Designing for Formal, Non-Formal and Informal m-Learning

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Designing for Formal, Non-Formal and Informal
m-Learning
John Cook, Claire Bradley, Richard Haynes, Debbie
Holley john.cook_at_londonmet.ac.uk
c.bradley_at_londonmet.ac.uk r.haynes_at_londonmet.a
c.uk d.holley_at_londonmet.ac.uk
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Introduction
Learner Empowerment
Informal Learning Learner initiated Ownership by
learner
Mobile Device Owned by / for learner
Balance Control, freedom and skills for learning
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Case study 1 The mobile local history tour
http//www.mobilehistory.co.uk
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Aims

• Learning in-situ beyond the museum
• Tangible vertical historic model
• Sensory richness audio, images, text
• Multi narrative constructivist learning
• Discover the history of an area

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The Mobile History Tour

• 8 short connected walks
• Audio guide
• Each walk ends at a Dig - a scene of historic
  importance
• Digs explore history through - audio
  eye-witness accounts - images drawings,
  photos - historic maps

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Mobile History Tour Evaluation

• All endorsed the PDA as a tour enhancer
• 90 enjoyable and stimulating
• 100 discovery of the area
• 90 played detective looking for clues
• Negative aspects awkwardness of equipment, and
  security of use

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User comments

• I didnt have to look to read anything
• Audio provided real depth to the tour, and
  highlighted areas of surprising interest
• Voices describing social history brought it to
  life
• Seeing things Id not normally notice
• For those interested in local history Id say
  its an attractive way to gain local knowledge
  whilst enjoying yourself

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Case study 2 Learning objects for Java
programming
http//www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri/learningobjects/pd
a.htm
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Aims

• To adapt an existing online learning object on
  Java programming for the PDA
• PDA object could offer increased flexibility for
  students place of use
• Research questions
• Would adaptation compromise the design, pedagogic
  integrity and functionality?
• How appropriate is the PDA for delivering
  learning objects and what are its strengths and
  weaknesses?

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The Java learning objects

• Small, self-contained resources that focus on one
  learning objective
• Authored in Macromedia Flash
• Designed to be engaging, interactive, easy to
  understand
• Include text descriptions, visual animated
  examples, step-throughs of programming code,
  interactive models, interactive quizzes (SAQs)
• Encourages active constructivist learning and
  uses scaffolding to aid understanding

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Student feedback

• PDA version offered an enhanced learning
  experience
• It was more interactive which they liked
• They all liked the use of audio for explanations,
  and 3 said that they learn more quickly and
  effectively from listening rather than reading
• They could all see themselves using a PDA for
  learning, wherever they wanted to learn on the
  way to university, on holiday, lying on the bed
  relaxing
• PDA was smaller and more convenient to carry than
  large textbooks, A4 lecture notes, laptop
• Disadvantages of cost of devices and security of
  use

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Student comments

• PDA version
• The PDA was more comfortable to use and provided
  a more interactive learning process with the
  sound effects
• Enhancements to learning
• I can use the PDA wherever I am, bus, tube, car,
  etc. It is better than a book because of its
  interactivity
• It provides an opportunity for the learner to
  learn at their own time and at their own pace

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Future work in RLO-CETL

• Planning on integrating rich multimedia learning
  objects with flexible, mobile formal, non-formal
  and informal learning opportunities in its future
  work
• Marketing and modern language learning
• Questionnaire on various issues was handed to
  "Studying Marketing and Operations" students
• Results interesting and positive in terms of
  receptiveness to informal and non-formal learning
  opportunities.

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Contact details

• John Cook john.cook_at_londonmet.ac.uk
• Claire Bradley c.bradley_at_londonmet.ac.uk
• Richard Haynes r.haynes_at_londonmet.ac.uk
• LTRI http//www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri
• Mobile History Tour http//www.mobilehistory.co.
  uk
• Java While Loopshttp//www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri
  /learningobjects/pda.htm