mLearnCon News and Updates

From Ignatia Webs

mLearnCon conference speaker, Inge DeWaard (Ignatia) blogs about her notes and reflection of the most recent mLearnCon Conference and Expo.

What to take into account when chosing a mobile device for learning?

Choosing the best phone for mobile learning can be quite a challenge. It also depends on what you want to do with it and how easy you can get used to technology. The amount of features you want to use will also allow you to purchase a low or high cost smartphone or mobile device.

Let's say you want to explore mobile learning, these are some of your options.

First of all if you are a tech savvy person you could go for a less expensive device which has all the options of the iPhone and more, for the iPhone costs a lot, yet is similar to many other mobile phones that are cheaper. The iPhone is above all an incredibly easy phone to use (very intuitive in its user interface), so for those not that comfortable with technology, the iPhone is the way to go (although it is expensive). If you do not want to pay the cost of an iPhone, you can also go for an iPod Touch, which is much cheaper and offers all the iPhone options, except phone possibilities (but the phone possibilities are not essential for mobile learning).

Read all about, and read more of Ignatia's blogs HERE

From the Upside Mobile Learning Blog

The Practice of Mobile Learning

I tend to look at mobile learning in two distinct contexts – first as a tool to meet a learning need, second as a learning content delivery platform. While these two contexts are implicitly linked, it helps to look at them separately to understand how mobile technology can actually benefit learning. This post looks first at the context of learning need.

Read the full blog HERE

The Buzz from mLearnCon

Last week, the eLearning Guild wrapped up mLearnCon, the premiere mLearning conference and expo, but it doesn't feel like it’s over because conference goers are still busy exploring and sharing mLearning knowledge and resources. That's what makes for a successful conference! Follow the action on the active and ongoing tweet stream, http://twitter.com/#search?q=mlearncon

If you weren’t able to attend mLearnCon, don't despair. Many mLearnCon presenters have kindly shared their slides and other resources. We’ll be sharing tasty takeaways from the conference all week on this blog. Here are two of our favorites: 

Inga De Waard has written terrific accounts of several mLearnCon sessions. You can find them at her enlightening e-Learning blog, http://ignatiawebs.blogspot.com.

One of the hottest retweets from mLearnCon has been B.J. Schone's SlideShare of invaluable tips and tricks. Find it here:  
http://www.slideshare.net/bjschone/20-mlearning-tools-in-60-minutes-mlearncon-2010.

Look for more great take-aways, hot from mLearnCon, tomorrow!

Join Richard Culatta, a member of mLearnCon Advisory Board as he presents:

Using Mobile Devices to Enhance In-class Training

As we consider the power of mobile devices for creating learning experiences, we often focus on the ability for students to learn at any time and in any place. However, in doing so, sometimes we overlook the ability that mobile devices have to enhance in-class learning experiences. Not only do mobile devices help increase engagement in classroom learning, but this blended approach can also be a much easier first-step into delivering learning on mobile devices for an organization that is just beginning to explore mobile learning platforms.

In this session, we will explore a variety of ways to use mobile devices to enhance participation and engagement in classroom learning. In addition, we will explore the process of developing a customized mobile app to accompany a traditional classroom course or training session. READ MORE

Creating a Successful mLearning Strategy: From Planning to Implementation

For those new to m-Learning, there are a lot of decisions to be addressed. There are new technologies and platforms to develop on, and there may be stakeholder, management, and user resistance to using these new technologies. Or, instead of resistance, they may have unrealistic expectations of what m-Learning can successfully deliver. You, the training staff, may need to learn new skills.

This workshop will give you a strategic overview of the many areas you will need to address to successfully plan an m-Learning initiative, and then implement that plan. You will go through a check list of decision points to better prepare you for your mobile initiatives. If you are just entering the m-Learning venue, you will learn about the opportunities and potential stumbling blocks. You will examine many examples, and will have discussions and hands-on activities. READ MORE

For information about other available mLearnCon Pre-conference workshops click HERE