Stockport College

Year 1: Learning on the Go (LoG) 2007/2008

Learning on the Go (LoG) was a collaborative project involving Stockport and Trafford Colleges and MIMAS at the University of Manchester that took place in MoLeNET phase 1.

The project was primarily concerned with observing the effects of mobile learning on vocational and work-based learning (WBL) students aged 16–19 and 19+. The mobile technology used included personal digital assistants (PDAs), mini laptops and smartphones plus a variety of supporting technologies, eg iPods, iphones, video and still digital cameras, particularly for collection of evidence for portfolio work.

The project found that the use of mobile technology for vocational hairdressing students, and those who receive additional learning support, has the potential to transform the learning experience of students. However, the effectiveness of the technology relies on several elements, not least a paradigm shift in pedagogic practices and a realistic timescale to embed new approaches, practices and learning objects.

College and Project Background

Learning on the Go was a large-scale project, involving 480 students in North West England. The project was primarily concerned with observing the effects of mobile learning on vocational and WBL students aged 16–19 and 19+. The term mobile learning (m-learning) in the project context, referred to the use of relevant learning materials adapted into mobile format and accessible to learners via portable mobile devices for use inside and outside the classroom.

The project was the result of collaboration between Stockport College, Trafford College and MIMAS (at the University of Manchester). The partnership combined a mix of experience and expertise. Stockport and Trafford Colleges are two of the largest vocational colleges in the area and have established track records for delivering high-quality, full- and part-time vocational and work-based learning. MIMAS is at the forefront of the application of modern technology in learning and has undertaken considerable development work in mobile learning specifically.

The learners from the colleges who took part in the project came largely from urban Greater Manchester areas, were on full-time and part-time vocational and WBL programmes in the Colleges and at Level 2 or Level 3. In addition, most of the participating learners (320) were in vocational areas that traditionally have not used information and learning technology (ILT) to a great extent in teaching and learning. The rest of the learners (160) came from a variety of vocational courses and were identified as having additional learning support requirements. The m-learning materials used with this cohort involved Skills for Life software from Tribal, which enabled them to interact with games and quizzes using their handheld devices.

Hairdressing was the vocational and WBL area used in the two colleges, with mobile learning hairdressing materials provided by MIMAS and mobile learning technology (Web ’n’ Walk and handheld devices provided by T-Mobile) in order to achieve the overall programme aims. The initial concept was to adapt existing and established e-learning materials developed by MIMAS into m-learning materials accessible through portable handheld devices such as smartphones and ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs). The devices were then provided to all participants and were configured to feature easy access to m-learning materials.

Project aims

To roll-out mobile learning in vocational and work-based learning (hairdressing) in Stockport and Trafford Colleges to 455 learners
To provide additional learning support in mobile-learning materials format to 155 learners across a range of vocational areas identified as requiring ALS at the enrolment
5% increase in achievement and 5% increase in retention rates in the curriculum areas taking part in LoG project (over whole academic year)
To test the efficiency in m-learning and learner engagement of three types of handheld devices – PDFs, smartphones and UMPC tablets.
To increase learner and tutor handheld technical competency
To improve learners’ overall confidence in their own ability
To help overcome some barriers to learning, such as additional learning needs, through mobile learning technology
To attract non-traditional learners, in the future, to the above curriculum areas through the use of mobile learning methods within the curriculum
To evaluate the project and use the findings in order to roll-out mobile learning across the vocational and work-based learning in the two colleges.

Key objectives

To fully adapt hairdressing training e-learning materials into m-learning. At present 80% of the materials have been adapted and the rest will be completed by December 2007
To source and use suitable ALS materials for use in the m-learning format and allocate the handheld devices with these materials to the learners identified as requiring additional learning support (Trafford)
Use MIMAS mobile learning expertise and train Trafford and Stockport Colleges’ IT support staff to support LoG learners. MIMAS to organise comprehensive support and troubleshooting training sessions for the appropriate staff. MIMAS staff to be available in technical and support advisory roles throughout the project
Train all relevant teaching staff on all the delivery elements of the LoG project. This will include involving mobile-learning LoG materials in the lesson plans and encouraging the learners to engage with LoG materials outside the classroom and/or work placement. Training will be provided by MIMAS, m-champions and IT support
Train all the end-users (learners) involved in LoG project on use of the handheld device and how to engage with materials and tasks. The initial training will be provided by the IT support staff but also potentially the contract supplier (T-Mobile). The training and support will then be ongoing and provided by the IT staff if required
Develop a comprehensive data capturing reporting system, which will involve ‘bottom-up’ reporting strategy
Provide ‘easy-to-engage-with’ m-learning tools for the learners.

Benefits for participants

Benefits for learners

Even though the active part of the project was shorter then anticipated, the learners have benefited from taking part in the project.

First, they have been introduced to the new concept of mobile learning and the potential for individualising and accessing learning outside the classroom.
WBL students and their employers reported particularly positive feedback; the students reacted positively to the convenience of being able to access useful learning materials while at work and the employers praised the relevance of the learning materials (hairdressing training) to the work carried out by the students.
The students also benefited from the creation of Moodle for Mobile, intended to facilitate not only tutor–student interaction but also the exchange of ideas that results in learning, between the students themselves. The short duration of the active part of the project meant that this tool was not used to its full potential but Moodle for Mobile is set to receive a lot of attention and promotion of use in the next academic year.
Finally, according to access statistics for mobile version of hairdressing training, use by Stockport College students has increased from five times for January 2008 (pre project) to 1153 times in March 2008 (during project).

Benefits for staff

All staff involved in the LoG project felt that they benefited from the learning experience. M-learning in general and the objectives of LoG project in particular were innovative and largely unfamiliar to many staff before the project started. The most notable benefits to staff included:

the project team and the steering group, through dealing with many technical challenges during the course of the project, now feel confident in implementing and managing m-learning projects and initiatives in the future
sharing best practice through partnership work, in particular with the University of Manchester
Introducing the curriculum staff (tutors) to the potential of m-learning and giving them the necessary basic skills to continue using m-learning in their teaching practice.

Benefits for the lead college

As a result of taking part in MoLeNET initiative, Stockport College now has a fully developed idea on how to roll-out m-learning to wider cohorts of students. The direct involvement of the senior management ensures that the strategic benefits of offering m-learning as part of provision have been noted.

Benefits for partners

Working in partnership with MIMAS at the University of Manchester and Trafford College, meant that the best practice and the existing expertise have been shared between the partners.

In addition, it allowed the colleges to compare the impact m-learning had at the two sites.

Stockport College noted:

Learning on the Go gives learners more options of accessibility of when and where to learn.
Learning on the Go mobile devices make good use of image capture and sharing eg in blogs.
Content for mobile devices needs to be less dense and textual than material designed for desktop and laptop computer use. Evidenced by design of content for ‘Moodle for mobiles’.
Planning and preparation are needed to embed the use and advantage of Learning on the Go into learning and teaching programmes. This will need dedicated time.
Staff need more training and confidence building in using the technology than younger learners.
There is a lengthy lead-time between training completion and the actual application to learning and technology.
The potential of Learning on the Go technology will change the use of physical learning space.