Mobile learning (mLearning) is an evolving field that introduces exciting capabilities and challenging complexities into the learning-design process with limited guidelines to steer mLearning designers. The promise of true anytime, anyplace learning compels decision makers to make learning content available on mobile platforms immediately. However, without the appropriate research to rethink and redesign learning methodologies targeted for mobile platforms, many training practitioners are simply shrinking the screen size of learning content for mobile devices. Such conversions do not actualize the full potential of the mobile platform and may result in learners’ rejecting the content.
The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) MoTIF project focuses on a practical understanding and applicability to real-world design projects for mLearning. At present, the early stage of the ADL research is examining the issue at the macro level of general learning theory and a mLearning framework. The available research provides “how-to� guidance that instructional systems designers (ISD) can use to develop their own instructional strategy approaches to mLearning, but the budgets and schedules of most mLearning development projects usually constrain ISDs from completely following the how-to guides through analysis, design, and development of instructional strategies that consider how users interact with mobile devices and take advantage of technology available in those devices. Improving fielded mLearning requires the application of the existing research on effective mLearning models to create a library of reusable mobile instructional strategy templates.
This paper proposes how the ADL macro research findings can be coalesced into a library of useable instructional strategies or instructional interactivities that can be used by mLearning developers to create effective learning modules. Strategies will be coded as reusable templates and incorporated into the Army Enterprise Content Development Capability authoring framework for rapid prototyping and distribution to the Army user community.
Mobile Instructional Strategy Templates for Guided Mobile Content Development
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