effectively using mobile technology in learning
TRANSCRIPT
Effectively Using Mobile Technology in Learning
Piloting M-learning at Eversheds
Tim Drewitt, Eversheds LLP
27 September 2011
@timdrewitt
Presentation Summary
• About Eversheds
• Pilot overview
• M-learning benefits
• M-learning content
• Technical issues
• Tim‟s top tips
Effectively using mobile technology in learning
About Eversheds
• 4,300 employees, 527 partners
• 44 offices – UK, EMEA and Asia, 27 jurisdictions
• Company commercial, human resources, litigation and dispute management and real estate
• Aerospace and defence, central government, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, food, healthcare, industrial engineering, local government, retail, sport and transport
One of the world’s largest law firms
Our learning delivery framework
Quick E-learning
Podcasts
Passive Webinars
Interactive Webinars
Blogs Yammer Discussion Forums
Learning Time Commitment
Self-p
aced v
Liv
e
Face-to-face Classroom
One-to-one Coaching
Referenceware
Recorded Webinars
Attitu
de/S
kills
v K
now
ledge/T
ask
Shorter Longer
Mobile LearningVideocasts
Pilot Overview
Going where few have been before
Learner-demanded delivery channel
• “I‟d like to watch a training session I missed on the train home.”
• “Can‟t I play back a webinar recording on my BlackBerry?”
• “I‟d prefer to study the e-learning during my travel time when I am not disturbed.”
• “Why can‟t I listen to the podcasts on my mobile?”
• “Isn‟t there an app for that?”
Meeting the demands of mobile workers
Our challenge
• To deploy a device-neutral mobile learning delivery platform that enables the in-house rapid development of suitable content for offline study
• To pilot m-learning to a diverse group of up to 150 fee-earners from across all practice groups
• To pilot on two models of BlackBerry (c. 1,500) and iPad (c. 300)
• Use PowerPoint as the authoring tool
• To develop just the once, but push to all device types
A challenging challenge
Our objectives
• Once lawyers have used it, do they still want it?
• What content works well in this format and what doesn‟t?
• If we reduce the learning run time, what is the impact on the quality of the training?
• Is the solution usable, simple and straightforward?
• How much learning shifts from the desk to discretionary learning on the move?
• When and where are staff choosing to learn?
• How do we have to change our content design for mobile delivery?
Seven key questions
Our pilot solution
LMS
Hot Lava
Mobile Learning Management System
Plug-in
App Content Viewer
Mobile Learning Benefits
Making the business case
Benefits map
The anticipated benefits
Investment Objectives
Reduce operating costs by
improving productivity
Improve risk management by
ensuring completion of
modules
Business Benefits
Protect fee-earning hours
Facilitate learning during „dead time‟
Improve productivity by removing learning
from office
Increase course completions
Enable staff to learn in short bursts and in
different ways
Business Process Change
Make mobile training modules available from mobile devices
Develop new, shorter training
modules (customised for mobile devices)
High-level Requirements
Solution will allow training to be made available on mobiles
Training to be available in a variety of content
types/file formats
Solution will integrate with LMS
Solution will integrate with BES
Solution will allow users to create
modules
Supporting evidence
•Measure hours of training performed away from the desk
•Compare with hours of training performed during fee-earner time
Protect fee-earning hours
•During the pilot, participants will be asked to provide the location where they completed the modules
Facilitate learning during „dead time‟
•Focus on business services teams
•Same as for fee-earners
Improve productivity
•Compare completion levels with other similar courses
•Measure completion rates, abort rates and users taking more than scheduled time
Increase course completions
Measuring the benefits
Mobile Learning Content
The greatest challenge of them all
Our pilot content
• Five pre-existing podcasts
– After the Event [ATE] Insurance [11:12]
– Interim Injunction Undertakings [13:16]
– Quantum Meruit Claims [15:37]
– Striking Out, Defendants‟ Application for Summary Judgement and Admissions [18:13]
– Wasted Costs and Solicitors‟ Disclosure Responsibilities [16:59]
• One new exemplar module
– Keep Calm and Collect the Cash [3:30]
Our first mobile-friendly offer
Original design briefing
• Less than 10 minutes
• Cover just one discrete topic
• Contents breaks down neatly into key points
• Easily communicated by text
• As practical as possible
• Reflect context in which training will be taken
• Include at least one final question
• May support other current training
• Discrete target audience
E-learning in miniature…?
Content is king
Well maybe The Petit Prince• Device-specific issues
– Screen size and shape
– Learning app characteristics
– Device navigation controls
– Touch screen versus keyboard/joystick
• Intrusion of navigation controls into content space
• Legible font size
Content template
Lowest common denominator
PowerPoint slide title: Resize shape to fit text; Font Size 24;
H 1.28cm x W 16cm;
Horizontal 1cm, Vertical 0.5cm
Text box; Resize shape to fit text; Font Size 28;
Horizontal 1cm, Vertical 3cm
Scrolling zones: 14.5cm and 16cm
Eversheds logo:
H 1.28cm x 6.66cm; Horizontal 18cm, Vertical 0.5cm
Content is king
Technology and environmental constraints• Time to download versus time to study
– Graphics delayed download and pace
• Text and graphics alignment
– Text and graphic object conflicts
– Variable rendering on different devices
– Bold 9000 > Torch > NEW Bold 9900
• Maintaining learner focus
– Multiple distractions
– Learner lethargy
Content treatment
• Content chunked into components
– Interactions
– Learning hooks
– Q&As that “teach”
– Practical tips and checklists
– Avoiding “tutorials”
Question Problem
Answer Tip
Keeping the learner engaged
Content treatment
• Rely on intuitive navigation
• Text narrative
– Brevity is key
– Master the art of content slashing
– Trim, trim and trim again
• Purpose of graphics
– Dropped fancy icons to free up content space and reduce download times
• Questions
– Use more answers instead of tutorial screens
Getting to the point fast
Content treatment
Example using Q&A
Answer choices redacted
Answer feedback redacted
Content breakdown
Getting to the point fastContent Type Number of Screens Word Count
Title 1 6
Introduction 1 40
Question 5 99
Answer with “hook” 1 23
Answer with tutorial 4 218
Tutorial 3 134
Tip 2 85
Further information 1 41
Exit routine 2 31
TOTALS 20 677
Mobile content – so what is it?
• Less likely to be a “course”
– Content trimming takes its toll
– Courses are time-hungry
– Mobile time is prone to distractions
• More likely to be “snippets of learning”
– Current usage of apps and mobile web
– Short memory joggers
– Short quizzes to pre-qualify/verify compliance
– Other “point of need” referenceware
Answering the killer question
Technical Issues
Overcoming technology troubles
Technology issues
Those little gremlins• App encryption delayed download times
– Removed encryption to rely on BES security
• Integral media player lacked user controls
– App redeveloped to use device‟s native player
• iTunes App Store upgrade policy
– Had to abort iPad trial
• Lack of robust processes for testing and deploying apps
Tim‟s Top Tips
Kick-start your mobile learning project
Tim‟s top tips
• Give some content to potential vendors to turn into an exemplar module as part of the RFP
• Don‟t rush your design and development
– Evaluate prototypes across all device types
– Rework until it truly ticks all the boxes
• Challenge existing definitions of “content”
• Consider the largest feasible pilot audience size
• Don‟t ignore learner propensity to use mobiles for non-call/e-mail related activity
Kick-start your mobile learning project
Tim‟s top tips
User L&D/IT User L&D/IT
The nature of a mobile learning pilot
© EVERSHEDS LLP 2011. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership.
@timdrewitt