CELDA 2006: Workshop

Exploiting Mobile and Wireless Technologies on Vocational Training

By Professor Demetrios Sampson
Department of Technology Education and Digital Systems, University of Piraeus, Greece, and
Advanced e-Services for the Knowledge Society Research Unit, Informatics and Telematics Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Greece

Overview

During the last years there is a growing interest in the use of mobile technologies and wireless infrastructures in education. As with any emerging paradigms, there are several attempts to define m-learning. M-learning could be defined as the ability of using handheld devices to access learning resources (Kinshuk, et. al., 2006) or as the use of mobile and handheld IT devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, laptops and tablet PCs, in teaching and learning (Wood, 2003). There exist three ways that learning can be considered mobile, that is, in terms of space; in different areas of life, and with respect of time (Vavoula and Sharples, 2002). Within this context, new working paradigms are emerging, such as the mobile knowledge worker, where the working activity takes place out of a physical office. Considering the fact that an average worker spends limited time in formal training programs, the need to support Vocational Training in a mobile setting is becoming a necessity.

In this workshop, we present the case of the SMILE project (http://smile.iti.gr), which addresses the needs of the emerging mobile training services to support a new working paradigm, the mobile knowledge worker. We will identify the main stakeholders in Vocational Training, we will investigate their needs within an m-training business case and we will present the appropriate tools and services to support each role in their m-training functions.

Length of Workshop: 1 hour

Objectives:

The goal of this tutorial is to present the concept of the m-learning, identify the main dimensions that affect m-learning and demonstrate the potential of m-training in European Vocational Education and Training Settings.

Intended Audience:

This workshop is open to all conference attendees and will be of interest to the following specific groups:

-Educational Practitioners that want to apply mTraining in their day-to-day educational practice

-eTraining Course Suppliers that want to extend their business activities to include mTraining business opportunities.

-eTraining Providers that want to extend their training services they provide taking advantage of m-learning

Workshop Structure:

The Workshop will be split into three main parts, as follows:

Part 1: Introduction to m-learning

This part will introduce participants to the concept of m-learning, presenting available definitions of m-learning and the limitations that should be considered when applying m-learning.

Part 2: The SMILE m-Training Business Case

During this part the business case of the SMILE Project will be presented, focusing on the real needs of the main stakeholders (that is, mTraining Content Suppliers, mTraining Course Suppliers and mTraining Services Providers) in the lifecycle of mTraining Courses development and delivery.

Part 3: The SMILE Services/Tools

In the last part of this tutorial, a demonstration of exemplary tools and services addressing stakeholders’ needs identified in previous part, will take place. This demonstration will include a full scenario presenting the use of the SMILE Services/Tools in the m-learning lifecycle, as well as exemplary mTraining Courses that have been created following the SMILE Business Case.

References:

- Kinshuk, Suhonen J., Sutinen E., and Goh T.Mobile Technologies in Support of Distance Learning. Asian Journal of Distance Education, vol. 1(1), (2003), pp. 60-68.

- Vavoula G. N. and Sharples M. KleOS: A Personal, Mobile, Knowledge and Learning Organisation System. In Milrad, M., Hoppe, H. U., and Kinshuk (Eds), In Proc. of the IEEE International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Technologies in Education WMTE2002, (2002), pp 152–156, Los Alimatos, USA.

- Wood K. Introduction to Mobile Learning (M Learning), (2003). Available online at: http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=65&catid=192&resid=5194&printable=1

Acknowledgements

The work presented in this paper is partially supported by European Community under the Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) Programme under the contract EL/05/B/F/PP-148216. The SMILE Consortium consists of: Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (Co-ordinator), University of Joensuu, INHOLLAND University for Professional Higher Education, Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Siemens Business Services Turkey and EST Education Centre.