Mobile learning for student support Jane Lunsford, The Open University Handheld Learning, October 2008

Open University open access policy 200,000 diverse students distance learners majority studying part-time provision of generic learning support resources Background

Open University

open access policy

200,000 diverse students

distance learners

majority studying part-time

provision of generic learning support resources

student online and print support material

most study support resources open to enquirers

online resources for tutors

February - December 2007 action research foundation year to postgraduate across the UK nine subject areas support: online, f2f, telephone mobile-accessible materials chose technology to suit community of students aspects of the module Tutors, students and mobile access

February - December 2007

action research

foundation year to postgraduate

across the UK

nine subject areas

support: online, f2f, telephone

mobile-accessible materials

chose technology to suit

community of students

aspects of the module

Examples ‘ introduction to tutor’ audio recorded tutorial discussions to mp3 audio summary of topic visual + audio commentary about a process revision crosswords and quizzes text reminders shared webspace for student comments and work mp3 files sent with forum message blog video of tutor / student discussion

Student comments “ as I was unable to attend any of the tutorials I felt more connected with the tutor/group” “ used the podcasts for advice on assignments” “ helped me cover areas in my course-work I may have missed otherwise”

Tutor comments “ a proactive way of offering support, rather than reactive” “ I can see the benefits to the students” “ I’ll continue to develop and use such materials”

additional support material for students (and tutors) using mobile devices for learning how to use and record audio for tutors case studies options for using web 2.0 tools Practical outcomes

additional support material

for students (and tutors)

using mobile devices for learning

how to use and record audio

for tutors

case studies

options for using web 2.0 tools

October 2007 - July 2008 one student cohort psychology module ‘ just in time’ texting pilot 453 students signed up – 10% 20 messages over 26 weeks Texting students

October 2007 - July 2008

one student cohort

psychology module

‘ just in time’ texting pilot

453 students signed up – 10%

20 messages over 26 weeks

support website – information and archive

08.12.07 Start using SPSS on your computer this week. More: www.open.ac.uk/sms

key points within the course reminders about tutorials and assignments – keeping on track making best use of course and OU resources evaluated by text response questionnaire interviews and focus groups Texting

key points within the course

reminders about tutorials and assignments – keeping on track

making best use of course and OU resources

evaluated by

text response questionnaire

interviews and focus groups

Student comments “ [the text messages] have acted as a timely reminder for things that I might leave until the last minute” “ when work is busy it is sometimes easy to get behind and not check the website, but with the text message service you get nice little prompts ”

alternative approaches access in other places when unable to attend tutorials review and replay proactive answer whole student group strength of ‘voice’ Benefits: tutors, students and mobile access

alternative approaches

access in other places

when unable to attend tutorials

review and replay

proactive

answer whole student group

strength of ‘voice’

Benefits: texting highlights key information invites an action personal reassurance emotional support safety net good for new students less organised

highlights key information

invites an action

personal

reassurance

emotional support

safety net

good for

new students

less organised

re-structured, re-designed blended accessible provision enhanced activities, audio, video RSS feeds downloadable statistics tool evaluating uptake additional topics Skills for OU Study www.open.ac.uk/ skillsforstudy

re-structured, re-designed

blended accessible provision

enhanced

activities, audio, video

RSS feeds

downloadable statistics tool

evaluating uptake

additional topics

What next? offer texting-based support scalability and sustainability add mobile-accessible topics downloadable invite shared student material

offer texting-based support

scalability and sustainability

add mobile-accessible topics

downloadable

invite shared student material

Jane Lunsford [email_address]