Integrating M-Learning in a Broad Context:Issues and Recommendations

Gerald Gannod and Kristen BachmanMiami University, Oxford OH

Twitter: @miami_mlearninghttp://elgg.csi.muohio.edu/mlc

Try this network: salones

http://bit.ly/fhctPJ

Miami M-Learning Center 2

Quick Poll

http://bit.ly/fhctPJTake out your phones!

Miami M-Learning Center 3

Motivation

• Budget issues abound in the US affecting K-20 education– Wisconsin, Ohio, among others

• Challenge: promotion of learning while reducing cost

• Classes of questions being asked:– To what benefit? – How?– Cost?

Miami M-Learning Center 4

KnowledgeWorks

• Governor of State of Ohio contracted KnowledgeWorks to develop recommendations for Digital Learning

• Miami University asked to help draft briefing for the m-learning component of the recommendation

Miami M-Learning Center 5

Process

• Graduate Seminar in CSE formed to develop recommendations

• Developed rubric based on existing m-learning literature

• Analyzed existing m-learning techniques

• Discussed issues with K-12 m-learning practitioner

• 3 classes of recommendations– Adoption– Technology– Cost

Miami M-Learning Center 6

Adoption: M-learning should…

• Not be viewed as a replacement for existing techniques but rather as a supplement

• Be used to facilitate different dimensions of learning• Be used to facilitate collaboration with instructors

and other learners• Be adopted as an institutional or broad initiative

rather than a pilot by a small set of early adopters• Be accompanied by protective measures to prevent

abuses• Accompanied by training for major constituents

Miami M-Learning Center 7

Technology: M-learning technologies…

• Should be extensible and programmable to support creation of add-ons

• Should be selected according to its intended use

• Should be accompanied with application acquisition policies (to address content abuse)

Miami M-Learning Center 8

Budget and Cost: Initiatives should…

• Consider a number of cost attributes including:– Quality of alternatives, relative replacement

schedules, network infrastructure, management software, IT support

• Consider pairing digital learning and m-learning with other cost savings (such as facilities costs)

Miami M-Learning Center 9

Conclusions and Questions

• These recommendations are merely reflections and require some study to determine impact

• Working on an adoption guidebook for adopting m-learning based on the experiences of K-12 practitioners

• What have we obviously missed? Direct tweet @miami_mlearning or email mlearning@muohio.edu