mLearnCon 2010: Dr. Patti Shank – Your First mLearning Initiatives

Wednesday (16 June 2010, 1:00-2:00 p.m.) Workshop

The eLearning Guild publishes several “Getting Started…” reports to help organizations launch new initiatives. On Wednesday afternoon, addressing a tough, “after lunch” crowd, Dr. Patti Shank discussed her and the Guild’s findings regarding mobile learning. Below is my somewhat live blogging notes that I have had to publish after the conference, but the information is still very timely.

Bottom Line Takeaway? Mobile devices are valuable tools that we must be using right away.

Guild Research to Help You with Your First mLearning Initiatives

Dr. Patti Shank, PhD, CPT

Dr. Patti Shank, Ph.D., CPT
President, Learning Peaks LLC
LearningPeaks.com

Patti’s slides are available to mLearnCon participants via the mLearnCon mobile app (EventPilot by ATIV Software). Download the Guild report (PDF file format) either from eLearningGuild.com (you’ll need your Member login) or from Learning Peaks at:

http://www.learningpeaks.com/resources/getting_started_research_report_mlearning1-pdf/

The 50-page report is based on the Guild members’ survey responses. (Note to self and to you fellow Guild members…when the eLearning Guild requests that we complete a survey, do take time to do so. The information and data we provide will make the Getting Started reports even better!) Okay… here are my rapid-typing notes. Feel free to post your feedback in the Comments.

Session Notes

mLearning refers to any handheld device used on a wireless or cellular network.

Mobile is really different from elearning.

Responses to the survey within the last year. 10% answered the survey, of the members who usually answer Guild surveys. N=684.

87% said it’s useful
66% said it has to be a part of their offerings.
Members are learning they have to align mlearning with their bus. objectives.

Stage?
45% are starting to explore
15% are doing, or already have done, mlearning

By Sector?
* higher education has done the most

Stage Now
Members are starting to build their business cases, is seeing an increase in percentage.

GuildMember Smartphones
Gartner Research says that by 2013, the majority of WWW access will be via a mobile device. Will overcome PCs.
Blackberry is the most common device used by companies of Guild members. Some are thinking of changing to iPhones.
NOTE: Don’t base your mlearning strategy on a single device.

Email can be mlearning.
Cameo. Email and text. Build text based scenarios, they answer, and they get email feedback.
SnapAsk. Short messages; learners had to read text and they respond with an answer. (For example: Directions to the airport). Similar to KGB.

Mobile Web Content
Easy for first entry into mlearning as web development has already been done in organization. Mobile web apps.

PDFs
Adobe has (URL fm patti in report) an article on how to make your PDF for mobile devices.
But, our discussion is that PDFs good on tablets, iPad… but for handhelds/phones, will need to use minimalism on the content. AND DO NOT SCROLL left to right, only up and down.

Podcasts.
David Penrose – microlecture. 3 bullet points
minilecture 1-2 minutes, no longer.

Social Networking.
Provide updates from the field. Q&A. Expert insights.
Send photos of product placements on customer site and send back to marketing, and then map that to sales.
Field technicians send data back to Product Dept., who makes changes as needed to resolve problems.

Jenise here again… as you can see, mlearning is being used, and it’s still being defined. Academia seems to be ahead of the private sector, but probably not for long. You can start small with SMS (text messages) and podcasts. Good luck and have fun!