As follow up to my September visit to FSHU campus.

1. Web 2.0 Social Media and Mobile Learning:
Emerged Tools for Learning
Skip Ward’s Blog Entries from “Communication, Learning and Coaching to Drive
Behavioral and Organizational Change”

2. To the Reader
Thank you for the opportunity to share ideas last week. As follow up to
my presentations and our various meetings, I have prepared a sample of
my blogs on social media and mobile learning. These blogs grew out of
work on my certification in Emerging Technologies for Learning offered by
the University of Manitoba on the Angel LMS.
The blogs also reflect facilitator/teacher expectations for their students-
to assume a portion of responsibility for their own learning, to engage
independently and in a self-directed manner and to freely share their
ideas and findings with other classmates.
I have selected 11 blogs. Most contain links to other sites and a few
contain links to videos created for the various courses.
I trust that you will find this topic as exciting as I do!
Dr. James (“Skip”) Ward
9/28/2011
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3. Table of Contents
 The Future of Mobile Learning: Where are the Red Balloon People? P. 4
 Three Significant Challenges to Introducing Mobile Learning to a University
Campus P. 6
 Mobile Nomads- Opportunities for Universities to Harness the Power of
Community P. 10
 Mobile Phones for Communication and Learning on a University Campus P. 12
 University Apps- The Challenge of Delivering Sustainable Information Just in
Time, Anytime and Just for Them! P. 15
 Mobile Learning- The Beginning of the Journey P. 18
 “The New Norm- Emerged and Emerging Technologies- Connecting People
and Knowledge” Slideshare Experiment P. 20
 The Information Tsunami and Re-Learning How to Learn- Implications for
Communication and Corporate Training P. 21
 Second Life for Business, Marketing and Universities: Beyond Emerging P. 23
 Digital Literacy- Second Life 101: Dual appearances done, but simply! 80/20
P. 26
 The Future of Change Management: Five Emerging Trends and Expectations
That Will Define the Change Manager P. 28
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4. The Future of Mobile Learning: Where are the Red Balloon People?
Jul.13, 2011
I recently viewed an Ustream production and the topic of the Red Balloon project came up. I admit I
never heard of it and, if I had been in the room, I would have my iPhone out and I would be googling
and listening to the speaker. Instead I googled on my laptop!
― The Red Balloon contest serves as a metaphor for the
newly-networked world. This new way of generating, aggregating and disseminating information has
profound implications for higher education. It challenges long-held practices of teaching and learning,
institutional organization and structure, and the very notion of expertise. The Red Balloon contest also
serves as an analogy for how a community of higher education institutions and their national association
can work together to promote and support change in higher education.‖
http://www.aascu.org/programs/redballoon/
As part of my course on mLearning for the University of Manitoba certification in Emerging
Technologies, our class designed a survey with Survey Monkey on the future of mobile learning and we
received 153 responses. It was distributed through a range of networks representing our own personal
educational networks (mine was via a group of 12 graduate students in education via a local university
and via a Ning site, Learning Town). We were then asked as part of the course to create a blog entry on
results. You can view the PDF of the survey and results on my Slideshare site.
As I reviewed the survey results below, I could not but help thinking that those adapting to the
technology of the 21st century are launching more weather balloons and will challenge in the fortress of
the status quo. But the results also show that much work needs to be done in creating awareness o f the
potential of the mobile device. For more on the Red Balloon Project see We Have a Winner and
Introduction to the Red Balloon Project. You can view the PDF of the major project study (The Red
Balloon Project: Re-Imagining Undergraduate Education) at the same Slideshare site.
1. When asked ―Do you currently use mobile learning device(s) in your formal education or institutional
training setting?‖ 152 answered the question and 55% said yes. However, when we drilled down into
that issue, the majority, 81 respondents, skipped the questions. They skipped over telling us the type of
device, utilization rate, type of content, current use. When asked about usage of apps2/3 skipped the
question. And when asked what type of device they personally used, a third skipped the question.
My conclusion- Too many respondents did not take this seriously. How can the majority say use mobile
devices but are unable to provide detail into the device? And at the same time, respondents listed the
standards reasons for successful application to learning: multiple features in one device, better
engagement with learners, immediate ability to connect to a server.
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5. 2. Nearly 87% believe they will play an important role in the future of learning in K-12. However, the
top suitable uses cited were all transactional, not classroom instruction: accessing lecture note,
conducting polls, completing forms . With the exception of conducting polls, the bulk of the activity
cited can be done with a laptop. And 41 percent will utilize email or texting in their formal learning
My conclusion:
-Respondents appear to be thinking as a sage on the stage, as a teacher in the traditional sense. In today
tech savvy word, traditional ways of the data dump may no longer satisfy a generation of digital natives
has rendered traditional learning obsolete.
- A significant amount of change management must be brought to the table, especially an awareness
campaign to educate instructions in the classroom applications of mlearning.
3. Significant percentages see the future in college classroom, high schools, online training. But only
32% see a significant growth in elementary schools. I don‘t agree. Young kids today play games on their
parent‘s smart phone and the like. We as educators have to get as smart as our kids!
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6. Three Significant Challenges to Introducing Mobile Learning to a
University Campus Jun.18, 2011
We are just entering the anytime, anywhere, anything digital culture originally created by Apple and the
iPhone. For the moment, it‘s all about the apps that are just being discovered for university
communication and marketing use. (See my blog entry University Apps- The Challenge of Delivering
Sustainable Information Just in Time, Anytime and Just for Them! )
Now I foresee three major areas that will challenge the status quo but potentially will also enable the
future. And I suggest specific remedies to each challenge.
For further information, see my blog entries Mobile Phones for Communication and Learning on a
University Campus and Mobile Nomads- Opportunities for Universities to Harness the Power of
Community
1. Challenge: Managing Change in a University Environment
There are examples of universities that have undergone significant change, among them is North
Carolina State University. The university has a strategic plan, and conducted a sequenced
communication process with students, faculty and stakeholders. NCSU is in the execution phase. This
institution used the proper tools of change management- stakeholder analysis, focus groups, feedback
sessions etc.
John Kotter‘s now classic 8 step change model is more than theory. Implementation following Kotter‘s
sequence leads to, while never seamless, generally smooth change. (And as we live in a mobile age,
check out a free iPhone app, Mindtools, where you can go to countless change management tools
anytime, anywhere.)
1. The first step begins at the top- an urgency to change, an urgency felt by Senior Leaders, in a
university of a business.
What to do?
 Identify potential threats, and develop scenarios showing what could happen in the future.
 Examine opportunities that should be, or could be, exploited.
 Get the conversation going. Start honest discussions, and give dynamic and convincing reasons
to get people talking and thinking.
 Build the case for mlearning. If the President, Provosts, Deans and other leaders aren‘t for it, the
introduction of mlearning will fail. The Communications plan is the critical element as the
institution moves forward
2. You must make the case for change. What are the advantages to the institution? Faculty? Students? In
short, you must form a powerful coalition across campus.
3. Create a vision of what the future will look like. This becomes a change tool- it helps individuals
imagine what the use of mobile devices will look like.
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7. 4. Communicate the Vision. (―A Day in the Life of an mlearning (instructor) (administrator) (student)‖
is an effective addition to the campaign to educate across the campus. It is an idea that sticks.
5. Along the way, the university will encounter obstacles, and they need to be removed. Determine the
treats to a roll out of mlearning and creating potential responses in advance is a key to removing
roadblocks.
6. Identify the low hanging fruit, the easy successes and communicate those success.
7. Don‘t declare victory too soon. After every win conduct an after action review – what did you expect
to happen? What happened? What did you learn?
8. Anchor the change in university culture. Make that idea stick!
2. Challenge: Create a written communication plan.
For details on the how tos of communication plans, see my blog entry Communication Plans- The Triple
Ts of Transparency, Truth and Trust and Presentations and Media That Stick
Much work will have to be done on the ground level to share how universities are using these tools now.
(Stay tuned- I am in the process of creating a Creative Commons document for download on Slideshare
that is a collection of examples of current mlearning usage, practical real-life ideas.)
FB about mlearning. Tweet the stories. Create campus posters with Quick Response codes. Put the
stores about mlearning up on the university YouTube channel and Slideshare channel. Crowdsourse it!
Enlist students to use their mobiles to shoot video stories and email them into an mlearning blog. Create
an mlearning logo contest then use the logo on university shirts, caps etc. Create a ―Day in the life of an
mlearner contest. (For information on QR codes see my blog entry Marketing, Communications and
Early Adopters: Quick Response (QR) Codes Emerge in the States and What Are the What-To-Dos to
Implement?)
3. Challenge: Sustain the momentum and celebrate success
Celebrating mlearning success is a key factor. People like to be congratulated for work well done. It is
bottom line human nature. Sadly it is often overlooked.
7

