Macmillan Apps

Mobile Learning: 10 things to keep in mind when creating your programme

Posted by nana, on April, in MLearning

Mlearning is on the rise. With over 30% of mobile phone owners* across the globe using smartphones, the app market has expanded to incorporate a growing number of educational tools. Mlearning, whether on tablets or mobile devices, enables people to learn independent of location and time, creating a new and efficient culture of learning on the go.

There are already Mlearning apps in use, like our Sounds App, that work well to supplement classroom teaching and self-study. However, it is early days for these apps and anyone thinking about creating their own programme needs to take certain factors into consideration to ensure successful adoption.

Here are ten things to keep in mind when creating a Mlearning programme:

1.    Involve teachers in the design, content and piloting of Mlearning initiatives. A sustainable community is one in which people have input into the materials they are using.

2.    Ask yourself, does this technology make life easier for the teachers, or is it just a distraction? It needs to effectively tie in with their current teaching methods.

3.    Design your Mlearning programme with different ‘types’ of teachers in mind. Is this going to be for teacher trainers, working teachers, novice teachers or teachers working outside of formal classroom settings?

4.    Integrate, integrate, integrate. If there is an overlap with other programmes you currently run, make sure you design the Mlearning programme with them in mind and, if possible, cross-promote.

5.    Don’t just focus on the bells and whistles. Make use of the more practical possibilities of Mlearning, such as tracking attendance.

6.    Immediate feedback is a big plus of Mlearning, try and make use of this.

7.    Content should lead, technology follow. Don’t let jazzy functionality distract from what’s being taught.

8.    Hand in hand with good teaching comes effective assessment. How might you go about incorporating methods of assessment into the Mlearning programme?

9.    Teachers need to be able to TRUST the virtual community they are working within. Reassure them every step of the way.

10.    With Mlearning teachers can build their skills and knowledge wherever they are. Make sure your programme makes the most of this, with short and sweet lessons that fit around life.

Do you have tips to share? Please comment below.

*Email Marketing Reports, Feb 2012