Definitions of Mobile Learning

Definitions

• Mobile learning (or m-learning) is the combination of e-learning and mobile computing that promises the access to applications which support learning at anytime and anywhere [Holzinger, A., Nischelwitzer, A., Meisenberger, M. (2005). Lifelong-Learning Support by M-learning: Example Scenarios. ACM eLearn Magazine, 2005(11)]


• Mobile education is learning delivered or supported solely or mainly by handheld and mobile technologies such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones or wireless laptop PCs.  [Source: Current State of Mobile Learning, www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/346/875.].


• Personalized learning is learning that recognises diversity, difference, and individuality in the ways that learning is developed, delivered, and supported.


• Situated learning isl earning that takes place in the course of activity, in appropriate and meaningful contexts (Lave and Wenger 1991).


• Authentic learning is learning that involves real-world problems and projects that are relevant and interesting to the learner.

Tips:

From: http://elearningslam.blogspot.com/2008/11/designing-mobile-elearning-courses.html [bit old, but has some values]

• The rule of thumb, is to provide about twice the amount of content that can be viewed on the screen: If an average mobile screen supports 300 characters, limit your pages to 600 characters.


• Avoid placing important text inside graphics. The mobile browser may shrink graphics so that they fit on the small display size. Any text that is in the graphic will also be shrunk, potentially to a size that is illegible.


• Avoid rich/multimedia content until a new standard is universally adopted.


• Have two different style sheets, with the appropriate one loading at run time based on the device. One for desktop and the other one for mobile device.


• Use small or unobtrusive graphics and logos


• Avoid navigation bars that may take up a large percentage of the screen.


• If you want to include complex navigation, place these at the end of the page content so that learners have access first to the primary content.


• Avoid background graphics.


• Pull-down menus don't necessarily work on mobile devices (because of uneven JavaScript support), so consider using arrows to take learners through a tour of your course.


• Graphic navigation icons should be simple arrows or a descriptive word such as “next” or “back”.


• Navigation frames work well on some devices, make sure your content can be downloaded quickly.

Stats

[Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database, 2010]

• By the end of 2010, there will be an estimated 5.3 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, including 940 million subscriptions to 3G services.


• Access to mobile networks is now available to 90% of the world population and 80% of the population living in rural areas.


• People are moving rapidly from 2G to 3G platforms, in both developed and developing countries. In 2010, 143 countries were off ering 3G services commercially, compared to 95 in 2007.


• Towards 4G: a number of countries have started to off er services at even higher broadband speeds, moving to next generation wireless platforms – they include Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and the United States.