mlearning pilot project @ franklin & marshall • mobile computing •

mLEARNING PILOT PROJECT@ FRANKLIN & MARSHALL

• MOBILE COMPUTING •

Oscar Retterer

Director, Instructional & Emerging Technologies

Assistant to the CIO for Special Projects

ABOUT F&M

Private, liberal arts college founded in 1887

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

2200 students, 200 faculty

IT Staff = 25; IET=4

BACKGROUND – MOBILITY ON THE HORIZON 2000: F&M wireless network – 60 access points @ 11 Mb/sec

2001: F&M Faculty option for portable computer upgrade

2004: 1st Horizon Report (HR) – Multimodal interfaces,context aware computing

2005: Ubiquitous wireless (HR)

2006: Phones in their pockets (HR)

2007: iPhone, iPod touch, netbook; Mobile Phones (HR)

2008: F&M IT Survey, iPod touch BTS bundles (300+ students)Mobile Broadband (HR)

2009: F&M wireless network – 250 access points @ 100 Mb/seciPod touch BTS bundles (300+ students), Mobiles (HR)

THE CAT PLAN – mLEARNING PILOT PROJECT Committee on Academic Technology (CAT)

GOAL: To explore potential uses of mobile devices to support teaching, learning, and research at the College.

Keep it simple, faculty focused, under $10K

SIMPLE PROJECT DESIGN

16 faculty selected on the basis of:• innovative ideas for exploring uses of the device;• an attempt to assemble a heterogeneous mix from interested members across the Faculty

iPod touch, protective case, earphones with remote and mic, AV composite cable, and Apple iTunes credit (≈ $375 each)

SIMPLE PROJECT FORMAT

Met 17 hours during a 12 month period May 2009 – May 2010

IET staff liaisons

Online resources

“Instead of making fun of those ads on tv, I now find myself saying to other people ‘there's an app for that’!”- Faculty Participant

PROJECT SURVEY RESULTS

Combination multiple choice and free response

Survey instrument:bit.ly/mlearn-survey-1

Complete results:bit.ly/mlearn-survey-2

“I've really learned a lot and it gave me a chance to hear more from my faculty colleagues about how they teach and conduct research.”- Faculty Participant

PROJECT SURVEY RESULTS SUMMARY

the convenience of a small, highly portable device allowed participants to accomplish many tasks that would otherwise require a laptop, yet in a much smaller, lighter, less expensive package;

had a positive impact on overall productivity;

provided opportunities for better communication with students and to feel more connected to students through a better understanding of mobile devices;

although some faculty discovered innovative uses for their devices that directly augmented their teaching, many struggled with how to do so.

ON THE NEXT HORIZON

CAT review of mLearning final report – Fall 2010

CAT-funded iPod touch, iPad Loaner Program

Future options for College-provided computers for Faculty

PROJECT SUPPORT

IET StaffHarry Haddon Teb Locke Charles Wachira

08-09 CAT CommitteeKimberly Armstrong, Chair Jon EnosDirk Eitzen Oscar RettererSimon Hawkins Chris SwisherWendell Ressler

“Thank you to the CAT Committee and the staff for all your help in this year-long adventure with new technology.  You have changed my life; I am not exaggerating!”- Faculty Participant

MORE INFO …

bit.ly/eli-fandm-mlearn (PDF Project Summary)

mlearning.fandm.edu (Project Website)

oscar.retterer@fandm.edu (Project Contact)