toward a community of practice: the avu mobile learning initiative

TOWARD A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE: THE AVU MOBILE

LEARNING INITIATIVE

DR. A. ATIENO ADALAMANAGER, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

AFRICAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY (AVU)

2013 3rd International Conference of the AVU Nairobi, KENYA

July 8th 2016

2 WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

•Conference theme: Integrating Mobile Learning to Open Up Access to Quality Education and Training Opportunities in Africa.

3 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

• Communities of practice are groups of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better.

4 CREATE A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE• AVU proposing the creation of a mobile

learning research network (AVU MOBILEARN)

• The creation of a CoP with an online presence would create a platform that brings together a stakeholder community with an interest in mobile learning practice and research.

5 TOWARD A SHARED UNDERSTANDING

• To that end, the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Handbook (2015) available online and published under a creative commons license offers a particularly useful tool kit when getting started planning for a mobile learning project.

6 TOWARD A SHARED UNDERSTANDING

• the Definitions and Basics (Appendix 3) – has discussions around the definition of mobile learning, benefits of mobile learning, new ways of thinking about design and delivery of learning for mobile devices etc

7 DEFINITIONS OF MOBILE LEARNING• "Mobile learning should be restricted to learning on devices which a lady

can carry in her handbag or a gentleman can carry in his pocket (Keegan, 2005)."

• "The exploitation of ubiquitous handheld technologies, together with wireless and mobile phone networks, to facilitate, support, enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning (The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET), 2014)."

• “The intersection of mobile computing (the application of small, portable, and wireless computing and communication devices) and e-learning (learning facilitated and supported through the use of information (Quinn, 2000).”

• “Mobile learning is where a learner can be physically mobile while at the same time remaining connected to non-proximate sources of information, instruction, and data communications technology (Woodill, 2010)."

8 DEFINITION(S) OF MOBILE LEARNING• “Leveraging ubiquitous mobile technology for the adoption or

augmentation of knowledge, behaviors, or skills through education, training, or performance support while the mobility of the learner may be independent of time, location, and space.”

• This description is intentionally generalized to allow for a growing number of mobile learning scenarios as well as future capabilities of new technology and device types.

• Koole (2009) states that key defining features of mobile learning are that it “… provides enhanced collaboration among learners, access to information, and a deeper contextualization of learning”.

• The Mobile Learning Handbook: Advanced Distributed Learning • https://sites.google.com/a/adlnet.gov/mobile-learning-guide/home/

9 FRONT END ANALYSIS

• Front-end Analysis (Appendix 4) - A determination of the users and their needs and interests should be one of the first steps.

• The steps in mobile learning needs analysis are similar to those you would follow in any other project, with some specific considerations for mobile learning.

• Appendix 4 provides a representation of some of the analysis questions that one would ask for a mobile learning project.

10 LEARNING DESIGN: ANALYSIS

• Learning Design (Appendix 5) – Are new instructional design models needed for mobile learning?

• ADL notes that of special importance are the considerations and decision nodes in the analysis process that may lead development teams to choose mobile learning as the optimal solution.

• Without adequate consideration, there is a risk of developing a mobile learning solution to a problem for which it is not appropriate or forgo a mobile solution where one is needed.

11 FIVE MOMENTS OF LEARNING NEED?

• ADL presents a review of the Five Moments of Learning that could help to form a learning strategy and determine where mobile learning may be appropriate.

• When learning for the first time• When wanting to learn more• When trying to remember• When things change• When something goes wrong• Which moments are most appropriate for delivery on a

mobile device for your learners? What materials would be most appropriate at their moments of need?

12 WHO SHOULD MAKEUP THE COP

Identify stakeholders across the possible range of roles in mobile learning practice including • Researchers & learners (from the PI), • instructional designers, course developers and subject

matter experts• faculty/instructors, • app developers, m-learning system providers, • mobile device manufacturers/distributors etc. • Policy makers and institutional leadership,

13 INCLUDE EXPERTS & NOVICES

• It is important to include those with experience in m-learning projects.

• The involvement of institution (for example open and distance universities) that might have already deployed m-learning offer an opportunity for collaboration between those who have experience and those who are just getting started

• as a community of practice should involve both novices and experts

14 DESIGN/DEVELOP A PORTAL WEBSITE

Create a portal/website for AVU MOBILEARN. This would be a platform to host

• webinars/workshops,

• share information, best practices, resources, announce events, administer online surveys etc.

• Beyond providing a forum for the CoP, the website would give visibility to the project for purposes of mobilizing resources and funding.

15 WHAT OBJECTIVES FOR THE COP?

• Undertake research studies on mobile learning?

• Contribute to and facilitate the development of applications for mobile learning?

• Promote partnership-building and collaboration with other mobile learning initiatives.

• Suggestions?

PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION IDEAS

• Partner Institutions could put in place a committee of researchers already engaged or interested in mobile learning to analyze the concept note

• Conduct joint studies e.g. mobile learning

• Funding to support research/conference (BRING YOUR OWN BUDGET)

• Develop database of expertise and hold joint workshops

• Identify opportunities for joint funding for research activities such as in OER, mobile learning etc.

• Considerations for how to commercialize innovations

• Collaborate of publications for example special issues on mobile learning

• Respond to Call for Reviewers & Papers