked to the government server. I can clearly see this happening.

Things go wrong and as an organization we are under the scrutiny of the media every now and then. (Hence the discreet manner of describing the nature of my business!) Case records are confidential and filed electronically. Employees are trained to use specific systems to carryout this task. It requires meticulous date entry and concrete understanding f the application. Human error is very high in this area and calls are regularly made to the experts. Lines get busy and calls on hold are very common. As a result of the complexities involved many employees rely on inscribe the information on sheets of paper. This act increases the chances of data truncation occurring. I can see a hand held device aiding the employee in the whole process. The employee becomes the learner when seeking help from any systems expert online who can give the learner a step-by-step explanation to carryout the work. Another learning moment addressed!

It is possible to consider mobile learning when introducing something new or when learning something for the first time or when one wishes to learn more of something but I would much prefer to use other learning methods to address these needs especially if they are planned in advance. As a learning and development consultant I see mobile learning being useful in cases where it is not possible for the learner to remain situated in one area for the entire process, when it is not possible for learners to convene in one area at a given time, when there are conflicting tasks but still possible for a learner to be attentive to the learning material, when a planned learning event (a classroom event) suffers hitches, or when a learner is on leave and still wishes to participate in the learning event. This is not an exhaustive list but what I am trying to convey here is that mobile learning is a great way to learn for both learner and the instructor crafting the learning content if the need is there. I welcome this avenue of learning and strongly advocate it especially since I am under a circumstance that requires me to learn using a mobile device. The fact that I am right now on a elliptical trainer with my MacBook Air, is a testament of what wonders mobile learning can bring to the learner. This brief article served as a trigger or catalyst for me to further advance my research on the application of mobile learning in my organization.