Wireless Learning in Your Palm


Quinn's solution is to manage learning with standardized learning objects and systems that work together. (Learning objects are prototypes with certain characteristics that are cloned and used by software applications, as needed). These learning objects would save time in developing course content.

Quinn says several efforts are underway to define learning objects as a medium for content and system delivery. One of these is the Department of Defense's Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative. The Sharable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a set of standards that, when applied to course content, produces small, reusable learning objects that can be easily merged with other compliant elements to produce a repository of modular training materials.

The goal is to be able to run any compliant content on any compliant system. Quinn notes that there are ongoing efforts to improve the capabilities of standard web mechanisms (browsers)as well as mobile device connectivity and capability.

2. Device-independent delivery

Quinn states that the mLearning solution must work for a broad range of devices, not only for one set. At the same time, a broad range of devices precludes specific solutions. He says that this issue is already being solved through efforts to broaden the capabilities and flexibility of web browsers that separate the content from the format.

According to Quinn, "One example is eXtensible Markup Language, which holds the promise of allowing you to specify the content and how it appears on each different type of device. It will require some revisions to the content development process, and associated tools before we reach the full promise, though companies are working on this currently."

Quinn predicts "Soon there will be essentially no distinction between mLearning and elearning...the distinction between desktop and mobile will disappear. And that day is not far off, so this is a relatively short-lived distinction!"

Maybe. Quinn's mlearning vision requires technology that may not be available (or affordable) to individuals such as you and me any time soon:

  • seamless wireless networking
  • information appliances with the power of a present-day supercomputer
  • high resolution full-color screens to meet any size preference or that can be integrated into our visual field through special glasses
  • flexible input from pen to keyboard

    References:

    "mLearning: Mobile, Wireless, In-Your-Pocket Learning" by Clark Quinn, Ph.D. http://www.linezine.com/2.1/features/cqm...

    "Schools Get a Helping Handheld" by Katie Dean, Wired Magazine http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,4...

    "Learning Objects" an easy-to-read essay by Stephen Downes, Information Architect at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. http://www.atl.ualberta.ca/downes/naweb/...

    "What is SCORM?" Advanced Distributed Learning Network (ADLNet) http://www.adlnet.org/ (Click

    The copyright of the article Wireless Learning in Your Palm in Training & Development is owned by Audrey Choden. Permission to republish Wireless Learning in Your Palm in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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