| The first mobile learning workshop took place in | | | | expected. |
| Birmingham, UK in 2002 and the 6th International Mobile | | | | We were now really seeing how mobile technology |
| Learning Conference just concluded in Melbourne | | | | had the potential to break down the barriers of location |
| Australia. In five very short years we have gone from | | | | and time. |
| 'playing' with toys to planning the future or our | | | | 2006 - mLearn in Banff: |
| infrastructure to accommodate mobile delivery in all its | | | | OK, so we did manage to go from one great location |
| forms... | | | | to another but we are supposed to be mobile and |
| I have been involved in mobile learning since 2003 and | | | | learning - right? |
| it is interesting to reflect on the way in which it has | | | | The theme in Canada was "Across cultures and |
| grown and been taken up over what is really quite a | | | | generations" and in context of the then small but |
| short time. As a person who has worked hard to | | | | growing social computing revolution this theme picked |
| introduce mobile learning I am very aware that the | | | | up on the way in which communications technology |
| reaction to my efforts has moved from "what on | | | | was breaking all barriers for those who wanted to |
| earth are you on about?" to "please come and help us | | | | stay in touch. |
| get it happening!". | | | | We heard about the $100 laptop and the desire to see |
| For those who are asking the question, mobile learning | | | | every child with a laptop. We talked about digital |
| is the delivery of teaching and learning by means of | | | | libraries where every book was being converted to |
| portable, handheld or mobile devices as a part of the | | | | digital format and therefore accessible anywhere on |
| overall mix in the way in which teachers and students | | | | any device. We talked more seriously about audio as |
| interact. But like all new concepts there is a flow in the | | | | part of teaching material mix and explored the evry |
| evolution and reflecting on each of the mobile learning | | | | increasing means by which delivery could take place |
| conferences I have mapped it as follows: | | | | and the ever increasing variety of devices that offered |
| 2003 - mLearn in London: | | | | mobility. |
| The theme was 'New Possibilities' and we looked at | | | | We started to understand the 'Net Generation' who |
| mobile phones and some personal digital assistants | | | | have hypertext minds and who approach learning in a |
| (PDAs). We talked about issues like navigation on such | | | | totally different way to those who left school a longer |
| small devices and texting and some of the games that | | | | time ago! |
| already existed on mobile phones. We also started | | | | This conference opened our eyes to the way in which |
| talking about knowledge management and the types | | | | exploring mobility was shrinking the world and making |
| of learning that might apply. | | | | access to learning a reality for anyone from |
| The state of mobile learning was best summed up at | | | | anywhere. |
| the time by John Traxler who is currently at | | | | 2007 - mLearn in Melbourne: |
| Wolverhampton University in the UK: | | | | The theme we chose for this conference was |
| "mobile learning is at a stage of small scale projects | | | | "Making the Connections" and connectivity was |
| working to extablish aspects of techninal feasibility in | | | | certainly the flavour of the conference! |
| specific educational settings" | | | | Even before the first keynote speaker had finished her |
| 2004 - mLearn in Rome: | | | | comments and the reaction to those comments was |
| Holding a conference dealing with leading edge | | | | being blogged, twittered, ninged, wikied and otherwise |
| technology in a 12th century castle in Rome was an | | | | posted into cyberspace! Speakers were asked |
| interesting experience! | | | | questions relayed through attending delegates from |
| The theme this time was "The Potential is Significant" | | | | places all over the world. |
| and we started to discuss shifts in pedagogy, the | | | | We explored infrastructure issues and we talked |
| impacts of using portable devices and usability of the | | | | extensively about pedagogy incorporating technology |
| digital learning materials that were being developed. | | | | and how the devices themselves are now evaluated |
| We were starting to see the newer smart phones and | | | | less for their 'wow' factor as for their usability in the |
| wireless was starting to appear in some places which | | | | teaching mix. We talked about intergration and |
| would immediately expand the concept of mobility. | | | | embedding and the way in which social computing |
| We were now talking about using PDAs and mobile | | | | might be used on mobile devices as well as the fact |
| phones for delivery of materials in a way that suited | | | | that mobile devices now incorporates laptops with |
| different learning styles, in context and overcoming | | | | wireless connections. |
| some of the earlier barriers. | | | | And we closed the conference looking forward 10 |
| 2005 - mLearn in Cape Town: | | | | years and speculating what we might do now to |
| The theme "Learning is in your hands" was particularly | | | | make sure we continue to delivery quality education by |
| appropriate in a country where internet coverage is | | | | means of the new and emerging technology. |
| minimal but mobile phone coverage is almost total! | | | | So where are we now: Mobility is simply a reality and |
| At this conference we started to hear about | | | | we expect to be connected at all times on all devices. |
| convergence and mobile content management. We | | | | Technology, no matter how marvelous it is, will not fix |
| looked at practical examples of how people were | | | | bad pedagogy but it will give massive impact to good |
| rolling out mobile learning to larger groups and | | | | teaching practice. |
| organisations and we started to talk about the | | | | At the end of the Conference we officially launched |
| strategies required for teacher training and student | | | | the International Association for Mobile Learning. Find |
| learning support by means of and for these | | | | out more by following the links at my website. |
| technologies. Wireless was now available and | | | | |