Using Mobile Technology Using Mobile Technology in Information Literacy Skills Training in Information Literacy Skills Training to Enhance Students’ Learning Experienceto Enhance Students’ Learning Experience

Mr. Tony Tin Dr. Alice Schmidt Hanbidge Dr. Nicole SandersonMs. Nicole Lee

The Asian Conference on Technology in the Classroom

The Asian Conference on Language Learning

Kobe, JapanMay 1, 2015

Public Research University

Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (Home of BlackBerry, Open Text, and D2L)

Over 36,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs with 2,000 faculty

Canada’s most innovative university for 23 years; operating the world's largest cooperative education program with19,000 co-op students

Special 2 plus 2 program for international students

Renison is a federated college within University of Waterloo, specializing in ELI, Applied Language Studies, Social Development Studies, Social Work, EAS, Studies in Islam and Religious Studies

University of University of WaterlooWaterloo

http://www.uwaterloo.cahttp://www.uwaterloo.ca

..

From Mobile ESL to MILFrom Mobile ESL to MIL

M-library: CLA Library Research and Development Award 2007

Mobile ESL training: CNIE Excellence & Innovation in Use of Learning Technology Award 2008

http://eslau.caCBC Coverage

Mobile ICTESL 2011Mobile ICTESL 2011• Contains grammar, vocabulary and

readings to assist computer industry worker with learning ESL in an Information and Communications Technology environment

• Funded and supported by UNESCO

• Special features:

• Drag and Drop for instant response

• Html 5, 3D object rotation

.

https://ictesl.athabascau.ca/

The International E-learning Association Awards in Mobile Learning 2011

Mobile Information Literacy Project 2015Mobile Information Literacy Project 2015

• Improve student’s information literacy skills

• Use mobile devices to deliver info literacy training

• Allow practice with feedback using a variety of testing methods

http://beam.to/renmil

• Information Literacy: recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the needed information

• Mobile Information Literacy: incorporates technology into the learning process

American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report.(Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.)

Mobile Information Literacy (MIL)Mobile Information Literacy (MIL)

Learners:

◦ already have mobile devices◦ access lessons and exercises from remote

locations, anywhere & practice anytime◦ make use of the multimedia & interactive

features◦ Is learner-centered and requires no teacher

presence

Faculty & Librarians:

◦ reach more students◦ free up time to teach more complex topics

Why use a Why use a mobile device to facilitate MIL training

• 13 Lessons focusing on how to locate, evaluate and use information

• Content specific to use of UW library resources

• Over 12 videos currently

• Expand beyond video with activities

MIL ContentsMIL Contents

TechnologiesTechnologiesOpen sources: WordPress with WP-Pro Quiz PluginRun a data-base and generate dynamic content

User View Admin View

Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics

Interactive ExercisesInteractive Exercises

True/False Drag and DropText inputMultiple Choice

Instant ResponseInstant ResponseSummative EvaluationFormative Evaluation

Search Tips from StudentsSearch Tips from Students

In actionIn action

Video

Pilot ProjectPilot ProjectStudent participants from 5 Social Development

Studies and Social Work classes (n=110)Most were female (90.7%), between the age of

18 and 25 years old86.9% did not attend any type of literacy skills

training98% have smartphones with 58% using Apple

iPhone or other mobile devices on a daily basisOnly 28% used a mobile device to search for

information despite daily usage. Texting (85%) is their main use of mobile

devices

Mixed method (quantitative and qualitative)

One group pretest/post-test design

Online Survey (Survey Monkey)

Student questionnaires

Research ProjectResearch Project

Preliminary Results . . .Preliminary Results . . .

Pre-test to Post-test Pre-test to Post-test Preliminary ScorePreliminary Score

Student Preference for Question Student Preference for Question TypeType

Literacy lessons students find most Literacy lessons students find most helpfulhelpful

Lessons Response Percent

Locate: Lesson 1: An Introduction to Primo Central 29.9%

Locate:Lesson 2: The Basics: How to Search 34.3% (5)

Locate:Lesson 3: Finding Articles 35.8% (4)

Locate:Lesson 4: Finding Peer Reviewed Journals 44.8% (2)

Evaluate: Lesson 5: Evaluating Information Sources 23.9%

Evaluate: Lesson 6: Peer Review Process 14.9%

Evaluate: Lesson 7: Popular Vs. Scholarly Resources 17.9%

Use: Lesson 8: Using the Web for Resources 20.9%

Use: Lesson 9: RefWorks 52.2% (1)

Use: Lesson 10: When to Cite Your Articles 17.9%

Use: Lesson 11: Types of Written Articles 14.9%

Use: Lesson 12: How to Approach Assignments 40.3% (3)

Use: Lesson 13: What is a Paragraph? 4.5%

ALL OF THE ABOVE 9.0%

Recommend other students to learn Recommend other students to learn information literacy skills using mobile information literacy skills using mobile technologytechnology

Flexibility to Learn Anywhere and AnytimeFlexibility to Learn Anywhere and Anytime

Quality of LearningQuality of Learning

Information literacy skills enhanced as Information literacy skills enhanced as a result of completing these exercisesa result of completing these exercises

Student Feedback on MIL Training Student Feedback on MIL Training

• Students reported positive experience with the info literacy lessons and the use of mobile technology:

“short lessons but to the point;” “easy to use”;“creative – different test/quiz styles”

• Students liked the flexibility/ availability of any time learning:

“very convenient”; “learn on my own time, anywhere”;“able to review from time to time”

Student Feedback on the MIL Training Student Feedback on the MIL Training

• Use of mobile technology would be good supplementary medium of learning:“I can access and learn on Wi-Fi on campus and on bus.”

• Greatest concern was cost of Internet access.

“don’t have data so cannot always get internet.”

Defining content

◦ define the amount & type of information

Design of the format

◦ normal website vs. mobile version◦ text, images, graphics, tables, location◦ different file types (pdf, mov)

Display models

◦ different display model & stylesheet

Different standards, data networks, & operating systems

Bandwidth

Lesson Learned from the PilotLesson Learned from the Pilot

Suggestions for Future DeliverySuggestions for Future Delivery

• Embedded MIL in the curriculum

• Moving from MIL to mobile academic fluency

• Use of learning analytic – evidence based learning

• Free internet, mobile info literacy training in remote area

• Screen size redesign for ease of reading

• Delivery of MIL in different languages (e.g. Japanese, Arabic Chinese)

• Use multimedia and games to improve the learning experience

• Use mobile device to interact with teachers and trainer (e.g. Ask a mobile librarian)

http://beam.to/renmil

:

Visit the Mobile Information Visit the Mobile Information Literacy Lessons site:Literacy Lessons site:

ReferencesReferences

Ally, M. (2005). “Multimedia information design for mobile devices”. In, M. Pagani (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Multimedia Technology and Networking. Idea Group Inc. Hershey, PA.

Kim, B. (2013). The Library Mobile Experience: Practices and User Expectations (Vol. 49, No. 6). American Library Association.

Yarmey, K. (2011). Student information literacy in the mobile environment. Educause Quarterly, 34(1), n1.

Slideshare: http://tinyurl.com/nxffjgm

E-mail:tony.tin@uwaterloo.caWebsite: http://www.tonytin.com

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tonytin

Research Team Members