From M-Library to Mobile ESL: Athabasca University as Advocate in Mobile Learning

1. From M-Library to Mobile ESL: Athabasca University as Advocate in Mobile Learning Stella Lee Instructional Media Analyst Athabasca University

2. Today’s Presentation • Introduction – Athabasca University • Why use M-learning • Two case studies – M-library, Mobile ESL • Challenges and opportunities • Questions and Discussions

3. About Athabasca University • Canada’s Open University - distance learning and online learning • Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada • Learning centres in Edmonton and Calgary • More than 32,000 students • Individualized and self-paced studies

6. Mission Statement “Athabasca University is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to, and success in, university-level studies and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide.” http://www.athabascau.ca/

7. Why Use Mobile Technology in AU? • Accessibility of audience • Instant delivery and updates • Affordablility/portablility • Novelty of gadget/display

8. Student Profile • Average age 29 • Two-thirds women • 60% of our program students were employed full-time while studying • 36% undergraduates were visiting students

9. Two Case Studies at Athabasca • M-Library: Mobile Digital Reading Room Initiative • Mobile ESL: learning English as a Second Language Lessons for newcomers

10. M-Library: Mobile Digital Reading Room

11. What is a Mobile Library? • The idea of a mobile library is to provide learners with access to the university library and to course resources using mobile devices

12. Why a Mobile Library at AU? • AU students study from a distance • Quick and efficient access to electronic resources and library services is essential • Students have even more options for fitting learning into their busy lives. It allows individualization & self-pace learning • Supports those with special needs

13. Special Features • Mobile friendly AU Library site: Supported device: PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ, Smart phones • The site include mobile friendly: • Digital Reading Room • Digital Reference Centre • Digital Thesis & Project Room • Library catalogue • Search engine

14. Special Features (ctd) • Auto-detect and reformat • Learning object reuse • Easy web maintain/update • Podcasting • Wireless library catalogue • Federated search • Mobile content conversion on the fly

15. Design/Technology

16. Challenges and Opportunities • Defining content for the M-library • Define the amount and type of information • Design of the format • Normal website vs. mobile version • text, images, graphics, tables, location • Separate the content from the format • Display models • different display model and stylesheet

17. Further Information • Website: http://library.athabascau.ca/drr/ http://library.athabascau.ca/

18. Mobile ESL Project

19. Overview of Project • Build on success of M-library project • Develop and test innovative approaches to ESL learning using mobile devices to deliver lessons and allowing practice with feedback using a variety of testing methods

20. Subjects Involved in Study The subjects involved were adult learners registered in ESL programs at: • Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers • Global Community College • Evangelical Chinese Baptist Church

21. Mobile Devices Used • Mobile phones with wireless capabilities (Samsung D807x ) • Desktop access support

22. Content for Project • The content is based on two of the best selling Penguin “Introductory English Grammar and Exercise” books • Consists of 86 lessons and related interactive exercises • Repurpose for Canadian context • Downloadable in Word doc & Acrobat pdf format

23. Evaluation Methods • The students learn the content of the lesson followed by difference practice exercises and testing techniques. • The testing techniques used were multiple-choice, jumbled-sentence, true-false, and matching

24. Results . . .

25. Student Preference for Question Types

26. Pre-test vs. Post-test vs. Retention

27. Flexibility of Learning

28. Take Other Lessons Using Mobile Devices

29. Student Feedback in General • Reported positive experience with the ESL grammar course and the use of mobile technology in learning ESL grammar • Liked the flexibility of anytime availability of the ESL materials

30. Student Feedback in General • Students indicated that the use of mobile technology for ESL would be a good supplementary medium of learning such as when waiting for an appointment or being on the bus or whenever and wherever there is some spare time • One concern expressed was the cost of Internet access

31. Suggestions for Future Delivery • Use text-to-speech technology to improve the learning experience • More examples to help students understand the questions better • Use the mobile device to interact with teachers • Larger screen size for ease of reading

32. Further information • Website: http://eslau.ca

33. Questions and Discussions • Contact: stellal@athbascau.ca Thank you!