Mobile Learning Using Mobiles: Hype or Tripe?

Abstract

This paper summarises the findings obtained in two small-scale pilot mobile learning projects conducted at FernUniversität. Both projects focussed on how mobile phones can be harnessed to provide students with a meaningful mobile learning scenario. The subject matter of both projects is concerned with basic concepts of descriptive statistics. It is examined whether the rapid technological improvement of mobile phones over the last 4 years can convince educators as well as students to consider mobile phones as a valuable electronic tool for learning purposes. The impact of technology on didactical aims is analysed when reporting on why and how it was tried to set up a game-like, constructivist learning scenario utilising the mobile version of Sun’s Java framework. Based on results of internal and external evaluation of the first project, a client-based learning object called ‘istoBrick’¹ has now been created. It serves as a platform for self-studies, exercises and communication in combination with the formerly developed courseware. ‘HistoBrick’ aims to provide a ubiquitous tool for examining and deepening one’s knowledge about statistic distributions and their most important characteristic numbers. Results of a post test evaluation are presented and discussed.

financially supported by the EU under contract number 2003-IRL/03/B/F/PP-153111 and Ec-Us Project U8041 International Cooperation using Educational Technology