8. 1. Apple launched the iPhone Developer University Program to train university students in app
development, for free.
8

9. 2. At the same time, Stanford launched its iApps Project
―At Stanford, we envision the iPhone as having a profound potential to break barriers in the way we
provide information and services to students – in how they converse with the institution, their
curriculum, the faculty, and each other. With an enduring entrepreneurial, innovative, and technological
leadership, those same qualities that helped shape Silicon Valley, Stanford is in a unique position to
chart yet another new course, this time using the iPhone.‖
Visit here to see Stanford‘s impressive iTunes site
Other participating universities include
-The University of Wisconsin
-Indiana University
-The University of Delaware
-Vanderbilt
-University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and they have created their own wiki
For information on how your university could join Apple‘s free app training program, enabling students
to create university apps like those described in this blog entry visit iOS Developer University Program.
3. Computer science major Evan Aumack created the application, or app during winter quarter as a final
project for Dr. Enoch Hwang‘s Introduction to Computer Programming class.
In fall of 2009, Hwang added the Apple application development component to his quarterly
Introduction to Computer Programming classes to boost interest. Students create apps as fun, final class
projects each quarter. ―Before we were just using a traditional approach to teach computer
programming,‖ Hwang said. ―Now the students are learning the same logical programming techniques
but applying it on the iPhone platform. After 10 weeks they can now write simple app codes.‖
Instructional Uses
At Abilene Christian University, faculty
 Have students look up relevant information on the spot and then facilitate a discussion
 Put discussion question on a screen as a PowerPoint and then use polling software the university
has developed for the iPhone
 Deliver quizzes created for an iPhone.
9

