1. Delivering IMS Learning Design Activities via Mobile Devices This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/1.0 or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA. Demetrios Sampson (sampson@iti.gr) Kerstin Götze (goetze@lmr.khm.de) Panayiotis Zervas (pzervas@iti.gr) Pythagoras Karampiperis (pythk@iti.gr)

2. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 2/18 Outline Introduction to m-LearningIntroduction to m-Learning –Some Definitions –Dimensions of m-Learning –Limitations imposed by mobile/wireless technologies The SMILE m-Learning EnvironmentThe SMILE m-Learning Environment –The SMILE Project –Target Groups in SMILE –Needs of Target Groups in SMILE The SMILE PDA Learning Design PlayerThe SMILE PDA Learning Design Player –Desired Characteristics of Mobile Delivery Tools –Characteristics of existing IMS Learning Design Players –Characteristics of SMILE PDA Learning Design Player –Short Live Demo of SMILE PDA Learning Design Player

3. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 3/18 Definitions of m-Learning “m-learning (mobile learning) is defined as the ability of using handheld devices to access learning resources” [1]“m-learning (mobile learning) is defined as the ability of using handheld devices to access learning resources” [1] “Three ways of learning can be considered mobile. Learning is mobile in terms of space; it is mobile in different areas of life; it is mobile with respect of time” [2]“Three ways of learning can be considered mobile. Learning is mobile in terms of space; it is mobile in different areas of life; it is mobile with respect of time” [2] “m-learning refers to the use of mobile and handheld IT devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, laptops and tablet PCs, in teaching and learning” [3]“m-learning refers to the use of mobile and handheld IT devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, laptops and tablet PCs, in teaching and learning” [3] Kinshuk, Suhonen J., Sutinen E. and Goh T. (2003). "Mobile Technologies in Support of Distance Learning". Asian Journal of Distance Education, 1 (1), 60- 68 (ISSN 1347 9008) [1] Kinshuk, Suhonen J., Sutinen E. and Goh T. (2003). "Mobile Technologies in Support of Distance Learning". Asian Journal of Distance Education, 1 (1), 60- 68 (ISSN 1347 9008) Vavoula G. N. and Sharples M. (2002). “KleOS: A Personal, Mobile, Knowledge and Learning Organisation System”. In Milrad M., Hoppe HU and Kinshuk (Eds), In Proc. of the IEEE International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Technologies in Education WMTE 2002, pp 152 – 156, Los Alimatos, USA [2] Vavoula G. N. and Sharples M. (2002). “KleOS: A Personal, Mobile, Knowledge and Learning Organisation System”. In Milrad M., Hoppe HU and Kinshuk (Eds), In Proc. of the IEEE International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Technologies in Education WMTE 2002, pp 152 – 156, Los Alimatos, USA Wood K. (2003). Introduction to Mobile Learning (M Learning) Available at: http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=65&catid=192&resid=5194&printabl e=1 [3] Wood K. (2003). Introduction to Mobile Learning (M Learning) Available at: http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=65&catid=192&resid=5194&printabl e=1

4. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 4/18 Dimensions of m-Learning Devices Connectivity Pedagogy (Scenarios & Activities) Content mLearning

5. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 5/18 Technological Limitations Device limitationsDevice limitations –Small screens limit the amount and type of information that can be displayed (mobiles and PDAs) –Limited storage capacities (especially mobiles and PDAs) Connectivity limitationsConnectivity limitations –Bandwidth may degrade with a larger number of users when using wireless networks Design considerationsDesign considerations –Lack of common platform specifications (eg. Different sized screens - horizontal screens with some handheld computers, small square screens with mobile phones), difficult to develop content that will work anywhere

6. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 6/18 Some Thoughts about m-Learning… During the last years m-learning has attracted the attention of technology- enhanced learning community mainly as a side effect of the growth of the mobile communications industry While the educational added-value of m- learning is under investigation, technological efforts are much needed to align m-learning technologies with the current state-of-the-art in TeL.

7. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 7/18 The SMILE Project SMILE – Supporting Vocational Education and Training through Mobile Learning Environments Funded by the European Commission through the Leonardo de Vinci Programme Aims to address the urgent need for building a new generation of vocational training services for the provision of on-demand lifelong learning competence and skills development, not subject to time and place restrictions (http://smile.iti.gr)

8. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 8/18 Target Groups in SMILE mTraining Content Suppliers: the entity responsible for designing and developing independent mTraining Resources in the form of "Learning Objects", suitable for mobile delivery mTraining Activities Suppliers: the entity responsible for designing mTraining Activities/Courses as a synthesis of a number of appropriately selected mTraining Resources based on a predefined scenario that reflects the training approach of this particular course. mTraining Services Providers: the entity responsible for designing mTraining Programmes as a synthesis of mTraining Courses and delivering mTraining services to end users

9. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 9/18 The SMILE m-Learning Environment

10. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 10/18 Needs of Target Groups in SMILE mTraining Content Suppliers: need to convert their existing eTraining Resources (or create new resources) so as to be suitable for mobile and wireless delivery mTraining Activities Suppliers: need to define training scenarios populated with appropriately selected mTraining Resources in order to develop their mTraining Activities/Courses mTraining Services Providers: need to have access to mTraining courses in order to provide mTraining services (course delivery and support) to their end users

11. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 11/18 What is needed in the SMILE m- Learning Environment? Tools to empower the different target groups in their various capacities To adopt and possible enhance widely spread international TeL specifications (such as IMS Learning Design), so as to be able to include m-learning in large scale TeL business cases.

12. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 12/18 Why Adopting IMS Learning Design? Our m-learning activities will not be isolated form the rest of our e-learning activities and servicesOur m-learning activities will not be isolated form the rest of our e-learning activities and services Different m-learning service providers can deploy and re-use m-learning activities from common pools (like repositories of IMS LD learning activities)Different m-learning service providers can deploy and re-use m-learning activities from common pools (like repositories of IMS LD learning activities) M-Learning activities can be inter-exchanged between different m-training settingsM-Learning activities can be inter-exchanged between different m-training settings Appropriate software can be developed to run these m-learning activities via different devices.Appropriate software can be developed to run these m-learning activities via different devices.

13. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 13/18 Desired Characteristics of Mobile Delivery Tools Limited Internet Connectivity need during the execution of mobile activities.Limited Internet Connectivity need during the execution of mobile activities. Lightweight, so as to be able to be installed at mobile devices such as PDAs or Smartphones, with limited storage capacity.Lightweight, so as to be able to be installed at mobile devices such as PDAs or Smartphones, with limited storage capacity. Render the educational content to the display of the mobile device in use.Render the educational content to the display of the mobile device in use.

14. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 14/18 Existing IMS Learning Design Players Coopercore (http://coppercore.sourceforge.net/)Coopercore (http://coppercore.sourceforge.net/) Reload Player (http://www.reload.ac.uk/)Reload Player (http://www.reload.ac.uk/) SLED (http://sled.open.ac.uk/web/tech/index.jsp)SLED (http://sled.open.ac.uk/web/tech/index.jsp)

15. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 15/18 Characteristics of Existing IMS Learning Design Players Server side players, which means that the user needs to be connected to the internet during the entire execution timeServer side players, which means that the user needs to be connected to the internet during the entire execution time If they are running locally to the user’s device, they need to load a Web Server, which implies the need for high computational power, extra memory and storage capacity from the mobile device in use.If they are running locally to the user’s device, they need to load a Web Server, which implies the need for high computational power, extra memory and storage capacity from the mobile device in use. They have not been specially designed for delivery through mobile devices. The educational content can not be automatically adjusted (rendered) to the size of the display of the deviceThey have not been specially designed for delivery through mobile devices. The educational content can not be automatically adjusted (rendered) to the size of the display of the device

16. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 16/18 Characteristics of SMILE PDA Learning Design Player It is a client-side IMS Learning Design Player. This means that, it does not require the constant connection to the internet when executing learning activities, since both the player and the educational content used are stored locally.It is a client-side IMS Learning Design Player. This means that, it does not require the constant connection to the internet when executing learning activities, since both the player and the educational content used are stored locally. The size of the SMILE PDA Learning Design Player is very small (less than 1 MB), and no third party software components are needed in order to execute learning activities through mobile devices.The size of the SMILE PDA Learning Design Player is very small (less than 1 MB), and no third party software components are needed in order to execute learning activities through mobile devices. Renders HTML-based content and flash files. The content can be scaled up or scaled down according to the size of the device display.Renders HTML-based content and flash files. The content can be scaled up or scaled down according to the size of the device display. Supports the enrolment of multiple roles/actors, such as individual learners, groups of learners, tutors, etc.Supports the enrolment of multiple roles/actors, such as individual learners, groups of learners, tutors, etc. Supports asynchronous messaging between different actors/users.Supports asynchronous messaging between different actors/users.

17. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 17/18 Short Live Demo of SMILE PDA Learning Design Player 1.Open an m-Training Course 2.Select the indented role for participating to the m-Training Course 3.Navigate through the m-Learning Activities Structure 4.Execute Activities and Complete the Course

18. TenC Workshop, Manchester, January, 2007 18/18 Contact Details Demetrios Sampson (sampson@iti.gr) Advanced e-Services for the Knowledge Society Research Unit (ASK) Informatics and Telematics Institute (ITI) Center for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) (http://www.ask4research.info)