This document discusses mobile learning theory and practice. It begins by noting there is no single unifying theory of mobile learning. It then summarizes several key mobile learning frameworks and theories. The document advocates for an iterative approach to mobile learning design and implementation that allows for flexibility, resilience to technological changes, and a focus on the learner experience. It provides examples of effective mobile learning implementations in various contexts like the workplace, the military, and formal education.

1. Mobile learning: Mind the Gap
narrowing the gap between theory, and practice
Geoff
Stead
Head
of
Innova/on,
Tribal
Cambridge,
UK
@geoffstead
triballabs.net
m-­‐learning.org
moblearn.blogspot.com

2. Who we are?
Mostly UK-based mobile learning team, supporting learning by building mobile
tools, apps and content for over 10 years!
Active contributors to many academic research projects, as well as running
m-learning systems (and content) for commercial clients (incl. McDonalds & US
Government)
Enthusiastic champions for how new technologies can be agents for change,
encouraging fresh thinking in how we teach, and learn
Our primary focus is:
§ "out of school" learning; workplace CPD; learning at the moment of need;
hard to reach or hard to teach; better tools for educators.
§ Using smartphones to significantly improve the effectiveness of learning.
Engaging in the “black box” area between the technology, and the educators
We are: @geoffstead, Jo C, Jess W, Ben S, Chris W, Gustavo H, Jon B, Mahdi B,
Gustavo P, Sean B, Si C, Jacks H & K, Bal K, Cindy C
www.m-learning.org www.triballabs.net moblearn.blogspot.com www.mole-project.net

3. Mobile Learning Theory
“ There is no way to summarise mobile
learning comprehensively across the
world. …
If we are looking for one unifying
theory, there isn’t one
”
Prof. John Traxler, 2012

4. Our mission for the week

5. Theory: 1 of 5 Laurillard (2002)
Conversational framework
Modelling the interaction
between the learner, the
technology, and the
knowledge itself

6. Theory: 2 of 5 Sharples Taylor Vavoula (2005,9,10)
Framework building on Vygotsky (1978) and Engeström (1996)
Activity Theory
Importance of MOBILITY
Re-interpreted for different
scenarios

7. Theory: 3 of 5 Park (2011)
Pedagogical framework for m-learning
Introduces the concept of “distance learning”, and different levels of social interaction

8. Theory: 4 of 5 Performance support (Gottfredson)
The Five Moments of Need
Acquisition of knowledge (traditional learning / training)
1. Learning for the first time
2. When wanting to learn more
Application of knowledge (performance support)
3. When trying to apply / remember Small, context aware
nuggets of information
4. When things goes wrong
Perfectly suited to
5. When things change
mobile

9. Theory: 5 of 5 Koole (2010)
FRAME model
Makes the inter-dependence of
different aspects of the
experience much clear
ship
e inte r-relation ,
Clearly shows th devices, apps
ople,
between pe peers
doma in area,

10. More M-friendly ideas Ebbinghaus
The Forgetting Curve (and power of repetition)
Micro-repetitions are
perfectly suited to
mobile

11. More M-friendly ideas Clarke Quinn (2010)
The Four C’s of mobile learning
(different types of learner actions)
§ Content – the delivery of media
including documents, audio, and video
§ Compute – the ability to perform
calculations and have programmatic
responses
§ Capture – capturing data from the
local environment such as photos,
videos, audio, or information from
sensors such as location or direction
§ Communicate – the ability to reach
others with text, voice, or even video

12. But how should I use this?
Which devices? BYOD?
Which approach should I use for teaching X?
How to design mlearning content?
Does it really work?
Which software / app / system?

13. Geoff’s “ride-it” theory:
planning for mobile learning
Mobile is rushing up at us whether we
are fully prepared or not
Our role is to make sure it gets used
for good
We can’t control (or rationalise)
everything, but we can prepare and
practice

14. Start small. Practice. Keep improving
Learning design:
We never get it right first time. UX changes.
Devices change. To compensate we do a very
learner-centric design process, with lots of
iterations, and collecting feedback
3 key forces impacting on the design:
Subject area; Technology; Learner (& context)
Implementation:
When a new technology is introduced, there is a
natural evolution:
TRANSLATE TRANSFORM
same methods, new methods,
new tools new tools
Allow for this during the project lifecycle

15. Flexible tools and equipment
Learning design:
§ Lots of small, discrete nuggets
§ Separate content from “how to use it”
§ Plan for multiple ways to access / engage
§ content + tools + collaboration
Implementation:
§ Don’t try to make the device “everything”.
Activities and learning should transcend the
technology
§ Try a wide ranges of learning modes.

16. Resilience / Coping with the unexpected
Learning design:
§ Use open standards and frameworks to separate
the technical layers
§ Wherever possible, keep content and tools
platform independent!!
Content: html, epub, mp3, mp4, js, css etc
Tools: dropbox, evernote, kindle, …
Implementation:
§ Avoid decisions that lock you into one device /
platform / system
§ Do you support BYOD?
§ “crowd source” help from the learners
themselves
§ Focus your energy on enabling, not containing

17. The “art” is in combining these
M-Learning Content
“ Compelling m-learning is not
just about the content. Or the
technology. It is also about
good pedagogy, good usability,
and an app that you want to
use
”
Most work based m-learning
happens in stolen moments,
which is why a smooth blend
between learning, performance-
support and productivity-tools is
so key

18. My “take aways” from the theory
1 Use mobile to DO STUFF
2 Let the learners help
3 All about context (learner centred)
4 Allow space to iterate (plan for agile)
5 One size does not fit all
6. Forget what you think the
technology can do - what do you
want to do?
7.?

19. At School: BYOD

20. At School: an m-learning kit

21. At Work: moments of need
“It should just work”
... and it is personal!

22. Maths and English qualifications at McDonald’s UK
Building skills in your own time (and place)
Movie link: http://bit.ly/mcdvidss

23. On the job - blending “task” and “learning”
Practical RnD, building and
testing
M-learning in challenging
contexts
Open standards for content
24 Nations currently trialing
MoLE project
http://mole-project.net
Movie link:
http://bit.ly/moleprojectmovie
Grant # N62909-11-1-7025 issued by Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) , funded by Coalition Warfare Program (CWP) & Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC)

25. JKO Mobile
Government commitment to HTML5
Multiple content teams working
together to figure out what works
best on mobile
Guidelines and tech tips available for
all (#mlearning)

26. Standards make it easier to share, and prepare for future devices
Plan ahead. Use open standards and frameworks to separate the technical
layers
§ Learning content: HTML5 + JS / css etc
media files device agnostic
§ Packaging models: W3C Widgets,
SCORM, zip
§ Communication between layers:
TinCan, SCORM, LETSI, REST
§ Data formats: JSON, XML, W3C etc
§ Content repositories: Fedora Commons,
Wikimedia, Cloud, App Stores, etc ...

27. What do you think?

28. Keep on learning ...
Geoff Stead
Head of Innovation, Tribal
@geoffstead
@geoffstead
triballabs.net
m-learning.org