10. Mobile Nomads- Opportunities for Universities to Harness the Power of
Community Jun.02, 2011
What is a mobile nomad?
Always on the go lifestyle
University students, like many business folks, live in an ―always on the go‖ lifestyle- walking and
chewing gum, texting and walking and chatting, multi-tasking. The Android device or iPhone is
ubiquitous, always with them (and me!).
Speed of “been there done that”
Recently a 20 something said to me, ―By the time I graduate two years from now, the information I have
been taught will be old and outdated at the speed of change today.‖
I do get his point, but George Washington will always be our first U.S. President and 2+2 will always =
4. But new theories will be put into practice, new technologies will emerge that will enable us to do
what we can‘t do now, creating new jobs and process and tools. (Take the text to chat or chat to text
app- 5 years ago we would not have thought that was possible. Now it is. I dial a number by saying the
name.)
Brian Chen of Wired Magazine wrote, ―Why listen to a single source talk about a printed textbook that
will inevitably be outdated in a few years? That setting seems stale and hopelessly limited when pitted
against the internet, which opens a portal to a live stream of information provided by billions of minds.‖
Point taken.
Emergent change in behavior: The mobile in the hand
―About five years ago my students stopped taking notes. I asked, ‗Why are you not taking notes?‘ And
they said, ‗Why would we take notes on that?…. I can go to Wikipedia or go to Google, and I can get all
the information I need.‖ Bill Rankin, Abilene Christian University
So students are constantly on the move through a set of classes, exams, papers, Face Book updates,
tweets, and parties, (of course). They anticipate that the world is changing faster than ever. And they
know that coping with information overload—learning about and using an aggregator like Google
Alerts, deciding now what to scan, what to read, what to ignore, what site takes them to the most useful
information or ideas, is critical to survival. The same technology that enables on the spot fact check just
in time and just for me also can create the roadblock of information overload.
How to harness the power of change oriented mobile nomads for the university student
community?
Engage them!
Here are four trailblazing examples of how institutions engage their stakeholders, their customers– the
student– in the creation of apps. Many have taken up Apple on its offer to train students to create apps.
10

11. Others have created ―how to‖ courses or integrated app creation into an existing IT program. Others
engage through use of the mobile device in the classroom. Check it out.
1. Apple launched the iPhone Developer University Program to train university students in app
development, for free.
2. At the same time, Stanford launched its iApps Project
―At Stanford, we envision the iPhone as having a profound potential to break barriers in the way we
provide information and services to students – in how they converse with the institution, their
curriculum, the faculty, and each other. With an enduring entrepreneurial, innovative, and technological
leadership, those same qualities that helped shape Silicon Valley, Stanford is in a unique position to
chart yet another new course, this time using the iPhone.‖
Visit here to see Stanford‘s impressive iTunes site
Other participating universities include
-The University of Wisconsin
-Indiana University
-The University of Delaware
-Vanderbilt
-University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and they have created their own wiki
For information on how your university could join Apple‘s free app training program, enabling students
to create university apps like those described in this blog entry visit iOS Developer University Program.
3. Computer science major Evan Aumack created the application, or app during winter quarter as a final
project for Dr. Enoch Hwang‘s Introduction to Computer Programming class.
In fall of 2009, Hwang added the Apple application development component to his quarterly
Introduction to Computer Programming classes to boost interest. Students create apps as fun, final class
projects each quarter. ―Before we were just using a traditional approach to teach computer
programming,‖ Hwang said. ―Now the students are learning the same logical programming techniques
but applying it on the iPhone platform. After 10 weeks they can now write simple app codes.‖
Instructional Uses
At Abilene Christian University, faculty
 Have students look up relevant information on the spot and then facilitate a discussion
 Put discussion question on a screen as a PowerPoint and then use polling software the university
has developed for the iPhone
 Deliver quizzes created for an iPhone.
11

