An initial concept for a learning card app for mobile devices

1. Mobile Learning
Preliminary Ideas «Learning Cards»
ILIAS Mobile SIG Meeting
ISN, Training & ADL Competence Center (TACC)
Reto Schilliger
25.01.2012
International Relations and Security Network (ISN)

2. «Mobile»?

3. Mobile Learning?
NOT just «Performance Support» («Look-up info just-in-time»)
NOT just having access to an LMS via a mobile browser
(only to study PDFs or WBTs in massively scaled-down sizes …)
NOT just doing a quiz …
NOT just using a notebook somewhere on the beach …
NOT just carrying along bulky pads instead of even bulkier notebooks …
BUT:
Using smallest devices (no additional weight, no additional space)
Combining content presentation, practice and (self-)test (PPT)
In the most flexible way, according to the learners’ needs and preferences.
Best suited for blended learning scenarios.

4. «mobile» to fight forgetting
WBT completed:
All fine now?

5. Learning Cards for Mobile Learning
Background/Context
1. Swiss-US Research Project, including building of a „tool suite“ based on
(complementing?) existing ILIAS, ILIAS SCORM Editor and Multimedia Slideshow
technology.
2. Africa > mobile is the way to go!
Goal
1. Establish „something“ that can be used with a range of contents and at all
educational levels to explore learning content in a range of ways.
2. The „something“ ideally supports learning „while on the way“, e.g. while commuting
in a train or on a bus, or while „waiting“ anywhere for whatever.
3. The „something“ runs on small mobile devices, concretely smart phones, that can be
carried along anywhere, even in combat operations theatres.
4. The content also runs on standard PCs/Notebooks/pads a.s.o.
5. The „something“ supports learning, rehearsal and (self-)test of small info chunks.
6. The „something“ can be tracked based on SCORM.
7. The „something“ for learning does NOT require an online-connection (offline
capability).

6. Lernkarte «Präsentation»
Der Flamingo ist ein grosser
rosaroter Vogel, der sich in
flachen Gewässern in Afrika
besonders heimisch fühlt. Er
lebt in grossen Gruppen, und
ernährt sich von so ziemlich ..
Flamingo > Allgemein
1/6Merken OK
Balzruf des Männchens:
«Schnaddel-didöödel-didoo»
Der Lockruf des Flamingo-
Männchens ist über Meilen
…
Flamingo > Rufe
3/6Merken OK
Der Flamingo hat für das
Waten in seichtem Wasser
lange Beine. Entsprechend
lang ist auch der Hals für das
Aufpicken von Futter.
Flamingo > Körperbau
2/6Merken OK

7. Lernkarte «Üben (Practice)»
Wo lebt der Flamingo?
Vögel
20/45
Südamerika
Afrika √
Australien
Europa
Merken OK
Zur Lernkarte
Vögel
21/45Merken OK
Was ist typisch für einen
Flamingo?
Lange Krallen
Rosa Gefieder √
Weisses Gefieder
Lange Beine √
Langer Hals √
Schwarzer Schnabel √
Gelber Schnabel
Zur Lernkarte
Vögel
22/45Merken OK
Zur Lernkarte
Welchen Vogel hörst Du?
Amsel
Drossel
Fink
Flamingo √
Storch

8. Basic Concept: Learning Cards
Topic «Birds»
Suptopic 4 «Eagle»
Subtopic 3 «Sparrow»
Subtopic 2 «Seagull»
Subtopic 1 «Flamingo»
Set 1.3
Category «Habitat»
Info 1.3.1 … 1.3.n
Question(s)
Status / Flag
Set 1.4
Category «Eggs»
Info 1.4.1 … 1.4.n
Question(s)
Status / Flag
Set 1.1
Category «Look»
Info 1.1.1 .. 1.1.n
Question(s)
Status / Flag
Set 1.2
Category «Sound»
Info 2.1.1 … 2.1.n
Question(s)
Status / Flag
Topic Title
Credits
Description
Status

9. Scenarios of Use
Study
o Flamingo
! Seagull
√ Sparrow
o Eagle
□ With questions
Practice
o Flamingo □
! Seagull □
√ Sparrow □
o Eagle □
Flagged items □
START
Self-test
Number of items:
(entry)
START
i
1.1
i
1.2
i
1.n…
?
1.1
?
5.2
?
5.4 ?
3.2
?
1.2
?
1.n
?
1.1
?
5.2
?
5.4 ?
3.2
Your result:
24 of 30 points
80%
Topics
- Birds
- Aircraft
- Grammar
- NATO
Vocabulary
- NATO
countries
- Law of
War
- Mine
Awareness
- Cultural
Awareness
Study?
Practice?
Self-test?
Linear in fixed order
Random from selected
Random m of n
Categories?
□ Look
□ Sound
□ Regions
□ Eggs

10. Media for Information/Question, Example «Flamingo»
• Text (Body, lists, tables, bold, italic)
- General description of the bird.
• Image(s) with captions
- Images of the bird on ground, in flight,
young, old.
- Maps showing living regions of the
bird.
- Maps showing migration paths.
• Sound(s) with captions
- Normal sounds of the bird
- Mating calls
- Explanations of Scientists
• Movies(s) with captions
- Movies of the bird in flight
- Movies of courtship behavior
- Interviews with Scientists

11. Examples of Categories for Different Topics
Birds: Look, Sound, Region, Eggs, Food, …
Vehicles/Airplanes: Look, Technical data, Recognition, Variants, ….
Rules: Explanation, Examples, Other Relevent Rules
Language Training: Rule, Writing, Listening, Synonyme, Translation, Speaking, Verbs,
Nouns, Declination …
Cultural Awareness: Country Data, Religion, Taboos, Considered Nice, Considered
Rude, Key Values, Presents, Being a Guest, Being a Host, Important Holidays
Introduction to NATO: NATO in general, member countries, member organizations,
decision process, organization, …
Law of War: History, Rules, Examples, Ethics, …
Instructional Design: Blooms Taxonomy Basics, Level 1, …. Level 5, Examples Level 1
… Level 5,

12. Strategic Questions
Does it need to be part of ILIAS? (If yes, more complex, no support of moodle etc.)
Does it need to support SCORM?
Potential scenarios of content production:
1. Build WBT content > export as a mobile Version
+ fast (simplest approach: mobile design template only)
- didactically weak > restrictions to be observed for WBT already?
? may work with an approach as used by combined print – and online-help tools!
(which basically stands for building two applications in the same tool),
2. Build content for Web and, separately
Build content for Mobile
+ best content for each platform
- costly in production and with updates
3. Build for mobile only > simulate a mobile device on PC!
+ innovating, radical approach
- limits range of content (but makes absolute sense!)
4. Build for mobile only > but simulated device becomes part of a WBT
+ best possible blend of high-end WBT and best-possible mobile content
+ still innovating approach
- tracking might pose some problems

13. International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
ETH Zurich
Leonhardshalde 21, EH
8092 Zurich
Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)44 632 07 57
Fax +41 (0)44 632 14 13
“Managing information, sharing knowledge”
www.isn.ethz.ch