Piloting M-learning at Eversheds by Tim Drewitt.

1. Effectively Using Mobile Technology
in Learning
Piloting M-learning at Eversheds
Tim Drewitt, Eversheds LLP
27 September 2011
@timdrewitt

2. Presentation Summary
Effectively using mobile technology in learning
• About Eversheds
• Pilot overview
• M-learning benefits
• M-learning content
• Technical issues
• Tim‟s top tips

3. About Eversheds
One of the world’s largest law firms
• 4,300 employees, 527 partners
• 44 offices – UK, EMEA and Asia, 27 jurisdictions
• Company commercial, human resources, litigation and
dispute management and real estate
• Aerospace and defence, central government, education,
energy and natural resources, financial institutions, food,
healthcare, industrial engineering, local government, retail,
sport and transport

4. Our learning delivery framework
Face-to-face Classroom
One-to-one Coaching
Attitude/Skills v Knowledge/Task
Interactive Webinars
Self-paced v Live
Passive Webinars
Blogs Yammer Discussion Forums
Quick E-learning Recorded Webinars
Podcasts Videocasts Mobile Learning
Referenceware
Shorter Learning Time Commitment Longer

5. Pilot Overview
Going where few have been before

6. Learner-demanded delivery channel
Meeting the demands of mobile workers
• “I‟d like to watch a training session I missed on
the train home.”
• “Can‟t I play back a webinar recording on my
BlackBerry?”
• “I‟d prefer to study the e-learning during my
travel time when I am not disturbed.”
• “Why can‟t I listen to the podcasts on my
mobile?”
• “Isn‟t there an app for that?”

7. Our challenge
A challenging challenge
• To deploy a device-neutral mobile learning
delivery platform that enables the in-house rapid
development of suitable content for offline study
• To pilot m-learning to a diverse group of up to
150 fee-earners from across all practice groups
• To pilot on two models of BlackBerry (c. 1,500)
and iPad (c. 300)
• Use PowerPoint as the authoring tool
• To develop just the once, but push to all device
types

8. Our objectives
Seven key questions
• Once lawyers have used it, do they still want it?
• What content works well in this format and what
doesn‟t?
• If we reduce the learning run time, what is the
impact on the quality of the training?
• Is the solution usable, simple and straightforward?
• How much learning shifts from the desk to
discretionary learning on the move?
• When and where are staff choosing to learn?
• How do we have to change our content design for
mobile delivery?

9. Our pilot solution
Hot Lava
LMS
Mobile Learning App Content
Management Viewer
System
Plug-in

10. Mobile Learning Benefits
Making the business case

11. Benefits map
The anticipated benefits
Business
Investment Business High-level
Process
Objectives Benefits Requirements
Change
Solution will allow
Protect fee-
training to be made
Reduce operating earning hours Make mobile available on mobiles
costs by training modules
improving Facilitate learning Training to be available
available from in a variety of content
productivity during „dead time‟ mobile devices types/file formats
Improve productivity
Solution will
by removing learning
from office integrate with LMS
Improve risk Develop new,
Increase course Solution will
management by shorter training
completions integrate with BES
ensuring modules
completion of Enable staff to learn (customised for Solution will allow
modules in short bursts and in mobile devices) users to create
different ways modules

12. Supporting evidence
Measuring the benefits
•Measure hours of training performed away from the
Protect fee- desk
earning hours •Compare with hours of training performed during fee-
earner time
Facilitate learning •During the pilot, participants will be asked to provide
during „dead time‟ the location where they completed the modules
Improve •Focus on business services teams
productivity •Same as for fee-earners
Increase course •Compare completion levels with other similar courses
•Measure completion rates, abort rates and users
completions taking more than scheduled time

13. Mobile Learning Content
The greatest challenge of them all

14. Our pilot content
Our first mobile-friendly offer
• Five pre-existing podcasts
– After the Event [ATE] Insurance [11:12]
– Interim Injunction Undertakings [13:16]
– Quantum Meruit Claims [15:37]
– Striking Out, Defendants‟ Application for
Summary Judgement and Admissions [18:13]
– Wasted Costs and Solicitors‟ Disclosure
Responsibilities [16:59]
• One new exemplar module
– Keep Calm and Collect the Cash [3:30]