12. Mobile Phones for Communication and Learning on a University Campus
May.27, 2011
By nature mobile phones are personal and lightweight. They
travel with us everywhere and often in places that inherently contain a large number of distractions
(riding a bus to work, for example). In our Mobile Age rural learners, for example, are rural only
geographically. They are as connected as a student in Cairo, Jakarta, Ottawa or New York, even globally
with the Skype app for mobiles..The use of mobiles for communication and learning is very much an
emerging technology. The hardware issue has been solved. ―The challenge is now in developing
innovative, usable and affordable software applications and services for these devices.‖ Razi and
Mahmoud, 2008. http://change-leadershipllc.com/learning Abilene Christian University launched a
program in 2008 to equip every student with a mobile and to rollout a program to integrate mobile
learning with an iPhone or iPod Touch into classroom instruction. Apple launched the iPhone Developer
University Program to train university students in app development, for free. At the same time, Stanford
launched its iApps Project
―At Stanford, we envision the iPhone as having a profound potential to break barriers in the way we
provide information and services to students – in how they converse with the institution, their
curriculum, the faculty, and each other. With an enduring entrepreneurial, innovative, and technological
leadership, those same qualities that helped shape Silicon Valley, Stanford is in a unique position to
chart yet another new course, this time using the iPhone.‖
For information on how your university could join Apple‘s free app training program, enabling students
to create university apps like those described below, visit iOS Developer University Program.
Abilene Christian University launched a program in 2008 to equip every student with a mobile and to
rollout a program to integrate mobile learning with an iPhone or iPod Touch into classroom instruction.
Apple launched the iPhone Developer University Program to train university students in app
development, for free. At the same time, Stanford launched its iApps Project
―At Stanford, we envision the iPhone as having a profound potential to break barriers in the way we
provide information and services to students – in how they converse with the institution, their
curriculum, the faculty, and each other. With an enduring entrepreneurial, innovative, and technological
leadership, those same qualities that helped shape Silicon Valley, Stanford is in a unique position to
chart yet another new course, this time using the iPhone.‖
12

13. For information on how your university could join Apple‘s free app training program, enabling students
to create university apps like those described below, visit iOS Developer University Program.
My take on the challenge is, yes, we need to develop apps, but we also need to look at use of existing
processes and tools to deliver information. (For an interesting look at the extent apps are just emerging,
see the Pew Research Center reports, The Rise of the Apps Culture and App Hype Still Way Ahead of
Use Adoption.)
The Prerequisite: SMS Text Policy
The University of Bristol offers a template of what a policy can include, beyond use of SMS for campus
emergencies: reminding students to register or select options, announcing room and timetable changes;
announcements, essay deadline reminders, updating reading lists; seminar and lecture announcements,
social events, concerts.
Yale
allows for texts to the library on specific information.
An Innovative Use of SMS
I want to propose in this blog entry a concept using existing systems at minimal cost: Text blasts (a
Group SMS– Short Message Service– Text Messaging solution) and Quick Response codes. I want to
place this example within the context of a university.
There are many low cost services offered for group SMS texting. I am not endorsing any one of the
services, but see EZTexting.com for information and a webinar on how these systems work. These
services are beyond short lines- they also allow the user to open a page of information, which was my
―aha‖ moment the first time I received such a text.
For a discussion of Quick Response codes, see my blog entry Marketing, Communicatons and Early
Adopters: Quick Response Codes Emerge inn the States and What Are the What-to-Dos to Implement?
13

14. The Communication/Learning Scenario: New Student Orientation and the Scavenger Hunt
Mobile technology enables communication and learning in with a tool uinversity students mastered long
ago. Here is an opportunity for a university to collectively plan out activities that engage and entertain
participants (imagine, learning is fun!) in face-to face-activities that rely on social activity and
technology.
The process is simple. This activity is an active ‗icebreaker‖ that meets all learning styles and I am
certain that each reader will invent a variation to meet individual institutional needs.
1. Create the text clues in advance for each group in order to have students fan out at different rates and
times to different places on and off campus.
2. Have a student from orientation planning in each group in order to check back and have the next clued
blasted.
3. Have QR codes set up around campus providing links to further information. For example, QR codes
could take a viewers to a set of photos around the development of the building or significant events in
campus history and traditions, including campus sports ―heroes‖ past and present. A link could go a
sound file of the campus anthem (imagine what you could have teams do with that!) or puzzles. In
planning this event, a well facilitated meeting with students will generate countless ideas and potential
activities. Generation of QR codes is free and very easy.
I previously posted an entry on the use of university apps and noted that some universities include
walking tours. Certainly a self-guided walking tour could be supplemented with QR codes. For more
information see University Apps: The Challenge of Delivering Sustainable Information Just in Time,
Just for Them
Other Uses
The University of Memphis texts links to videos on their YouTube channel.
A wide range of secondary schools text key information, and reminders, to parents.
As a footnote- The University of Maryland uses Twitter to support new student orientation.
For further reaiding on the development of SMS text quizzes see Niazi, Razieh and Qusay H. Mahmoud,
Senior Member, IEEE. (2008). Design and Development of a Device-Independent System for Mobile
Learning, IEEE Multidisciplinary Engineering Education Magazine, 3(3), September. Retreive from
http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/e/sac/meem/index.php/meem/article/viewFile/28/29
14

