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Informal Learning using Mobile Devices

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Title: Informal Learning using Mobile Devices


1
Informal Learning using Mobile Devices
  • Gill Clough g.m.clough_at_open.ac.uk
  • Handheld Learning Conference Oct. 2006

2
Informal learning
  • Informal learning can be defined as
  • Learning in which both goals and processes of
    learning are defined by the learner, and where
    the learning is situated rather than
    pre-established (Vavoula, 2004)
  • Up to 98 of adults engage in informal
    learning(Tough, 1979)
  • Adults spend an average of 15h per week on
    informal learning projects (Canadian Study
    Livingston, 2000)

3
Research Questions
  • Are mobile devices used to support informal
    learning?
  • Does the collaborative potential of mobile
    devices translate into collaborative learning?

4
Method
  • PDA and Smartphone enthusiasts recruited from web
    forums
  • PDAStreet at http//www.pdastreet.com/forums/index
    .php
  • Wormhole Creations PocketPC and Smartphone forums
    at http//www.wormholecreations.com.au/wc/megabbs/
    wormhole/index.asp
  • PocketPC Forums at http//www.pocketpcmag.com/foru
    m/forum.asp
  • Handheld Learning forum at http//www.handheldlear
    ning.co.uk/
  • Laptop and PDA User Forum on the OU student web
    site
  • Participants invited to complete a web
    questionnaire

5
Responses
  • Over 200 responses
  • Of these responses, over 100 described informal
    learning with mobile devices
  • Are mobile devices used to support informal
    learning?
  • Yes

Research Question 1
6
Informal learning activities
PDA/Smartphone Activity Percentage of PDA/Smartphone users doing activity Percentage of PDA/Smartphone users doing activity Percentage of PDA/Smartphone users doing activity
PDA/Smartphone Activity Cumulative daily weekly Daily Weekly
Write Notes 70 47 23
Browse the web 45 21 24
Read e-books 42 20 22
Photos store, view or share 41 18 23
Read and contribute to web forums 33 18 15
Take photos 23 6 17
Record audio 14 1 13
Write applications 14 9 5
7
Mobile Learning Framework
Based on functional framework for mobile learning
- Patten et al., 2006
8
Typology of Informal Learning
(Vavoula, 2004)
9
Intentional informal learning
  • Retrieving reference material relating to
    specific context
  • Downloadable online or onsite -Museum, zoo or
    aquarium tour narrative and expanded exhibit
    information. -Sightseeing, same thing.
  • Researching information on locations I intend to
    visit on holiday.
  • Downloading web sites and other documentation to
    have while out with family for reference.
  • Parallels formal research scenarios such as the
    electronically guided museum visits described by
    Hsi (2003).

10
Intentional informal learning (cont.)
  • Access to learning material to use while out
  • Have downloaded OU course material to my PDA and
    used it when travelling
  • Ebooks, I download music theory books and
    philosopy books to keep with me and read on the
    bus or when Im out.
  • I use it to download papers that I may be
    interested in from specialist apps (Merck Medicus
    Mobile, Avantgo etc) and from RSS feeds. This is
    automated every morning and I check it all on the
    train to work.

11
Intentional Informal Learning (cont.)
  • I make flashcards using the notes application.
    To do this, i first write out the question or
    "front side of the flashcard" on the note. Then i
    make a recording of the "back side of the
    flashcard" and put a link to the recording right
    next to the first part. Then, you look at the
    first part, say your answer, then check it with
    the voice recorded correct answer.
  • Writing an onboard compiler and most of my
    applications directly in my device, as a hobby
    and a never ending learning process in
    programming knowledge. The ultimate knowledge
    being for me to write a compiler ("an application
    to build other applications").

12
Intentional informal learning (cont.)
  • Recording notes, audio, images for later
    reflection
  • Take pictures of diagrams, models and
    participants to aid retention of knowledge from a
    workshop/seminar, or pictures of electronic
    components showing connection layouts
  • took pictures of the textile designs with treo,
    wrote notes....
  • Making notes, keeping information with me so i
    can revise it often.

13
Unintentional informal learning
  • Mobile connectivity provides situated access to
    information
  • I also frequently look things up with Google if
    something piques my interest. eg finding out
    about a band I hear, or about a place I saw on
    TV.
  • This week I looked up the bitter history of Pink
    Floyd while watching Live8 on TV.
  • I do a lot of informal learning through
    wikipedia.org (and that includes using it on my
    smartphone). I may be thinking about a subject
    and then I can quickly get out my phone and look
    the subject matter up on the internet

14
Unintentional informal learning (cont.)
  • I learned the history of soft drinks after
    checking who owned 7-UP during dinner. I learned
    about the Ironman Triathlon after watching the
    Tour de France. I looked up the greatest cowboy
    in the world after seeing something on TV (Ty
    Warner). Whenever a question comes up somewhere,
    I whip out my pda and look it up.
  • Surfing the web where a laptop is impractical
    (e.g. in bed - how sad!).

15
Research Question 2
  • Does the collaborative potential of mobile
    devices translate into collaborative learning?
  • Asked if they used their device to communicate
    with others
  • 100 Smartphone users responded yes
  • Of which 19 said they did collaborative informal
    learning
  • 80 PDA users responded yes
  • Of which 21 reported collaborative informal
    learning

16
Collaborative activities
  • Weblogs
  • Can be updated by more than one person
  • Wikis
  • Group website, collaboratively maintained
  • Web forums
  • Themed websites maintained by administrators
    containing threads to which members may
    contribute
  • Beaming
  • F2F information sharing using infra-red

17
Collaborative activities
  • I regularly contribute, also, to Palm PDA forums
    (at www.1src.com) again to learn from others and
    also to add my own experience to the community's
    knowledge
  • ...forums are also a great resource for pooling
    collective knowledge and experiences

18
Future Directions
  • Devices have more powerful capabilities
  • GPRS wifi for internet communication
  • GPS for location-based activities
  • Higher quality cameras
  • Does the mobile connectivity, location-awareness
    and powerful communicative features support
    learners in informal science learning, and if so
    how?
  • What is the role played by co-operatively created
    virtual knowledge repositories in informal
    science learning?

19
Gill CloughInstitute of Educational
TechnologyThe Open UniversityWalton HallMilton
KeynesMK7 6AA
Supervisors Professor Eileen ScanlonDr Ann
JonesDr Patrick McAndrew
  • www.open.ac.uk
  • g.m.clough_at_open.ac.uk

20
Bibliography
  • Hsi, H. (2003) 'A Study of User Experiences
    Mediated by Nomadic Web Content in a Museum',
    Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, vol. 19,
    pp. 308-319.
  • Livingston, D. (2000) 'Exploring the Icebergs of
    Adult Learning Findings of the first Canadian
    Survey of Informal Learning Practices', online.
    Available from http//tortoise.oise.utoronto.ca/
    dlivingstone/icebergs/ (Accessed October 10,
    2006)
  • Patten, B., Arnedillo Sanchez, I. and Tangney, B.
    (2006) Computers Education, 46, 294-308.
  • Tough, A. (1979) The Adult's Learning Projects,
    Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,
    Ontario.
  • Vavoula, G. (2004), 'KLeOS A Knowledge and
    Learning Organisation System in Support of
    Lifelong Learning.' PhD Thesis, Birmingham,
    University of Birmingham.
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