15. Original design briefing
E-learning in miniature…?
• Less than 10 minutes • Reflect context in
• Cover just one which training will be
discrete topic taken
• Contents breaks down • Include at least one
neatly into key points final question
• Easily communicated • May support other
by text current training
• As practical as • Discrete target
possible audience

16. Content is king
Well maybe The Petit Prince
• Device-specific issues
– Screen size and shape
– Learning app characteristics
– Device navigation controls
– Touch screen versus
keyboard/joystick
• Intrusion of navigation controls
into content space
• Legible font size

17. Content template
Lowest common denominator Eversheds
logo:
PowerPoint H 1.28cm x
slide title: 6.66cm;
Resize Horizontal
shape to fit 18cm,
text; Font Vertical
Size 24; 0.5cm
H 1.28cm x
W 16cm;
Horizontal Text box;
1cm, Resize
Vertical shape to fit
0.5cm text; Font
Size 28;
Scrolling Horizontal
zones: 1cm,
14.5cm Vertical
and 16cm 3cm

18. Content is king
Technology and environmental constraints
• Time to download versus time to study
– Graphics delayed download and pace
• Text and graphics alignment
– Text and graphic object conflicts
– Variable rendering on different devices
– Bold 9000 > Torch > NEW Bold 9900
• Maintaining learner focus
– Multiple distractions
– Learner lethargy

19. Content treatment
Keeping the learner engaged
• Content chunked
into components Question Problem
– Interactions
– Learning hooks
– Q&As that “teach” Answer Tip
– Practical tips and
checklists
– Avoiding “tutorials”

20. Content treatment
Getting to the point fast
• Rely on intuitive navigation
• Text narrative
– Brevity is key
– Master the art of content slashing
– Trim, trim and trim again
• Purpose of graphics
– Dropped fancy icons to free up content space
and reduce download times
• Questions
– Use more answers instead of tutorial screens

21. Content treatment
Example using Q&A
Answer choices Answer feedback redacted
redacted

22. Content breakdown
Getting to the point fast
Content Type Number of Screens Word Count
Title 1 6
Introduction 1 40
Question 5 99
Answer with “hook” 1 23
Answer with tutorial 4 218
Tutorial 3 134
Tip 2 85
Further information 1 41
Exit routine 2 31
TOTALS 20 677

23. Mobile content – so what is it?
Answering the killer question
• Less likely to be a “course”
– Content trimming takes its toll
– Courses are time-hungry
– Mobile time is prone to distractions
• More likely to be “snippets of learning”
– Current usage of apps and mobile web
– Short memory joggers
– Short quizzes to pre-qualify/verify compliance
– Other “point of need” referenceware

24. Technical Issues
Overcoming technology troubles

25. Technology issues
Those little gremlins
• App encryption delayed download times
– Removed encryption to rely on BES security
• Integral media player lacked user controls
– App redeveloped to use device‟s native player
• iTunes App Store upgrade policy
– Had to abort iPad trial
• Lack of robust processes for testing and
deploying apps

26. Tim‟s Top Tips
Kick-start your mobile learning project

27. Tim‟s top tips
Kick-start your mobile learning project
• Give some content to potential vendors to turn
into an exemplar module as part of the RFP
• Don‟t rush your design and development
– Evaluate prototypes across all device types
– Rework until it truly ticks all the boxes
• Challenge existing definitions of “content”
• Consider the largest feasible pilot audience size
• Don‟t ignore learner propensity to use mobiles
for non-call/e-mail related activity

28. Tim‟s top tips
The nature of a mobile learning pilot
User L&D/IT User L&D/IT

29. @timdrewitt
timdrewitt@eversheds.com
© EVERSHEDS LLP 2011. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership.