• 
• 
• 

Mobile learning consideration

Before you buy and try your mobile gadgets I advise you to do a bit of investigative work into what others are currently doing in the area. This will not only save you from ‘reinventing the wheel’ but give you an insight into what works and what doesn’t. A simple check list that could be used is:
Here are some final thoughts about mobile learning to bear in mind if you’re considering taking mobile learning into your organisation:

Know your target audience:

What are their needs? What will the solutions be?

Make the cost clear:

If developing any mobile learning that is likely to incur a download or connection charge, you should clearly signpost to users that this is the case and, where possible, provide an alternative format, e.g. a file that can be downloaded to a PC then ‘sideloaded’ to a mobile device, so that mobile download charges are not incurred.

Offer an offline version:

Any prototyping of mobile learning should include an MP3 compatible version to address cost of access issues and explore uptake for this device category.

Provide for a range of devices:

Consider piloting mobile learning that works on a device from each category with the highest level of user penetration.

Do it for the right reasons: 

No use doing something just because you like the idea of it or there is money available.  It has to be worthwhile. 

Appeal to organisational benefits:

Any foray into a mobile learning offering should pay particular attention to the potential for the organisation, stressing the benefits of productivity and access to time-critical information.

Test a range of design approaches:

It should be clear what type of learning platform you will offer – audio learning, video Learning, collaborative learning, assessment/quizzes or performance support through instant information but also experiment to divert and establish your own design conventions for mobile learning - it’s a new field, there aren’t hard and fast rules

Learn to walk before you run:

Start small, maybe with 2 or 3 staff or 1 small class of students.

Use existing content and add to blend:

A great place to start is by extracting and repacking existing content with a performance support/reinforcement intention, supporting existing materials, rather than attempting to recreate e-learning courses in a new medium, or act as a primary delivery tool with the blend.

Consider staff/student development sessions:

These will bite into your time.

Get a ‘best friend’ in your IT department: 

This is where many projects hit 'hard times'.

Use the KISS principle.