15. University Apps- The Challenge of Delivering Sustainable Information
Just in Time, Anytime and Just for Them! May.24, 2011
I recently downloaded eight university apps for my iPhone to determine how they are used as
communication tools on or off campus. My assumption is that these apps are built for marketing and
branding the university with parents and students and various stakeholders. I also assume the apps are
part of an overall written communications plan based on the university brand. I will soon add a blog
entry on the critical value of a written communication plan, along with examples of Best Practices.
I was informally looking at these basic questions:
 What are the common info bits in these apps?
 What ―different‖ or ―edgy‖ bits of information do they contain?
 How often would they be used? How sustainable are they given the cost of development?
 Where can university apps go from here? What are some Best Practices to consider?
 How can institutions go beyond the app into other digital communication tools?
First, a word on cost. If a university does not outsource development, and does not harness the
intellectual power of IT and students, the cost is prohibitive.
According to Aaron Maxwell in a February 2011 Mashable article,
―There‘s no such thing as a ―typical‖ app, so it‘s hard to give a meaningful average cost. But as a
general working figure, we can say it costs at least $30,000 to design, implement and deploy a brand-
quality iPhone app. I haven‘t found published studies for the equivalent costs for Android and
BlackBerry, but since the device fragmentation is greater, it would makes sense that the costs are at least
similar.‖
I was personally quoted a cost of $15,000 and that was taking a book into an app concept.
What universities did I look at?
 University of Texas at Austin
 Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas
 University of Michigan
15

16.  University of Iowa
 University of Tulsa
 University of Vermont
 University of Chicago
 University of Montana
What are the common features?
1. They all contain university news. Now I assume this is the same news form campus papers, but a key
feature of communications is to repeat the same news in different media and formats to meet the reading
styles of various segments of the target audience.
2. Most contain university maps, and these are helpful to visiting parents and potential new students.
The University of Chicago contains a mass transit map, a truly useful item to first year students.
3. Five of the eight contain employee directories, again an item students potential will use year round,
providing information just in time and just for them.
4. All contain links to YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or to pages of student or university generated
photos.
5. Sports, of course!
What “different” or “edgy” bits of information do they contain?
1. Sam Houston State University contains emergency numbers as well as Help Desk numbers.
2. The University of Montana has links to bars and eateries.
3. The University of Texas at Austin has a link to puzzles, songs and traditions.
4. The University of Michigan has the cafeteria menu.
How often would they be used? How sustainable are they given the cost of development?
While I would recommend a survey to student usage, and assuming the existence of the app has been
well advertised, I assume these are all sustainable in use, with certain features especially helpful for new
student orientation.
Where can university apps go from here? What are some Best Practices to consider?
16

17. 1. I assume the bulk of students nationally have shied away from iPhones due to cost, and have gone
over to android based phones (It‘s Google and it‘s a free operating system!) The institution has to plan
for apps for all phone users.
2. Form some informal face-to-face focus groups to collect the features the student users would like to
see. Run an informal online poll with Survey Monkey or Zoomerang or a similar tool to collect ideas
from parents and other key stakeholders. If people participate in design they are far more likely to use
the product.
3. Consider use of the app as a tool for anytime, just for me orientation. Where can you send people on a
self-guided campus tour? What would a student want to know- what is a cool factoid? Remember- this is
information for 20 somethings, their friends who influence their decisions and their parents- not for a
university professor. How can you build in the use of publically posted Quick Response codes to the
app? See me blog entry on QR codes for further information.
4. Some features will need to be updated frequently, such as campus events, campus news and YouTube
videos. These resources need to be built into your communication plan or you will quickly have an
outdated product, a very unacceptable brand image.
5. Apps are based on emerging technologies. What is kool today may be un-kool next year, dating the
institution and branding campaign. IT, communication specialists, and the students themselves are
sources of the ―ing‖ of emerging. Certainly the institution should consider an advisory team that meets
every 3 or 6 months to discuss and share emerging features on apps. For example, I believe that
augmented reality and apps where people leave notes or comments on buildings, already out there, will
take on a greater role in the next year. And photo sharing continues to take on innovative dimensions.
6. If you build it they will not come- you have to communicate in multiple formats that the app exists
and what it can do for users. Remember, mobile learning and mobile based communication is just in
time, anytime and just for them.
Beyond the App
So let‘s make this edgy! Given the range of IT projects for IT majors, what game-based products might
be created to attract the student body? Universities burst with talent, creativity and ideas that are free and
ubiquitous. Why not go after that energy in a planned way?
My Challenge
So what say you? What are some cool features you would include in a university app? What about
beyond the app into the ―edgy‖?
17

