From M-Library to Mobile ESL:
Athabasca University as Advocate
in Mobile Learning
Stella Lee
Instructional Media Analyst
Athabasca University
Today’s Presentation
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction – Athabasca University
Why use M-learning
Two case studies – M-library, Mobile ESL
Challenges and opportunities
Questions and Discussions
About Athabasca University
• Canada’s Open University - distance
learning and online learning
• Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
• Learning centres in Edmonton and
Calgary
• More than 32,000 students
• Individualized and self-paced studies
Mission Statement
“Athabasca University is dedicated to the
removal of barriers that restrict access to,
and success in, university-level studies
and to increasing equality of educational
opportunity for adult learners worldwide.”
http://www.athabascau.ca/
Why Use Mobile Technology in
AU?
•
•
•
•
Accessibility of audience
Instant delivery and updates
Affordablility/portablility
Novelty of gadget/display
Student Profile
• Average age 29
• Two-thirds women
• 60% of our program students were
employed full-time while studying
• 36% undergraduates were visiting
students
Two Case Studies at Athabasca
• M-Library: Mobile Digital Reading Room
Initiative
• Mobile ESL: learning English as a Second
Language Lessons for newcomers
M-Library: Mobile Digital
Reading Room
What is a Mobile Library?
• The idea of a mobile library is to
provide learners with access to
the university library and to
course resources using mobile
devices
Why a Mobile Library at AU?
• AU students study from a distance
• Quick and efficient access to electronic
resources and library services is essential
• Students have even more options for
fitting learning into their busy lives. It
allows individualization & self-pace
learning
• Supports those with special needs
Special Features
• Mobile friendly AU Library site: Supported
device: PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ,
Smart phones
• The site include mobile friendly:
– Digital Reading Room
– Digital Reference Centre
– Digital Thesis & Project Room
– Library catalogue
– Search engine
Special Features (ctd)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Auto-detect and reformat
Learning object reuse
Easy web maintain/update
Podcasting
Wireless library catalogue
Federated search
Mobile content conversion on the fly
Design/Technology
Challenges and Opportunities
• Defining content for the M-library
– Define the amount and type of information
• Design of the format
– Normal website vs. mobile version
– text, images, graphics, tables, location
• Separate the content from the format
• Display models
– different display model and stylesheet
Further Information
• Website:
http://library.athabascau.ca/drr/
http://library.athabascau.ca/
Mobile ESL Project
Overview of Project
• Build on success of M-library project
• Develop and test innovative approaches to
ESL learning using mobile devices to
deliver lessons and allowing practice with
feedback using a variety of testing
methods
Subjects Involved in Study
The subjects involved were adult
learners registered in ESL programs at:
• Edmonton Mennonite Centre for
Newcomers
• Global Community College
• Evangelical Chinese Baptist Church
Mobile Devices Used
• Mobile phones with wireless capabilities
(Samsung D807x )
• Desktop access support
Content for Project
• The content is based on two of the
best selling Penguin “Introductory
English Grammar and Exercise”
books
• Consists of 86 lessons and related
interactive exercises
• Repurpose for Canadian context
• Downloadable in Word doc & Acrobat
pdf format
Evaluation Methods
• The students learn the content of the
lesson followed by difference practice
exercises and testing techniques.
• The testing techniques used were
multiple-choice, jumbled-sentence, truefalse, and matching
Results . . .
Student Preference for
Question Types
Student opinion poll about whether a question type is suitable for
mobile devices
True/False, 93%
Multiple Choice,
75%
Word Ordering, 47%
Matching, 18%
Multiple Choice
True/False
Matching
Word Ordering
Pre-test vs. Post-test vs.
Retention
Test scores
A Comparison of the Pre-test (1), Post-test (2), and
Retention Test (3)
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
Tests
3
Flexibility of Learning
The technology provides flexibility for m e to learn anyw here
and at anytim e
4%
0%
4%
2%
34%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
No Response
56%
Take Other Lessons Using
Mobile Devices
I would like to take other lessons using mobile
technology
6%
0%
15%
13%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
21%
Strongly Disagree
No Response
45%
Student Feedback in General
• Reported positive experience with the ESL
grammar course and the use of mobile
technology in learning ESL grammar
• Liked the flexibility of anytime availability of
the ESL materials
Student Feedback in General
• Students indicated that the use of mobile
technology for ESL would be a good
supplementary medium of learning such
as when waiting for an appointment or
being on the bus or whenever and
wherever there is some spare time
• One concern expressed was the cost of
Internet access
Suggestions for Future Delivery
• Use text-to-speech technology to
improve the learning experience
• More examples to help students
understand the questions better
• Use the mobile device to interact with
teachers
• Larger screen size for ease of
reading
Further information
• Website: http://eslau.ca
Questions and Discussions
• Contact: stellal@athbascau.ca
Thank you!