mLearning for All! Workshop ( in English language!) at eLearning Africa 2009, sponsored by SPIDER, the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions Annika Andersson and Mdrizvee Bhuyanh Örebro univ. Dr. Jabiri Kuwe Bakari, Open University of Tanzania Bengt Nykvist, Mid Sweden University Kalle Hedlund, Mohamed Xarbi, Kay Obiri-Mainoo, Fayez Chahrstan, Emma Hedlund, MKFC Stockholm College Kodwo Jonas Boateng, Ghana Institute of Journalism contributions by Kirston Greenop, Mindset Network

Workshop Aims and Goals Stimulate the interest in m-learning and create opportunity to test some m-learning applications Argue for the use of mobile phones as alternatives and complements to computers and computer networks m-learning offers special benefits to the developing world m-learning don’t need to be rocket science! Establish contacts for future cooperation/sharing of experiences/joint projects

Stimulate the interest in m-learning and create opportunity to test some m-learning applications

Argue for the use of mobile phones as alternatives and complements to computers and computer networks

m-learning offers special benefits to the developing world

m-learning don’t need to be rocket science!

Establish contacts for future cooperation/sharing of experiences/joint projects

Workshop Outline Some aspects of the mobile learning field Short presentations / demos of projects / models Coffee break 15:30 – 16:00 Hands on practice with mobile phones for learning Summing up, next step, networking

Some aspects of the mobile learning field

Short presentations / demos of projects / models

Coffee break 15:30 – 16:00

Hands on practice with mobile phones for learning

Summing up, next step, networking

Projects / models presented / for hands on experience Bangladesh Virtual Classroom ICT - B ased I n-Service T eacher E ducation for S econdary School Teachers in Tanzania End-to-End eLearning model

Bangladesh Virtual Classroom

ICT - B ased I n-Service T eacher E ducation for S econdary School Teachers in Tanzania

End-to-End eLearning model

Why mobile learning (general) ? Less time and place constraints, “Learning on the move”: flexible technology. Introducing "authenticity“, learning on site. Supports ”just-in-time” flexible learning. Collaboration can be enhanced, with other students, teachers and tutors.

Less time and place constraints, “Learning on the move”: flexible technology.

Introducing "authenticity“, learning on site.

Supports ”just-in-time” flexible learning.

Collaboration can be enhanced, with other students, teachers and tutors.

THE HORIZON REPORT 2009 EDITION: ( Created by The New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Program) “ Mobiles”… will… ”significantly impact the choices of learning-focused organizations within the next five years.” (mentioned first as one of “Technologies to Watch” in the executive summary)

Some problems with e-learning, using PC’s, in the developing world Accessibility problems Power problems Band width / Internet infrastructure problems Affordability problems Low availability of PC’s Limited knowledge how to operate PC’s and computer networks

Accessibility problems

Power problems

Band width / Internet infrastructure problems

Affordability problems

Low availability of PC’s

Limited knowledge how to operate PC’s and computer networks

Some of these problems can be addressed by m-learning and usage of mobile phones Mobile phone networks have high coverage in e.g. Africa Cheaper equipment Equipment that can operate without daily access to electricity Equipment familiar to student and teachers Reach groups you can’t reach in other ways

Mobile phone networks have high coverage in e.g. Africa

Cheaper equipment

Equipment that can operate without daily access to electricity

Equipment familiar to student and teachers

Reach groups you can’t reach in other ways

mLearning We will not spend to much time to discuss ”what is m-learning” In this workshop the focus is on learning using mobile phones as tools for learning. Change of technology, new types of media players, mini laptops etc. will change the picture. The infrastructure is there, the mobile phones and the networks, why not use them for teaching and learning!!

We will not spend to much time to discuss ”what is m-learning”

In this workshop the focus is on learning using mobile phones as tools for learning.

Change of technology, new types of media players, mini laptops etc. will change the picture.

The infrastructure is there, the mobile phones and the networks, why not use them for teaching and learning!!