Margaret Aspin
For many industries, it's all about learning in a mobile world. Staff may work together in an office, or from a home office, or in a car. In fact workers now work in many places and need new ways to access information, communicate with each other and learn.
So what do you need to have and know to be part of the mobile learning (mLearning) world? You would normally think small devices like mobile phones, PDAs, Tablet PCs and small laptops. Also you would start using mobile printers and wireless keyboards. You would not want to put up with carrying a bag of wires around so you'd look for ways to connect your devices without wires, and also connect to other people's devices without wires. This is where Bluetooth comes in very handy. Bluetooth is a radio frequency standard that allows you to send files, photos and even business cards over a short distance. Many phones and PDAs have Bluetooth. You can purchases printers and other devices with Bluetooth or buy a Bluetooth adapter for a device.
To learn, you need to be able to get email, web sites, transfer files and communicate with others. Many web sites now make a web site for PDAs that fits neatly on the smaller screen, and there is an ever increasing number of software programs suitable for PDAs. Software often is designed for both PALM and Pocket PC PDAs.
You also need to know how to use the devices for learning purposes. This means understanding how to communicate with others online, how to use the software, and how to study in virtual teams with other learners. Many training organisations are starting to teach using the mobile devices, and the way to tell if the organisation is good at it or not is by the level of support they are going to give you. Will they induct you into learning online? How much communication will you have with the trainers? How much facilitated communication will you have with other learners? What happens if you have technical difficulties? Like all things, time spent in reconnaissance is not wasted.
You will find more interesting information about mLearning and flexible working here on our website. Email us if you'd like to know more at info@aspinonlineconsulting.com.au
Mobile working is a topic I'm very passionate about!
I love my PDA. I have a HP IPAQ Pocket PC and as I do a lot of remote work it is a great tool.
When I pick up my email it dials my mobile phone, logs on, collects the subject and first 1-2 paragraphs plus the name of the file attachments. Then it logs off so I'm actually online for a very short period, mostly 30-60 seconds. My Telstra business plan on the phone lets me dial any number in Australia for about 18 cents per 30 seconds so as you can see it is very cost effective to collect my mail.If I want to read more of an email or want to collect the file attachment, I can click on the particular email I need, it dials and logs on again to get just that.
People who I work with know that it is best to keep the email precise (always good to do anyway!) and to state if they need some action from me within the first paragraph.
Other cool things are the handwriting recognition, voice recording, MS Word and MS Excel plus the way it easily synchs with laptops and desktops via a little cradle. A folder remains on your desktop and you simply open it to have access to all files on your PDA.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that has been fantastic for me. For instance you swap electronic business cards when travelling and they load straight into your database on any computer,I take photos with my phone and send them to my PDA and attach them to my notes or email them off which is very cheap compared to trying to send via the phone. I can send data to other PDAs just by being within 10 metres of them.
I take short videos with my phone and send them to my PDA where I can view them on the approx 5x10cm screen. This is good for many things from introducing people to convincing my family that certain decor would be good in our home after the renovations are complete!
You can buy so many accessories including a little keyboard for tapping away.
I used the phone and the PDA to look after the police tour (Diversion of Pseudoephedrine into Ecstasy and other narcotics) around Victoria while travelling around Australia conducting the evaluation of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. I asked the detectives if they ever felt shortchanged by my being remote during this period and they felt all had run without a hitch. Naturally you have someone who can sort a problem that needs immediate face to face action, but other than that there really is no problem whether in WA or NT or Vic etc.
Want to work in the car while sitting waiting for something, or shile you are a passenger? Easy, just pick it up and turn it on. No trying to open a laptop and the battery certainly lasts much longer than a laptop. Put it back on the seat or in your bag and you are away.
What is missing are the broad range of software and the simple interface needed when using the Internet, but we are talking about that re the Australian Interoperability project. Learning objects for training purposes that can load into a PDA without the complex WEBCT/Blackboard/ Jannisson interface is a necessity for mLearning and mWork.
