October 2-3 2007
Wu Conference Centre
Fredericton, N.B.
Most eLearning conferences and symposiums tell us that M-Learning is the next evolution in technology enabled learning. Early adopters of M-Learning claim that M-Learning is already here and are creating innovative, collaborative and flexible learning content that take in to account the lessons learned within e-learning.
New Brunswick has well established itself as a leader within the information and communication technology sector, given the growth of new business opportunities in the last decade. Research into mobile technology demonstrates its profound global impact and dramatic transformation of the business, entertainment and cultural landscape. Mobile learning is heralded as a significant innovation within the eLearning field, and a strategic growth potential for New Brunswick organizations. The success of the 2006-07 Instructional Design Series informed Red Hot Learning’s event organizers of the learning industry’s interest in professional development and maintaining insight into the ever changing field of ICT and education.
The workshop, held at the Wu Conference Centre, October 2-3 2007, exposed New Brunswick’s government, business, education and health sectors to best practices within mobile learning. The outstanding presentations included Steve Wexler’s eLearning Guild report on mobile learning and Dr. John Traxler‘s (University of Wolverhampton) full day orientation to the impacts of mobile technology on education and learning. The second day provided a series of four mobile project case studies, from public health, training and distance education.
Dr. John Traxler presented two large scale mobile learning projects, both funded under the information Society and Technology strand of the EU Framework, in addition to an analysis of their complementary challenges, achievements, pedagogies, learners and technologies; Kevin Harvey (Center for the Advancement of Distance Education at the University of Chicago at Illinois) offered case studies that focused on the development of a Mobile PanFlu Prep and his work with the Chicago Health Department’s mobile Healthy Living Survey; Inge de Waard (The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium) covered mobile learning in low resource settings in the health related field and Stella Lee provided an orientation to mobile learning’s contribution to Athabasca University’s English as Second Language program.
This event was one of Atlantic Canada’s first mobile learning events, and garnered partnerships from the prestigious eLearning Guild and LearnNB, along with sponsorship support from Enterprise Fredericton, The City of Fredericton, and the Telegraph Journal. Conference participants came from a variety of professional backgrounds that included an even distribution of private sector instructional designers and training specialists, public sector organizations that included Service New Brunswick, River Valley Health, and Public Health Agency of Canada and attendance from the University of New Brunswick, Memorial, NBCC and St. Mary’s.
The presenters showcased innovative solutions when learners are dispersed, in the field, or “on the go”. Common challenges were the barriers surrounding widespread implementation and uptake in New Brunswick. One major impediment to development that was discussed involved the high cost of implementing the necessary technology. Providing learners with the technology requires the largest initial investment, while continued roll-out and ongoing participation are relatively cost efficient.
The speakers addressed common misconceptions surrounding mobile learning, that it intends to replace e-learning, and urged the audience to understand it as an augmentation and companion to an overall learning program. In all, this event showcased the leading applications of mobile learning technology, offered pragmatic solutions, and key insights necessary to develop cutting edge programs for hard to reach learners. |