18. Mobile Learning- The Beginning of the Journey May.21, 2011
This is a blog for a University of Manitoba course on mlearning or mobile learning toward a Certificate
in Emerging Technologies for Learning (98825)
Assignment 1: For discussion purposes, write a brief review of a resource or an organization that has
recently changed your understanding of mobile learning and post in the Angel forum.
I have entered this course a near tabula rasa, a blank slate, with no opinion on the use of mobile devices
in institutions in formal learning environment. I use my iPhone to Google information just in time and
just for me. I use an array of apps, news, and photography, my top favorites.
The only structured information I have ad is via a Massive open Online Course or MOOC on mobile
learning. I left that six week course with the impression the we here in the States are woefully being
Canada, Europe. Asia and parts of Africa in the use of mobile devices for educational purposes. The
technology that I see great potential for is the use of Quick Response (QR) codes for learning and
communication and have blogged on use of QR codes.
· The Lure of Mobile Marketing and Communications- From Business to Higher Education
· Marketing, Communications and Early Adopters: Quick Response (QR) Codes Emerge in the States
and What Are the What-To-Dos to Implement?
I have reviewed three chapters of the text book by Mohamed, A (2009). Mobile learning: transforming
the delivery of education and training. AU Press, Athabasca University. Available at:
http://www.aupress.ca/books/120155/ebook/99Z_Mohamed_Ally_2009-MobileLearning.pdf
 Chapter 1- Current State of Mobile Learning
 Chapter 2- A Model for Framing Mobile Learning
 Chapter 5- Informal Learning Evidence in Online Communities of Mobile Device Enthusiasts
Here are my conclusions as we start out this semester.
1. Yes, mobile learning is unique, but not because of the accompanying pedagogy. The tool itself- the
smart phone (I am an avid iPhone user)- is what makes mlearning unique, not the instructional
methodology. The learning theory put forth by the authors of these chapters is simple solid constructivist
theory used in any classroom. Period.
2. Learning styles and preferences is not an issue- digital nomads live life walking and texting. I argue
that smart phone use and technology is the norm, and crosses oven any preferred styles as we all use
these phones.
3. The debate around evaluation of mlearning is a tempest in a tea pot- test and assess as in any course
and any pedagogy.
4. These chapters did not mention apps. Apps are a driving force in use of mlearning and this will be the
subject of a later blog.
18

19. 5. I concur that the iPhone, for example is a tool for my own self directed learning, but again, learning
defined by what my iPhone can do for me with Google and apps.
6. Yes, I do use my iPhone app to take notes- at church or lists of what I need to get in the store.
My particular interest is the use of mobiles for communication targeted at specific audiences, in this case
university audiences–students and stakeholders and I will pursue this niche as we go forward.
19

