1. Tony Tin, Colin Elliott and Doug Kariel Project supported by the Mobile Library: Connecting Mobile Learners to the Library in the Digital Age

2. Today’s Presentation 1. Introduction – Athabasca University 2. About Mobile Library 3. Special Features 4. Technology/Design 5. Challenges 6. Mobile ESL Project 7. Food for Thought

3. Athabasca University http://www.athabascau.ca.  Canada’s Open University  Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada  More than 32,000 students  Mandate: Remove barriers for students  Leader in M-learning and M-library Research

4. What is a mobile library?  The idea of a mobile library is to provide learners with access to the university library and to course resources using mobile devices

5. Why a mobile library at AU?  AU students study from a distance  Quick and efficient access to electronic resources and library services is essential  Students have even more options for fitting learning into their busy lives. It allows individualization & self-pace

6. Why a mobile library at AU?  They pick the time and the place to learn using mobile devices to access course resources and information  Supports those with special needs

7. Special Features  desktop3.avi desktop3.avi  Mobile friendly AU Library site: Supported device: PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ, Smart phonesAU Library site  The site includes mobile friendly: Digital Reading Room Digital Reference Centre Digital Thesis & Project Room Library catalogue Search engine  Model adopted by UK Open University

8. Special Features Special Features (ctd)  Auto-detect and reformat  Learning object reuse  Easy web maintain/update  Multimedia file support  Ipodcasting  Wireless library catalogue  Search  Mobile content conversion on the fly

9. M-library Design/Technology

10. AIRPAC  Enables users to access the AU library catalogue through their handheld mobile device as long as they have access to the Internet.

11. AIRPAC (ctd)  Activities available: Search catalogue Request books from the catalogue Place interlibrary loan requests View their library account Renew material

12. Future features for AIRPAC  Athabasca University Library will explore how to enable users to view book jackets, table of contents, and reviews of books through the wireless catalogue

13. Challenges for the M-library  Defining content for the M-library Define the amount and type of information  Design of the format Normal website vs. mobile version content and information text, images, graphics, tables, location  Separate the content from the format XML and XSL  Display models different display model and stylesheet

14. Challenges (ctd)  Lack of a standard  Handling of PDF documents  Handling of multimedia file types  Corporate restriction on private or education use

15. From Mobile Library to Mobile Content: Mobile ESL Project

16. Overview of Project  Develop and test innovative approaches to ESL learning using mobile devices and a variety of testing and practice methods  Based on best selling Penguin series  86 lessons and related interactive exercises  Repurposed for Canadian content  Downloadable in.doc or.pdf format

17. Student Feedback  Students indicated that the a good use of mobile technology for ESL would be whenever they have a few spare minutes  One concern expressed was the cost of Internet access  Reported positive experience with the ESL grammar course and the use of mobile technology in learning ESL grammar

18. Results  CBC News Coverage CBC News Coverage  Honorable Mention at the 2008 CNIE Conference for Innovative use of technologies to support E- learning

19. The Mobile Benefit “You decide where class is and when class start.”

20. Food for Thought  “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have these devices built into you and powered by your body” -Martin Cooper inventor of the cellphone

21. Further Information  Website: http://library.athabascau.ca/  Publications: Publications: http://library.athabascau.ca/drr/pub. php

22. Acknowledgement:  CLA Library Research and Development Grant