Noteworthy Mobilization Initiative

In addition to the presentations, webinars and workshops the ADL Mobile Learning Team conducts, we attempt to attend one or two outside webinars per week to better keep up with what others are doing with mobile learning. Earlier this month we attended an interesting Sloan-C Institute webinar entitled “Quality Standards for Using Mobile Apps for Teaching, Learning and Workforce Development PreK-20.”

Robbie K. Melton, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor, of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) shared their statewide mobilization initiative. Forty-seven campuses are represented in this pre-kindergarten to graduate level (including workforce development and lifelong learning) effort.

The first step in April 2010 was creating a strategic plan for incorporating mobile devices and apps for teaching based upon the Sloan-C Quality App Framework addressing:

• Learning Effectiveness
• Scale (Cost Effectiveness and Commitment)
• Access
• Faculty Satisfaction
• Student Satisfaction

They have created a vision, strategic plan and department-by-department goals for incorporating mobile to increase retention and graduation rates. They consider mobile to be a game changer for teaching and learning.

Initially a survey was conducted which determined that the majority of the faculty and staff had Apple devices whereas the students had Android devices. In examining current usage, no significant academic uses were identified, however their purpose is to help encourage the use of mobile for education.

Mobilization processes were established for:

1. Mobile Product Sample: obtain samples to top devices and apps for review by faculty, staff and students
2. Mobilization Examination:  conduct showcase, followed by examination, short pilots, surveys and training, all the time aligning with curriculum and student outcomes
3. Mobilization Demonstration: bring together vendor demonstrations and showcases for products of interest
4. Mobilization Outcome: secure system-wide pricing, purchasing options and validate alignment with program and student outcomes

Their target goals for Quality Mobilization & Apps Standards state:

• It complies with ADA Standards
• It can be accessed from all mobile devices (Apple, Androids, Netbooks, etc.)
• It is aligned with the curriculum
• It can be measured in terms of 
students’ outcomes
• It allows the instructor to monitor and track students’ progress
• It provides at least two (2) learning options (visual, audio, etc.)
• It meets instructional design best practices
• It adheres to Human Subject Review requirements
• It meets federal, state, and local mandates
• It respects the privacy of others
• It meets the PG rating standards
• It can be modified to meet the needs of student learning styles
• It can be used without the Internet

TBR seem to have prepared well in setting up this statewide program including providing faculty members with news updates and training; setting up central funding for procurement of apps; involving faculty, staff and students; and sharing with others.

For additional information, visit their public site at http://www.TBReLearning.org.  On the right side in the red box is the Education & Workforce Mobile Apps Resource Bank where over 70 program areas loaded with apps. (There will be additional updates on 30 August for the fall term.) There is also a LiveBinder for Tennessee P-20 Mobilization and Apps at http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=58780.