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Wireless Learning in Your Palm

© Audrey Choden

Clark Quinn has a vision that he calls mobile or mLearning. If his vision comes true, learning will no longer be confined to the desktop or classroom.

As Director of Cognitive Systems at KnowledgePlanet, Quinn's vision involves using mobile computational devices or information appliances (IA), such as a Palm Pilot or a digital cell phone, to support learning and performance on the job. This pocket-sized computer would combine content, interactive practice activities and personalized feedback with a means of tracking performance, updating records and providing certification. It would be connected to a network (always on, no need to dial-up). You could input data with a pen, keyboard and/or speech.

In his article "Mobile, Wireless, In-Your-Pocket Learning" (LiNE Zine, Fall 2000), Quinn writes, "The vision is clear. mLearning is the intersection of mobile computing and elearning: accessible resources wherever you are, strong search capabilities, rich interaction, powerful support for effective learning, and performance-based assessment. elearning [is] independent of location in time or space. What is less clear is where we are now and how we will deliver on this vision."

Major Issues

Hand-held computers are becoming more common. The quality and capability are increasing as costs continue to drop. However, Quinn believes mLearning faces two major technological issues:

1. Managing learning through intermittent connection

Today's devices are limited by dial-up access to a network, small screens, slow processing and limited storage capabilities. To function as an effective learning device, the application must be able to link to a Learning Management System on the same platform. Learners need to access all materials and exchange information that is independent of system preferences. If the Web connection is broken, any information will be lost until connectivity is restored.

According to Quinn, using alternative platform-specific solutions such as plug-ins or applets won't solve the problem. He says that plug-ins or applets have had trouble working seamlessly across different versions of browsers and platforms. They also require that systems are configured to a unique standard, which he says adds to system maintenance headaches.

Standalone learning applications aren't the answer either. They currently use proprietary mechanisms and limit flexibility. Quinn says it's difficult to find a standalone solution that provides sufficient breadth of content.

One platform-specific solution that delivers content through a Palm device and includes learning content is Avantgo. However, it doesn't have a Learning Management System. Quinn states that other devices have or will soon have proprietary solutions for general purpose PCs, though they will be dependent upon a particular platform or content vendor.

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