20. “The New Norm- Emerged and Emerging Technologies- Connecting
People and Knowledge” Slideshare Experiment Mar.11, 2011
Check out my video first!
My Slideshare Experiment
My CCK11 course project is to use a tool I have not really explored deeply in the past, Slideshare. I
have sent regular and video emails out to members of two groups- google groups and cck11 Facebook. I
also used the Slideshare email tool to email the video in this blog. (As a communications guy I learned a
long time ago to reuse materials in different delivery formats. Someone may not read an email but might
open a video email out of curiosity.
My Slideshare channel is, not surprisingly, CCK11, the online, live 15-20 minute presentation with me
on video in the Slideshare system will be entitled, ―The New Norm- Emerged and Emerging
Technologies Connecting People and Knowledge‖. I will share with those that join the key
communications tools I see as essential to networking in our digital society.
As I write, my Slideshare Network (connections is what it is all about!) includes Ailsa Haxell and Rita
Kop. They are members of Slideshare and as they post to their sites, the slides appear in mine. One stop
shopping!
My Slideshare Newsfeed includes postings from Slideshare to Twitter (I forget to label the tweets
cck11) and Facebook. And it indicates two people in our class have joined so far. Thanks!
I have uploaded an introduction slide about myself and a short video introduction of the CCK11
Channel, the same as in this blog entry
My intension is to explore the full options of Slideshare. More as I learn on the go!
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21. The Information Tsunami and Re-Learning How to Learn- Implications
for Communication and Corporate Training Mar.09, 2011
Check out this video first!
It‘s a new day in connected communication!
I am popular with the 20-something set and we chat a lot about how our lives are transformed by
technology tools, especially social media, and how it potentially connects us all.
 Matt- Skip, when I graduate with my BA, most of what I have been taught about what is here and
now will be history. Society is moving faster than the organizations that represent society.
 Skip- Yeah, the time span from when knowledge is gained to when it becomes obsolete is in the
flash of a text, tweet or upload.
 Kristen- Worse still, there is so much information out there, I can’t keep up with it all and I don’t
know what to look at and what to discard.
 Matt- Yeah, Kirsten, knowledge is all over the place. I guess we are really in a world without
boundaries.
The Emerging Learning Model- The Knowledge is in My Network
Let me start with my assumptions about learning in the digital native or digital immigrant world. (I‘m an
immigrant!)
 Knowledge is personal. I can be exposed to information, formally or informally, but it is up to
me to translate info into knowledge. I can be exposed to print, virtual, oral, visual information,
but I have to access and then apply. I believe this to be true for any one.
 Adult learning is primarily self directed. I know I have a gap and go about filling it, just as I
know I have a strength and I want to exercise and expand on it.
 It is not uncommon to visit with my curators, professionals I know who have made it, who have
mastered the knowledge and skills I am pursuing in my lifelong learning journey. I use them as
filters, time savers, and cut down on Google timing.
 Both curators and colleagues are distributed globally. Technology potentially empowers all of us.
I say ―potentially‖ because I don‘t know what I don‘t know.
 Technology allows my knowledge pull- I am empowered to go and find it!
Implications for Communication
Organizations need to explore all the options for mass communication. I will blog in the next few days
with links to the tools available today as a hands on starting point. To be sure, social media tools do no
eliminate the need for the printing press!
Implications for Corporate Training
Curators, those called up on to assist organizations manage changes, are obligated in the global,
technological world, to provide the best, up to date tools for participants to use to follow up and explore
the issues, skills, knowledge from workshops or coaching sessions.
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22. For example, I built this site to support a workshop I delivered at a local university on social media in
the classroom. I actually used it in the workshop.
Moving Social Media into the Classroom
And this site is an example of what can be done as follow up to leadership sessions.
The Quest for Authentic Leadership
These sites are built on Ning. Imagine the follow up to sessions on understanding the change process,
team development. You name it- it can be ―ninged‖!
“Overload” and How to Cope
―We‘re a gathering of industry practitioners, academic researchers, consultants and other professionals
who are dedicated to addressing the problem of information overload, an ongoing crisis that diminishes
productivity and quality of life among knowledge workers worldwide.‖ Information Overload Research
Group (I have collected a few articles from this site and have book marked them on my Diigo site.)
You have heard, and may have uttered all of these statements:
 I don‘t have time to read your (email) (text). I am really busy at work.
 I just delete without reading
 I don‘t know where to look. I just Google away
Use the power of an aggregator!
Here are two ways you can use aggregators, automated tools that identify mentions of your topic area.
Netvibes.com is a sophisticated tool that delivers what you want in real time!
You create dashboards that follow any topic you want. I currently have info coming in on the following:
leadership skills, change management, process safety in manufacturing, building team trust. Netvibes is
nice in that it includes tweets and video.
Follow Netvibes on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/netvibes
Google Alerts allow you to monitor the web for mentions of the topics you are interested in. It is a
definite requirement to handle incoming!
Here is your Starting Guide for Google alerts.
My challenge to you!
1. Try out Netvibes and/or Goggle Alerts and share your experiences.
2. How do you cope with overload?
3. What is your take on communication and training in these digital times?
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23. Second Life for Business, Marketing and Universities: Beyond Emerging
Feb.15, 2011
What is Second Life?
SL is a 3D, computer-generated social networking tool.
SL is a virtual world where you build your own avatar (or multiple representations) to represent yourself
and transport yourself to any of the 30,000 plus ―islands‖. Why? To engage in meetings, projects,
concerts, movies or just hang out. You communicate by text chat or use Voice Over Internet Protocol
(VOIP) to verbally chat. Today there are well over 13 million users.
Is SL recognized by academic institutions as legitimate?
Today, hundreds of colleges, universities, and other learning organizations- -from nearly every country–
are either augmenting their current curriculum with a virtual learning component or they are holding
classes and entire programs exclusively in immersive learning environments in Second Life. I am
currently taking a class held in SL. Immersive Worlds, Avatars and Second Lives
An ever growing number of universities are represented in SL. As evidence of academic acceptance,
check out Metaverse Creativity, a refereed journal focusing on the examination of creativity in user-
defined online virtual worlds such as Second Life® and edited by a University of Austin professor.
The University of Delaware has created a Ning site for Second Life users. Ning is a social network site
that allows for a number of feeds- twitter, for example, and communication tools, such as video, sound,
slides, blogs. For an example check out the Ning site I built for a workshop at Sam Houston State
University, Moving Social Media into the Classroom .
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24. Linden Lab, the business creator of Second Life, has
strong support tools and use concepts for educators, as seen in the brochure Second Life Education: The
Virtual Learning Advantage. .
How does SL apply to business and marketing?
Mitch Wagner, in Using Second Life As A Business-To-Business Tool, provides one example:
Cisco has a few hundred employees in Second Life. They have several avatars that they use for user-
group meetings and meetings among their own international staff. They do customer education and
