Recognizing the risks of pervasive low adult literacy levels amongst Canadians and globally, our research project aims to design a mobile learning solution to support literacy training for adult learners in a blended learning context. This mobile solution will equip them with language and digital literacy skills needed to thrive in their communities and workplaces. This paper offers preliminary results of this research project investigating design principles for an adult literacy mobile learning solution. It provides definitions for design principles and guidelines. The paper also identifies, briefly discusses, and provides examples of the three key themes from the reviewed literature and interviews with experts during the Informed Exploration process in Phase 1 of this project.

1. IABL 2017 Presentation
Agnieszka Palalas Norine Wark Przemyslaw Pawluk
Athabasca University Athabasca University George Brown College

2. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution OVERVIEW
• Background
• Introduction to research project
• Phase 1: Informed exploration
• Literature review
▪ Design principles and guidelines definitions
• Interviews with experts
• Findings: Key design themes & principles
• Conclusion

3. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution BACKGROUND
Low Literacy Statistics
Literacy Upgrading
Result

4. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution BACKGROUND
Our LITERACY UPLIFT Project
Literacy Uplift mobile learning (m-
learning solution
SSHRC–funded collaboration
Aimed at 1st & ESL Canadian adults
& their instructors
To develop m-learning literacy solution
design principles & app for Canadian &
similar literacy learners worldwide

5. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution m-LITERACY SOLUTION
LITERACY UPLIFT App
Needs Analysis +
Lit Review +
Similar Projects =
m-Learning
Solution
Target learners
who lack English
reading & writing
skills
Will be cross-
platform
Introduced in
class & used in
blended
environment;
turning
competencies
into capacities

6. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Key Objectives
Building knowledge: Design principles & guidelines for effective m-learning
literacy solution
Prototyping an effective m-learning literacy solution from principles &
guidelines
Providing technology & literacy training to participating students
Increasing academic/non-academic accessibility to pedagogical design
principles & guidelines

7. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution QUESTIONS
What design principles and guidelines best facilitate the
development of adult literacy skills in English?
Research Questions
How can these principles and guidelines be incorporated
into a viable mobile application for adult literacy learners?

8. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution METHODOLOGY
DESIGN-BASED RESEARCH (DBR)
1. Informed exploration
2. Enactment
3. Evaluation
ITERATIVE Design & Testing Approach
➢ 3 PHASES:

9. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution DATA
DATA
Surveys
Focus groups
Interviews
Literacy Learners
Experts
App Developers
Literature
Review
Researcher
Observations
& Notes

10. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution PHASE 1
Interviews with Experts
Literature Review
Phase 1: Informed Exploration
Design Principles for Adult Literacy & m-Learning Interventions

11. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution LIT REVIEW
✓ From team members’ libraries/secondary sources
✓ 55 multimedia pedagogical & technological design
principle/guideline resources
Phase 1: Literature Review
Step 1: Initial review
Step 2: Defining design principles
✓ Step 1 analysis = need to define “principles” &
“guidelines”
✓ 2nd lit. review: DBR- & technology-based definitions
✓ Use new definitions to re-sort original lit. review to
distill preliminary list of key design principles to
guide rest of the study

12. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution DEFINITIONS
Design Principles:
➢ High level, universal, empirically-tested,
applicable across various contexts
➢ Two interdependent dimensions:
• Educational intervention characteristics
• Procedures
➢ Replicable; adaptable to local conditions
➢ Dynamic, flexible, renewable
Design Guidelines:
➢ Specific, practical, testable criteria for
achieving design principles in local context
➢ Statements of what should/should not be
included in the design
Literature Review Step 2 Results

13. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution PHASE 1
Interviews with Experts:
• 7 m-learning/language learning experts
• “What are the key characteristics of an
effective m-learning application for the
described purpose & target audience?”
• Code & synthesize results
• Compare to lit. review results
Literature Review Step 3:
• Analyze/reorganize initial
resources by new definitions
• Code & synthesize principles
• Compare to interview results
Phase 1: Identifying Design Principles
Key Design Themes & Principles for Adult Literacy & m-Learning Interventions

14. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution DESIGN THEMES
MOBILITY:
Design for the mobile learner
Design Themes & Principles
CONTEXT:
Integrate environmental affordances
LEARNER-DETERMINED:
Respond to the learner

15. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution MOBILITY
MOBILITY:
Design
for the
Mobile Learner
Platforms Preferences
Location
Intimacy
Locomotion
Timing

16. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution LEARNER-DETERMINED
LEARNER-DETERMINED: Respond to the Learner
ASK, LISTEN, & RESPOND TO
Learner’s Needs, Wants, & Interests
Empowerment
Self-Determination
Involvement
Autonomy

17. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution CONTEXT
CONTEXT: Integrate Environmental Affordances
Linguistic, Personal, Social, & Technological Dimensions
Inter-dependent: Relevancy, Adaptation, & Personalization

18. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution CONTEXT
CONTEXT: Integrate Environmental Affordances

19. Design Principles for Mobile Adult Literacy Solution CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Phase 1 Preliminary Results:
Future Plans:
• Elaboration on 3 key themes & related principles
• Secondary level of design principles
• Design principles & guideline definitions
• 3 Design themes & related principles:
➢ MOBILITY: Design for the mobile learner
➢ LEARNER-DETERMINED: Respond to the learner
➢ CONTEXT: Integrate environmental affordances

21. Agnieszka Palalas
Athabasca University
Athabasca, AB, Canada
agapalalas@athabascau.ca
Przemyslaw Pawluk
George Brown College
Toronto, ON, Canada
ppawluk@georgebrown.ca
Norine Wark
Athabasca University
Athabasca, AB, Canada
norinewark@gmail.com
© 2017 LITERACY UPLIFT

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