Potentials and Pitfalls from Literature & Students

Perspective

Lubbock Christian University WorkshopJ. D. Wallace March 15 2011

MOBILE LEARNING 

What is M-Learning?

• Where the students are mobile• Where the material is mobile• Where the classroom is mobile• Where time is mobile

Literature examined13 databasesOver 400 articlesFirst Modern def. 199975% of articles are from 20074,270 conceptual terms1,763 uniqueEducation and Communication dominate

M-Learning Literature: 2011

Concept Articles

Educational Technology 121

Mobile Communication Systems in Education 103

Education 97

Learning 81

Internet in Education 74

Computer-assisted Instruction 72

Mobile Learning 69

Study & Teaching 61

Web-based Instruction 45

Communication Systems 44

Distance Education 43

Wireless Communication Systems 41

Educational Innovations 36

Most Prolific Concepts in M-Learning

Top Non Education and Communication Topics

Concept Articles   Concept Articles

Research 32 Computer Network Resources 14

Information Technology 30 Language & Languages 14

Cell Phones 23 Online Information Services 14Pocket Computers 22 Great Britain 13

Technological Innovations 21 Multimedia Systems 12Internet 19 Telephone Systems 12Ubiquitous Computing 18 Computer Networks 11Mobile Computing 17 United States 11Technology 17 Computer Software 10Psychology 16 Computer Systems 10Taiwan 16 Podcasts 10

Concept Map of Mobile Learning

• Concept Map on next slide• Twenty-three non-trivial clusters emerged

• 108 items in the 23 clusters• Items included things like iPhones, Texting, Digital Divide,

Management, Blogs, Podcasting, Nursing, Curriculum Planning & many more

• Most thematically populatedDistance Education,13 different concepts

Communication, 10 different concept

Occupational Training, 10 different concept

Concept Map of M-Learning

1.Digital Music Player 9.Cognitive Styles 17.Distance Education

2.Smart Phone 10.Digital Divide 18.Academic Achievement

3.Social Interaction 11.Instructional Support 19.Multimedia Systems

4.Computer Systems 12.Data Processing 20.Ubiquitous Computing

5.Text Messages 13.Curriculum Planning 21.Medical

6.Wireless 14.Educational Technology 22.Non-English Research

7.Attitudes 15.Communication 23.Congresses & Conventions

8.PDA's 16.Occupational Training

Content is King

FacultyLearners

Content

• Wallace model for consumed content– Both faculty and students contribute content– Only content 100% embraced by students is learned

New Learning Frontier

• Learners do much of the teaching• Adult and traditional learners are

different• Teachers will drive the kind of content• Learners will drive the quality of

content

Potentials of M-Learning

• Survey conducted November 2010• 71% of students want to learn about

iPad– 53% of students thought they were easy to use– BUT…Only 17% of students had used them

• Engaging in group and individual class projects were top uses

Potentials of M-Learning

• Enhances communication with instructor

• Simplifies communication• Provides motivating learning

experience• More convenient studying• Delivers to non-traditional locations

Pitfalls of M-Learning

• Remember that despite the student’s positive view the following were considered as pitfalls– More for entertainment than education– Distraction to learning– Encouraged plagiarism– Need more technology driven curriculum– Need more instructor support

Sustainability• Primary barriers to adoptions• Technologies are overpriced• Students question price points of

– iPod Touch– iPod family of products– Laptops & tablet computers– E-readers

• Exceptions were smart phones and iPads from deals and secondary markets

Adoption Factors 11/30/2010• High penetrations for:

– Cell phones, 95% – iPod products, 74%– Laptops,70%

• Low penetration for:– iPad, 5%– E-readers, 5%

• Driving adoption: experience, relevancy, and symbolism of technology

Questions or Ideas?

JD. Wallace@acu.edu

Comm. Grads • Traditional Communication graduates.

Mgt. • Mgt. professionals with pressure for

advanced degrees

Church Leaders• Church leaders with pressure for advanced

degrees

Legacy Grads• Legacy graduates that want to come back for

advanced training

Sister Schools • Other Christian university graduates

ACU Grad Program

Academic Competitiveness

• 60 - Approximate number of ACU grads with Ph.D.s in Communication

• 40 - Approx. number with Law Degrees• Dean of Law School• Dean of Graduate School• Vice-President of Academic Affairs/Provost• Department Chair (university and college level)• Lots of university professors

Professional Competitiveness• Speech Writer for the White House (Bush

administration)• Political Consultant - for Arnold Schwarzenegger

Gov. of California• Judges• Supreme Court Judge - Texas Pope• Preachers - Rick Atchley & Max Lucado and

dozens more• Corporate Trainers for Disney, AT&T, National

Cash Register (NCR), Boeing & numerous others• Non-Profits throughout the world