HOW TO ENHANCE LIBRARY INSTRUCTION WITH
MOBILE DEVICES
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmje/5159177886/
MEREDITH FARKAS
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

HOW PEOPLE LEARN HAS CHANGED
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vj_pdx/47311908

ANYTIME ANYWHERE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sindi/4071187211/

INFORMAL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhough/788608332/

COLLABORATIVE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vj_pdx/47311908

STUDENT CENTERED
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23898723@N00/4819265599/

IMMERSIVE
Learning about the Learning in the world
world
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glacierguymt/4184131758/

WELCOME TO THE INFO BUFFET
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verbeeldingskr8/3638834128/

IF YOUR STUDENTS ARE MOBILE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fictures/6413425/
IS YOUR TEACHING?

MOBILE LEARNING

QR CODES
• Short for Quick Response
• Originally developed for inventory control
• Need a QR code reader to read
• Scan a QR code to access info or take action

SCANNING A QR CODE CAN...
• Pull up text content
• Dial a phone number or send a txt
• Pull up a web page
• Check into Foursquare or Like on Facebook
• Pull up an image or video
• Add event to calendar
• Add to contacts
• Display a point in Google maps

QR CODE GENERATORS AND
READERS

Hyperlinks
CONNECTED WEB PAGES
QR CODES
CONNECT PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL

QR CODES FOR LEARNING
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verbeeldingskr8/3638834128/

QR CODES FOR LEARNING
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verbeeldingskr8/3638834128/

LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE
LEARNING
•Use GPS, compass, RFID, etc. to determine a
user’s orientation to other people, places,
things, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/21055837/

PROJECT GREENHAT
http://bid.berkeley.edu/files/papers/GreenHa

SICK AT SOUTH BEACH
http://website.education.wisc.edu/kdsquire/te

WOLFWALK

AUGMENTED REALITY
• Blending virtual data with what you see in
the real world
http://www.flickr.com/photos/turkletom/4325703868/

iTACITUS
http://www.itacitus.org/

LUDWIG II: WALKING IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF A FAIRYTALE KING
http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/Ludwig-II-Auf-de

MENTIRA: LANGUAGE LEARNING GAME
http://www.mentira.org/

http://arisgames.org/

PERSONAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS

http://guides.boisestate.edu/mobilewebinar
http://guides.boisestate.edu/mobile_symposium

BUT, WHERE ARE THE REST OF US?

LIBRARY APPLICATIONS
FOR MOBILE LEARNING

ORIENTATIONS AND
TOURS

IPHONE APP

38

NO CELL PHONE? NO
PROBLEM!
DANSL - QR code application to be used with a web cam
Can also use iPod Touch or iPad2 to read QR codes

POINT OF NEED
INSTRUCTION

GET IN THEIR FLOW
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogendra174/5980718184

NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
• Web stats
• Where do patrons get frustrated and
leave the library web site?
• Reference transcripts and stats
• Talk to colleagues
• Survey patrons
• Usability testing
• Ethnographic research

USES OF QR CODES

USES OF QR CODES

USES OF QR CODES

USES OF QR CODES

ARE NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATIONS
THE NEXT STEP?
• A way for devices to receive information at
close range
• RFID is an example
• User no longer has to take the initiative to
scan something.

WHAT ABOUT MOBILE
VISUAL SEARCH?

SCREENCASTS
• Movie taken of your desktop
• Good for demonstrating library website,
databases, etc.
• Audio narration, captioning, spotlighting,
interactive components
• Various export options (dependent on
software)

CLASSROOM
INSTRUCTION

WHO NEEDS A COMPUTER
LAB?

MOBILE DEVICE AS PERSONAL
RESPONSE SYSTEM

THE BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS: HOTSEAT

THE ANSWER FOR THE ONE-PAGE
HANDOUT

OUTREACH

GETTING OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY
• Fliers and posters that link to instructional
content
• Put them where users might have
information needs outside of the library
• Buses, business support organizations,
daycare centers, community centers, high
schools, academic department offices,
student lounges, computer labs, etc.

RESEARCH TIPS VIA SMS

CONSIDERATIONS

MOBILE WEB CONTENT
• Questions to Ask
• Do you create a separate mobile version of
your site or just serve up a different
stylesheet based on the device?
• Do you design for the most commonly-used
smartphones or also design for feature
phones?
• Do you use a detection algorithm to redirect
users to the mobile site or make them go to a
separate URL?

NATIVE APPS STILL HAVE
SOME BENEFITS
•Better designed for each specific platform
•More integrated into the device
•Support for widgets and notifications
•Can access hardware (GPS, camera, etc.)
•Not slowed down as much by the Web
•Easier to monetize

VIDEO
•Do you host it yourself or elsewhere
(YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)
•Captioning is critical (accessibility!!)
•Make sure you record at an appropriate
resolution (4x3 is ideal)
•Keep it short!!!

HOW MANY OF OUR PATRONS
HAVE A QR CODE READER?

MOBILE TIPS
• Offer incentives (contest, bonus content, etc.) to
increase awareness of library mobile services.
• Provide instructions for things like QR codes,
apps, augmented reality, etc.
• Track usage of your mobile content (Google
Analytics, etc.)
• Some URL shorteners will show stats of how
many times they’ve been accessed
• Some QR code generators have web stats
functionality

QR CODE TIPS
• Test your code!!!
• Make sure it’s going to mobile-friendly content
• QR code size: ideal = 1.5 inch sq. some phones can
work with smaller
• Some QR code generators provide usage stats
• Use a URL shortener so the QR code won’t be so
crowded.
• QR code size: ideal = 1.5 inch sq. some can work as
small as 0.4 in.
• Don’t use proprietary barcode generators that
require a specific reader

WHY IT’S CRITICAL TO
KNOW YOUR USERS

Questions?
Find me at
meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress
mgfarkas (at) gmail.com
flickr, twitter: librarianmer
facebook: meredithfarkas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trucolorsfly/2401196653/
Links and bibliography at
http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com