Molenet - Portland College

Year 3 Micro Project- MOBIE (Mobiles for Employability) 2009/2010

The MOBIE project aims to investigate the use of ubiquitous and specialised mobile technology to increase the employability of young adults with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities. In particular MOBIE aims to support learners with acquired and traumatic brain injuries and memory difficulties. The MOBIE project also aims to equip project participants (staff and learners) with the skills and confidence to use mobile devices (including PDAs, mobile phones, paging systems and Portable Media Players) within their daily teaching/learning and work collaboratively to produce employability-themed learning objects for use on a range of handheld devices.

Aims:

The MOBIE project aims to build on a successful, small m-learning pilot carried out in Spring/Summer 2009 and increase the employability of young adults with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties via the use of mobile devices. MOBIE also aims to empower all project participants by supporting them in generating learning objects associated with employability and other related skills. The intended collaboration with The Rix Centre will also ensure that participants are trained, supported and inspired in learning how to best use mobile devices to produce multimedia resources ranging from learning objects through to electronic reflective journals and e-portfolio systems.

Objectives:

Objective 1: To increase the employability of learners with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties (particularly those with acquired or traumatic brain injuries) via the introduction of new mobile technologies and/or the increased (and more project-target-specific) use of existing mobile devices.

MOBIE participants will use mobile devices (phones, Portable Media Players (PMPs), cameras, digital photo keyrings and specialised pager systems) to develop the underpinning skills of employability. This will include enabling learners with memory difficulties to remember appointments and sequences. Devices will also be used to support travel training and to provide task-related reminders for those on work experience.

Objective 2: To upskill all project participants with regard to their confidence and competence in using ubiquitous (and, in some cases, specialised) mobile devices.

All MOBIE participants will be fully-trained in the use of a range of mobile devices including mobile phones, PMPs, video cameras and specialised pager systems (designed for those with brain injuries). Where possible, participants' own equipment will be used to ensure sustained use post-project.

Objective 3: To inspire all project participants to create content for mobile devices, specifically in relation to the acquisition and retention of skills relating to employability and employment.

Working alongside multimedia and LDD specialists from both Portland College and The Rix Centre, all MOBIE participants will be encouraged to produce multimedia reminders, prompts and help guides relating to both generic and specific tasks concerning employment and employability. These learning objects will be made available for all appropriate platforms. Learners on the project will be involved in all stages of the development of these learning objects.

Objective 4: To encourage all project participants to use mobile technologies as a way of recording in-situ evaluation and reflection.

MOBIE participants will be encouraged to use either their own existing mobile devices or those provided by the project to record reflective diaries. This will be especially important for MOBIE participants with short term memory difficulties. The Rix Centre will act as mentor and support interactive mobile communication between learner and facilitator/employer.

Objective 5: To demonstrate the benefits of using underused applications on ubiquitous mobile devices amongst a target group for whom mobile device use is frequent yet limited in terms of its breadth.

MOBIE participants will be supported in using underused functions on their existing mobile devices. This is expected to include the use of calendars, video/stills camera and voice recorder. Bluetooth file transfers will also be introduced.

Objective 6: To incorporate media gathered via mobile devices into learners' electronic portfolio systems (In-Folio).

MOBIE participants will be given an In-Folio account and encouraged to regularly upload digital media to this eFolio system in order to collate evidence of activity and also examples of self-evaluation and reflection. (In-Folio is an accessible e-portfolio system developed by TechDis, The Rix Centre and several Independent Specialist Colleges including Portland.)

Objective 7: To empower learners.

The MOBIE project aims to promote learners as trainers when supporting staff in learning how to use mobile devices.

Contribution to Local and Regional priorities

The MOBIE project is in line with the College's strategic vision: "We aim to provide the best learning experience - developing independence and employability - for disabled people in the UK". This vision also encourages the college to "create outstanding resources". The College's ILT Strategy 2009-2010 also states that "The College needs to fully harness the potential of ILT to change the lives of people with physical disabilities". Also, "Some learners' ILT access is limited due to their disability and/or complex learning difficulties. The College is committed to developing and extending the use of customised adaptive or assistive technology devices...".