The developing mobile landscape – implications for learner’s expectations.

Rob Howe

The University of Northampton

Presentation at ELESIG Symposium 11th March 2013

3-years of trend data

Lapt

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Smar

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ne

Digita

l cam

era

Porta

ble

Media

Pla

yer

Gamin

g de

vice

Stan

dard

mob

ile p

hone

Tabl

et d

evice

Handh

eld

gam

ing

devi

ce

eboo

k re

ader

Audio

Rec

orde

r

Assist

ive

tech

nolo

gy0

20

40

60

80

100

Planning to ownAlready own

Technology ownership Dec 2012 (N=938)

Growth in 2012 compared to (2011)• Laptop ownership 88.2% (86%)• Smartphone 83.4% (58%)• Tablets 37.5% (21%)• E-Book reader 27.3% (18%)

Learner Considerations

1. Inclusion (device and connectivity)

2. Accessibility (choice, personalisation, control)

3. Usability and training

See the Learntech blog for more on this

Developing a supportive infrastructure

Different audiences (students, staff, prospects)

What’s possible? Learner’s will expect support

Cours

e in

fo VLE

Tim

etab

les

Grade

s

Libra

ry

Direct

ory

Modul

e ch

oice

s

Maps &

GPS

Tran

spor

t

Caree

rsPC

s

News & E

vent

s

Phot

os0

20

40

60

80

100

Services rated 'useful'

Need to join up University approaches

Jpg files Flickr Youtube

Marketing

Talis integration

LibrarySystems

Blackboard Learn

LearnTech

Course info

Staff directory

Events listings

News feeds

Web team

Mobile web page

CIS (Timetabling)

Creating mobile learning opportunities

• Introducing Mobile Learn to staff

– course design considerations

– support resources

– inspiration / case studies: http://bit.ly/uonmobileart

Mobile for fieldwork

Is it working? Feedback from users

• Twitter (#iNorthampton)

• Email• Blog• Spot surveys• Focus groups• Pilots

Can access NILE when ever I need to and if I need to

check something quickly I can do. Also comes in handy

if can’t see properly in lectures as can bring them

up on my phone.

@UniNorthants now have their own app. Snazzy.

Am not tryna gas but thank God for the Northampton app because now I left my timetable at home, I would have been lost.

Bloody good idea!Being able to post

via a mobile means work in progress can be recorded in situ

and shared spontaneously.

Top five tips

1. Identify needs (and decide which ones you can meet)

2. Develop a supportive infrastructure

3. Plan provision for mobile devices

4. Ensure inclusiveness

5. Stay in the loop.....

Questions?

Contact details:

Rob Howe

Rob.Howe@northampton.ac.uk

01604 892483

References etc.

Useful links

• More about the iNorthampton project:http://www.northampton.ac.uk/mobile

• Guidelines on accessibility for the mobile web:http://www.w3.org/Mobile/ 

• TechDis on mobile learning: http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/techdis/investinyourself/freeresources/accessiblemobilelearning

• Traxler, J. (2010) “Students and mobile devices.” ALT-J Research in Learning Technology [online] 18.2, p149-160. Available from: http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/10759 [Accessed 10th February 2012]

• More info on JADU MyAPI (presentation by Steve Martin): http://speakerdeck.com/u/s2martin/p/inorthampton-and-jadu

Image credits

• Photography by Rob Farmer, University of Northampton

• 3d characters from http://www.canstockphoto.com/3pod