Your step-by-step guideto mobile learning

We’re better, connectedWe’re better, connected

Step 1Why do you need mobile learning?Think about your ICT (Information and Communication Technology) aims:

What are your teaching and learning objectives?•

Does your place of learning want to use mobile • learning? If not, why not?

Consider safety – including access to, and sharing • of, content between students and teachers

Look at the curriculum requirements and the ICT • resources you have available. How will they allow (or benefi t from) mobile learning?

Ask your students and their parents what they • think.

Are you considering using mobile learning at your

school, college or university?

If you’re not sure where to start, we can help.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the eight steps to

getting your mobile learning action plan underway.

Step 2To make the most of mobile learning, what do you need?

Think about your ICT needs•

For example, should you balance the need for more • computers, interactive whiteboards and digital learning against the need for mobile learning technology? What internal and external access requirements do you have? Will you need any more?

List your teaching and learning objectives•

Do you want your students to have the fl exibility of • learning anywhere, at any time? If so, do the staff around you support this?

Ask the students what they think•

How important is it for them to be able to access • learning resources whenever they want? How will it affect them everyday? Try to get detailed answers, because a basic “Yeah, that’d be good”, won’t be enough to base your judgement on.

It might also be a good idea to get the students’ parents involved, and help them understand what it’s all about.

Step 4Focus on a solution

Understand the needs your plan has to address•

Set a timescale. Exactly when will your mobile • learning programme start?

Think about possible stumbling blocks – budget • constraints and timescales, for instance

Be clear on the use of – and safety of those using – • the learning platforms and portals

Consider how the technology will be distributed • and managed. Are you happy to do this yourself, or would you rather get your partner/supplier to manage it on your behalf?

Step 5Manage expectationsDo your teaching staff really understand what mobile learning is all about and how it can help them? They’llneed to know what to expect:

For example, mobile learning could be a device…

Without connectivity – a camera, for instance•

That only provides connectivity – like mobile • broadband that you plug into a laptop or computer

With both connectivity and access to learning • content from the classroom, at home, on fi eld trips… or anywhere else.

Step 6Get agreement

Know how much it’s going to cost to set up, and • what the running costs will be

Be clear what it’s going to replace or enhance•

Explain why you need mobile learning and the • benefi ts of it

Use your relationship with your partners and • suppliers – ask for their help.

Step 3Get ‘buy-in’ – show all stakeholders what’s possible

Think about piloting mobile learning with support • from enthusiastic teachers and students

Talk to other places that have set up mobile learning • successfully, so you can learn from their experiences

Get your local authority on board •

Who can help you?We can. We’ll help identify the best solutions for your school, college or university. Then our Managed and Professional Services teams will integrate them into the classroom and manage them for you.

We can also put the right technology in your hands. We’ve got the expertise to show you the handsets, connectivity options and service solutions available, and explain what they can do for you.

And the partnerships we’ve established with Childnet International, European Schoolnet and TeachToday will help make sure the technology’s used safely inside and outside the classroom.

We’re committed to:

Delivering simple, tailored services and devices • that help our customers connect as effectively as possible

Investing in our people and skills so we continue • meeting our customers’ needs

Creating the best customer experience at the best • value for money.

To fi nd out more about how Telefónica O2 UKbrings you the best mobile technology solutions,visit us at o2.co.uk/education

Step 7Put your plan into action

Make sure everyone’s familiar with the plan – • including any pilot schemes or tests

Create a training plan for the teachers before you • give any of the technology to students. Teachers are key to getting mobile learning working successfully

Put it to the test. Spend some time testing the • mobile technology with your ICT systems

Find the right equipment. No single device will offer • a complete solution, so focus on each user’s needs to fi nd the best match.

For instance, you could think about:

– The learning activities it’ll be used for

– The learning style – fun, interactive, prescriptive, and so on

– The class size – individuals, a group or whole-class participation

– The partners and/or suppliers you want to work with.

Step 8Deliver and manageYou might not have time to do this yourself, so you’ll need to think about who you can hand it to. It might be a partner or supplier, who will then…

Plan and carry out the teachers’ training•

Implement, dispatch and manage the technology • for teachers and learners

Get mobile learning working with your ICT systems•

Load your devices with agreed content, resources• and settings.