M-Learning Libraries in Distance Education: A Proposed Model for IGNOU Seema Chandhok Parveen Babbar

Mobile Revolution in India India 2nd largest mobile market in the world. Market of 500 million subscribers by the year 2010 . Currently has 320 million potential mobile subscribers. Average growth rate of 10 million new subscribers increasing per month.

M-Learning in Distance Education Transition from ‘print’ to ‘e-learning’ to ‘M-learning’. M-learning is an apparent extension of electronic learning, having a potential to make learning more widely accessible to distance learners than in the existing distance learning environment.

Mobile Web for Distance Learners Information access, wherever and whenever Limitless Access Mobile Data Potentials Interactive capabilities Location-Aware

Mobile Education in IGNOU: Initiatives in Pipeline Provision of educational content to students via text, audio and video on mobile phones. Provision for appearing for exams on a mobile. IGNOU channels-Gyan Darshan I and II round the clock all through the year carried by the TBSPL cable network service. Plans to offer capsule courses on dance, music, art, public health and other subjects though mobile phones IGNOU ONLINE, the gateway to the IGNOU online programmes, will also be available through handsets.

Mobile SMS Service of IGNOU Two Way SMS service for having information for downloading the requested data, by the user of mobile phone. SMS based information system to students helps in giving them information ranging from their enrollment status to results, and further assist the student and the institution to interact through SMS and reply to their queries. The university also plans to declare results of its term end and entrance examinations through SMS

m-Initiatives @ Library & Documentation Services Initiatives through Consortium of Open and Distance Learning Institutions called National Open and Distance Learners’ Library & Information Network (NODLINET). Access to NetLibary has been provided to Regional Centres of IGNOU all around the country through mobile phones.

Proposed Model for m-learning Library Services at IGNOU

A: Mobile Users for proposed model Faculty conducting research or teaching activities at University Headquarters and Regional Centers Research and Teaching Assistants of IGNOU Academic Councillors at Study Centers Student Support and other staff of IGNOU Students who study at a distance education mode in IGNOU Students whose courses include online and on-campus components Learners in the research field pursuing doctorates Learners using mobile devices for learning activities outside of the study centres classroom, e.g., class assignments and group projects

B. M-services Requirements of Distance Learners of IGNOU Type of m-Library Services Required Response Rate Enrollment Status 82% Status of Entrance/ Term End Examinations 82% Assignment Evaluation Status 85% Alert Services about the New Programmes/ Services Launched 88% Examination Schedule 85% Library Alert Services about new arrivals 42% SMS Reference Service 30% Reference/ Enquiry Services 60% Mobile Blog Posts 25% Library Circulation Services 30%

Access to IGNOU Course Materials 55% Access to Assignments 70% Project Reports 60% Thesis and Research Papers 20% Previous Year Question Papers 90% Webcasting of IGNOU Channels 20% Library WEB-OPAC 60% e-books/e-journals from Library 45% Digitized Collection of Special Library Materials 55%

C: Mobile Services for proposed model Mobile Library Databases M-Repository Publishers Databases Links to Free Open Sources Mobile Instructions Reference/Enquiry Presentation and Visibility RSS Alerts Moblogging SMS notification services Mobile Library Circulation Video Conferencing

SMS notification services SMS alert service about new arrivals SMS reference services for Distance Learners SMS if requested document is available (collect messages) SMS reminder if a book/document is due Requesting a list of loans via SMS Renewing documents via SMS Requesting an overview of outstanding fines via SMS Checking the availability of resources via SMS Requesting the opening hours of the library via SMS

Web layout of M-Library Website Keep it Simple Test on various Platforms Keep Customization on the Desktop Incorporate Search Remember Usability Clean up Images More Mobile suitable Content

Some Examples American University Libraries available at http://www.library.american.edu/mobile/ Boston University Medical Center Mobile Library available at http://med-libwww.bu.edu/mobile/index.cfm University of Illinois Library available at http://hades.grainger.uiuc.edu/nikki/Mobile/Version1/index.htm New York University Libraries available at http://library.nyu.edu:8000/mobile/ University of Virgina Library available at http://mobile.virginia.edu/library.php

American University Libraries http://www.library.american.edu/mobile/

University of Virginia Library http://mobile.virginia.edu/library.php

IGNOU Library Homepage @ M-Library

THANK YOU