This document discusses mobile learning and its potential implementation at NIIT University. It begins by outlining some of the pros and cons of mobile learning, such as its ability to provide anytime, anywhere access but the challenges of small screens and varying platforms/connectivity. The document then presents results from a student survey that found most students have Bluetooth, WiFi and GPRS connectivity on their phones. It recommends implementing mobile learning at NU initially through audio podcasts, small articles/guides, and SMS-based collaboration to leverage the tools widely available on student devices. The document concludes by envisioning how mobile learning could be incorporated into the NU campus experience through WiFi access, faculty-student discussions, and independent student study.

1. NIIT University
Exploring
Mobile learning
By: Akhlesh Agarwal
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2. Journey of teaching tools
Blackboard
+ Digital content
+ Mobile
Chalk learning tools
Learning
portal
2

3. Mobile learning
• Pros • Cons
– Anytime anywhere – Small screen
connectivity – Different platforms (iPhone,
– Always “on” with Gen Y Android, Bberry)
– Phones becoming – Different connectivity (SMS,
Smarter Blutooth, Wifi, 3G GPRS……
Too complex?)
– Cost of data transfer
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4. Possibilities with mLearning
Phone based lecture delivery ?
(What an !dea sir ji )
Guru
Small text based Small videos
quizzes Content Audio Podcasts
Exams
Traditional PPT, PDF,
learning Quick ref guides
processes
Hands
on / Collab
Labs oration
SMS based
OS specific Apps messaging and
Q&A, Attendance 4

5. Choosing the right teaching processes
for mLearning
Connectivity available on phone
GSM/CDMA Campus WiFi for student
Mobile content should be BlueTooth phones. So that they don’t
small duration and it should GPRS need to pay for using 3G or
be easy to create by faculty WiFi GPRS for accessing content
3G from phones
Bite-size content
Simple to create by faculty
Simple to use by students Voice call Tools available on phone
Min keyboard requirement SMS
Cost of downloading Audio file (MP3) Mobile content should
Offline options Pictures/Images use tools which are
Video file available on most
Usage behavior eBooks phones not just latest
Internet Browser smartphones
Platform specific App 5

6. Results from student survey
on technology availability
in student phones
6

7. 95%
100%
90% 82%
80%
70%
56% 59%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
22% 0%
Yes
13% Bluetooth Wifi GPRS 3G
65% No
Don’t know
Java application support Android
34% 26%
Symbian
Blackberry
25% iPhone
8%
Windows
2%
5% No smartphone
7

8. 23%
Yes
77% No
40%
Have you ever accessed NU moodle
Yes from your phone
60%
No
Do you use some SMS facility to
send cheap SMS to your friends Yes (almost every hour)
25%
45% Yes (Twice a day)
Yes (once a day)
26%
Yes (But not regularly)
Don’t chk mail on phone
Do you check your NU mail on your phone 8

9. mLearning: recommended processes for NU
Phone based lecture delivery ?
(What an !dea sir ji )
Guru
Small text based Small videos
quizzes Content Audio Podcasts
Exams
Traditional PPT, PDF,
learning Quick ref guides
processes
Hands
on / Collab
Labs oration
SMS based
OS specific Apps messaging and
Q&A, Attendance 9

10. Key findings
• Allow NU-WiFi for student phones for them to
use “NUcleus” (NU-Moodle) and other internet
based content. Students would not want to pay
for using GPRS/3G
• SMS, Audio (MP3), Images tools available on
most phones.
• OS specific Apps not recommended in initial
Phase.
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11. Recommended processes
• Audio podcasts
– Easy to create by faculty, can be downloaded and used
offline by students
– http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Small articles, quick ref guides
– Can be in eBook/PDF or image formats
• SMS based collaboration
– Teacher to students (From phone or from portal)
– student to students
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12. Mobile learning at NU campus
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13. Mobile learning also includes using the laptop with campus
wide WiFi in open lawns. Here a students clarifies her doubts in
discussions with a faculty. 13

14. In the cafeteria when students have an argument on a technical
query, mobile learning access immediately provides the right
answer. 14

15. Listening to a downloaded podcast from her faculty, this
student is actually learning while jogging.
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16. akhlesh.agarwal@
@akhlesha
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