Creating a Mobile Learning Environment - Using Free Services

Christopher Masiello

Build an Interactive, Collaborative, Mobile Learning Experience using Free Tools and Services.

mLearning DevCon 2011


Presenter• Christopher Masiello• Professional Experience• Mobile Technology Experience• Website (http://www.VitaminCM.com)• Book (WordPress: From Beginner to Expert)

http://www.VitaminCM.com/

http://vitamincm.com/wordpress-ebook/


Questions

Agenda• Topic Overview• Challenges of Mobile Learning Environments• Approach & Tools• Setting up a Mobile Delivery Platform• Building Pre-Session Module• Building Live Interactive Session Module• Building Post-Session Resource Module• Moving Beyond Free


Goal – What we will do TODAY• Create a Mobile Learning Experience that is:• Interactive• Collaborative• Scalable

• Using:• Free Tools and Services

• That you can learn:• Through Hands-On activities• In 3 hours


What I Do Now• Work at Prudential (Newark, NJ)• Financial Systems (Enterprise-wide)• Train world-wide users• 4 Continents• 5 Languages (EN, SP, JP, KR, CH)• Numerous Time Zones


That was Then…

• Mostly in New Jersey• All Instructor Lead Training• English Only


…This is Now

• 16 Countries• 10 Time Zones• 5 Languages• It’s always work time for someone.

Christopher Masiello8

Tools We Use• Enterprise-wide LMS • WBT courses in 5 languages• Web conferencing • Conference Calls• Software simulation tools• Recorded Screencasts• Document Repository• Computer Lab


Pros & Cons

Pro Con

Powerful EXPENSIVE

Flexible Hard to maintain

Covers all users Large learning curve


Challenges to Mobile Learning• Numerous Mobile Platforms

• Laptops• Tablets• Smartphones

• Wide Variations in• Shape/Size• Capabilities {Speed, Power, App Support}

• High Costs for • Enterprise systems {LMS, video servers, web conferencing}

• Difficult / Expensive to include rich content• Video, Audio, Teleconference, Document Management & Delivery, Hosting Costs, Development


Challenges with Video• Flash vs. HTML 5• Bandwidth


How to Tackle theseChallenges



Approach• Use a collection of free tools to develop content• Find a free, flexible tool that allows multiple technologies to be integrated• Quickly• Easily• Platform agnostic

• Assemble a learning environment using new and existing content and services• Build with little-to-no technical expertise


Ways We LearnHere are some of the most common methods to cover these principles:• Lectures• Slides• Chalkboard

• Discussion / Q&A• Exercises• Guided• Self-paced

• Reading• Before - Preread• During - Handouts• After - Takeaways

• Learner Demonstrations• Collaboration• Feedback• Two-way

• Seeing• Video

• Hearing• Audio


Tools• Container

• WordPress CMS (Free, open source, highly extensible)• Content

• Slides {PowerPoint, Google Docs, Slideshare, Prezi}• Lecture {Ustream}• Demonstration {Vyew}

• Resources• Video {Youtube, Vimeo, 5min, Vid.ly}

• Communication• IM, Skype, Twitter Stream, Surveys, Polls}

• Practice {Simulations, Quizzes, Observation}• Files {Dropbox}• Collaboration {Google Docs, Zoho}• Evernote


Building the PlatformUsing an Open-Source CMS



Building the Platform• Tool to group, organize, and deliver information• LMS & CMS• WordPress

• Why? Flexible, Extensible, CHEAP• Other Options• Let’s get started!


Building the Pre-Class ModuleSelf-paced, Asymmetrical Learning



Pre-Class Module• Information learners will need to know in class• What are some typical ways of delivering canned information?• Work Time


Building the InteractiveSession ModuleDemonstration, Hands-on Activity, andCollaboration



Live Interactive Session• Group of learners gather to work with an instructor• What are some typical things that happen in a physical classroom?


They’re classics for a reason• Lectures• Presentations• Demonstrations• Exercises• Coaching• Surveys and Polls• Q&A


How do you replicate these things?• Virtual Classrooms• Web Meetings• Simulations• Collaboration Tools• Video Conferencing


Building the Post SessionResourcesEvaluations and Information Repositories



What happens after a class?• Collect feedback from participants• Provide job aids and reference materials• Provide support/contact


Taking it to the Next LevelWhen you’re ready to spend some money



So you actually got a budget…• Where are the best places to start spending money?• Web Meeting• LMS• Web Hosting• Content Creation Software• Hardware


Contact Information• Christopher Masiello• [email protected]• (973) 233-4647• www.VitaminCM.com • Twitter @VitaminCM

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.VitaminCM.com/

http://twitter.com/VitaminCM

http://twitter.com/VitaminCM



mLearning DevCon 2011

Education

Creating a Mobile Learning Environment - Using Free Services