training in Second Life, get feedback from customers on products, and do presentations using
PowerPoint, video, and streaming audio. They hold events that combine people in the real world with
avatars in Second Life — a type of event that Second Lifers call ―mixed reality.‖
From Toyota to Adidas to Sun Microsystems,
adventurous, trend-conscious companies are starting to see the 3D, computer-generated world as a
virtual community where they can test-market future product lines or host events to foster brand loyalty
and generate buzz among avatars and, more important, their flesh-and-blood counterparts.
For further reading, check out The Immersive Internet Make Tactical Moves Today For Strategic
Advantage Tomorrow
What are some possible SL uses at the university level?
Prospective and current students will use print media, but more in the form of internet web sites and
Face Book than print brochures. And print media- posters for rooms, brochures and the like- are all
downloadable. They no longer requires Face to face to access.
They will use social tools to learn about the institution- read blogs, tweet, read their Google Alert. SL is
another social too and it allows for social collaboration and the wisdom of the crowds.
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25. A key communication principle is to present the same message in multiple ways to attract the widest
audience and to recognize that new communication tools are constantly emerging.
Check out this video from The Ohio University
Ohio University Second Life Campus
What say you? What other specific uses have you seen for SL?
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26. Digital Literacy- Second Life 101: Dual appearances done, but simply!
80/20 Feb.14, 2011
This is the first project for the class:
Using materials supplied by the instructor, create two avatars that demonstrate a reflection upon these
tensions. For example, you may create a pair of avatars that explore the ―public‖ self – as you wish to be
seen by others – and the ―inner‖ self – as you see yourself. Or you may explore alternate identities or
avatars that might be representative of your personal interests vs. your professional interests. The avatars
will be demonstrated to the class in a 5 minute presentation that reflects upon the reading materials, class
discussion, and how creating the avatars has impacted your own experience as learners.
Avatar presentations in class on 2/14 should demonstrate/address the following:
-Learners should be able to easily switch between their avatars, demonstrating a level of skill with the
Second Life interface.
-The avatar creations should demonstrate that a reasonable amount of time and effort was spent thinking
about and constructing the avatar.
- Learners should be able to discuss why they chose the avatars they picked or created, and how they
might use this type of exercise in a classroom or learning environment.
At the end of trying to create a pair of avatars here are my biggest learnings.
1. Allot significant time to this exercise.
2. I used ―Second Life for Dummies‖, but the book is out of date. I see that SL has been updated, like
any site would be over time.
3. I tried to get back to our course home several times and was told that it was unavailable.
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27. 4. Here are the key steps to go back and forth between your appearances.
Here is my first appearance representing what I felt I looked like before I started taking care of my diet
and before I started @ a gym with a personal trainer.
How to change between the two images of ―me‖ above?
It took me hours to get that point and in the end I have 12 or more appearances cluttering up the file! But
I have class in three hours and am afraid I will mess it up!
Not very brilliant at this point but I will settle for an 80/20 solution.
Technology has made perfect possible, but often the 80/20 solution is superior to perfection. Why? As
you proceed along on the project or activity, you will gain insights captured only in the act and continue
to adapt and change.
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28. The Future of Change Management: Five Emerging Trends and Expectations
That Will Define the Change Manager by 2015 Feb.11, 2011
1. Consultants will be Trusted Advisors, in significant part, because they have mastered the digital
literacies that aggregate information.
Darwin Awareness Engine
Technologies are emerging at email speed, creating a challenge to keep up in any field, and changing
expectations about the role of a Change Manager. The world is in flux, re-defining digital literacies. For
example, though the network of contacts I have established, I discovered a beta version of a new
aggregator, the Darwin Awareness Engine. “Darwin Awareness Engine™ helps users track Web and
Enterprise 2.0 events, uncover emerging trends and gain faster understanding of complex issues over
time. Addresses the core problem of information overload.”
A Change Manager is expected to bring fresh strategies and tools on stakeholder involvement or
communications tied to emerging technologies and social media specifically to manage information
overload. The Change Manager of 2015 knows the role and impact and changes brought by
Connectivism, the power or relationships within and outside of an organization, and how it adds value to
the business. (More on this aspect in a separate blog!)
2. The role of the Trusted Advisor is significantly impacted by digital literacies by 2015.
Trust is built in business as it is in marriage- one step at a time, delivering when promised on time and in
full, and honoring commitments 110% of the time. Marriage can break apart because trust is destroyed
over time or because of one single incident. And the consultant who breaks trust will go clientless for
very long periods of time as word spreads. In government what we called the ―corridor reputation‖ is
real in government, business and family. In 2011 it is viral—rapidly developing information universally
available, faster than we can comprehend, and permanent as a digital footprint on the moon.
3. Time management will be re-defined to manage the continued explosion of information. The
individual will be expected to be personally skilled in information aggregators. A paradigm shift in
mindset will be in motion, from the organizational level to the individual level. You are responsible for
your own development. You must be proactive in your formal and informal learning on the job. Because
of the sheer volume of information, individuals will need to know how to quickly access and use. It is no
longer grandpa’s needle in a hay stack!
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29. 4. DIY (Do it Yourself) will become standard as the tools of managing change communications become
more and more intuitive. Individuals will manage change through iPhone or other smart phone apps, on
demand video from corporate channels.
We will wave our smart phone on a poster and a QR code will deliver information right to us.
Scan with your smart phone and you will be taken to web sites with more information
Reading a QR code with a camera-enabled smartphone will link the user to digital content on the
Internet or activates a number of phone functions including email, IM and SMS, or connects the mobile
device to a web browser.
The technology now exists to generate your own QR code. I have seen the in use on Canadian
newspapers, and on posters in Japan and in German magazines. And there is a QR Reader for the
iPhone.
5. Learning occurs mainly through interactions and interactions between people, and ―between people‘
will be across business functions, organizations and even corporations. This view of social construction
of knowledge will drive change and communication strategies, activities and tools. Customer
Communities of Practice will be key to innovation and new products, service development. Change
Managers and the enabling specialists in communication and learning will be required to have mastery
of virtual tools, from webinars to Second Life. This in turn will impact university and trade schools as
competencies shift from writing a business memo (Yes! They still teach that 1990s skill in higher ed!!)
to video email and graphics.
MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) will be common, as 1000‘s simultaneously join in to share
information, ideas and best practices. And a common standard process and tools will be fully developed
to meet the
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