Marilyn Harvey Director Training Online International 0412025066 marilyn@trainingonline.com.au
	Current Perspective 8/2/2005 I have discovered the 'next frontier' for e-learning. Learning via mobile technologies is still at the very early market stage and there is plenty of opportunity for Australian educators and trainers to develop best practice models for this mode of delivery. There is a much wider range of activities that fall into the mobile learning category than is immediately apparent.

Reports, Papers and Publications

~ Final presentation (PPT, 246KB), December 2004.
~ Overseas travel report (PDF, 41KB), Training Fall Online Learning Conference, San Francisco, October 2004.
~ Website learningbytes.net, includes links to further information on a range of topics and projects associated with mobile learning.

Professional Development Goal

As a leader of a company specializing in innovative approaches to technology enabled learning, Marilyn will investigate mobile devices such as PDAs, mobile phones and tablet PCs as the next generation of technology to impact on learning.

Strategies

Site visits - Australia. I visited a range of locations where people were producing or refining technology and/or using it in some way that encouraged learning. Including

Conferences - Australia

Conference - USA

Mobile learning workshop, San Francisco.

Desk research - This was a major component of my investigation because much of the information available is fragmented and also, people carrying out specific projects with mobile devices don't always see themselves as operating in the 'learning' space.

Outcomes

• I have already facilitated two training sessions in Toowoomba using PDAs as tools for experiential learning days. One day focussed on leadership and the other on crisis management. The feedback from both days was extremely encouraging and there are now enquiries about how the PDAs can be used to deliver ongoing training within an organisation that has a significant number of field operators. This is going to be a challenge on several levels, technological and pedagogical, but I shall continue to develop/redefine over the next year.
• My company is a member of the Queensland e-Learning Cluster. This industry group is a non-profit association and they have agreed to hold a one-day (maybe two) Symposium on Learning and Mobile Technologies in June this year. I shall be the conveynor. The program will feature invited keynote speakers and case studies of projects. The intention is to raise awareness of the possibilities and encourage training organisations, businesses and government to consider how they may implement mobile learning within their context. I anticipate that the flow-on from this Symposium will be significant.
• I am also having discussions with a major telco about ways to stimulate interest in mobile learning in the corporate sector.



 

 

 

Updated: 16 March, 2005