Mobile learning

Recent years have seen significant growth in the use of mobile devices. Most students now have a mobile phone and many have internet-enabled smart phones. Amongst staff and students the use of tablet computers is also increasing.

When teaching takes place mainly online, it's worth making as many of the materials and activities mobile-friendly, so students that would like a break from their computer screen can use their phones or tablets instead.

The university's TEL Strategy reflects the need to extend our mobile provision, listing amongst the goals:
"Enabling students and staff to get access wherever and whenever they wish on the devices and platforms of their choice to academic and organisational sources - the Mobile University."

Planning

Things to think about include:

• What activities or parts of your course are likely to be accessed on a mobile device?
• Will you make any changes to the content, tests or quizzes, or media formats to make them mobile-friendly?
• Will all of your students have or need a mobile device? How will any differences affect them?
• If mobile use will be important, will you need to test the content on a range of devices?

Further reading

• Defining mobile learning
• Mobile Learning in the United Kingdom: Higher Education (PDF, 2.2 MB) - report aimed at the mobile industry but with some useful statistics and case studies
• Mobile learning Infokit - from Jisc, detailed introduction and overview of the issues covering strategy, pedagogy, and implementation
• Mobile technologies and the law overview - a broad introduction to the legal issues from Jisc Legal
• Universal instructional design principles for mobile learning