More than just mobility (eLA 2007)
 In the future, information seeking and context-bound content creation will be an important component of learning, and mobile learning can add extra value to the process. Nokia wants this development to thrive, says Dr. Adel Besrour, Nokia Siemens Network, Tunisia. With regard to Africa, the company has already produced multiple mobile learning courses for various purposes like reselling. In addition to mobile devices, this content gives extra value for informal learning, ad hoc learning, and problem-based learning.
Nokia is gold sponsor of eLearning Africa 2007.
By Nina Wittrock
Modern mobile phones provide many starting points for eLearning: With their basic functionalities, including Internet connection, SMS/MMS push, pull, and timing functions, they provide many tools appropriate for learning purposes. The communication happens in many-to-many format, and learners can be ‘content creators’ and share their knowledge with others. Furthermore, the main feature of the phone itself - audio transmission - can be harnessed for effective learning purposes. For example, sales personnel can easily share their selling arguments, related product info, and other comments to others via audio info nuggets. To make use of these opportunities, Nokia has piloted an audio-based knowledge-sharing concept together with Prof. Pierre Dillenbourg of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. Nokia is also a partner in the MobilEd project, which is an audio Wikipedia-type of concept for formal and informal learning (MobilEd is a collaborative effort of Meraka and CSIR South Africa and the Helsinki University of Industrial Arts).
Other promising fields for application possibilities are schooling and healthcare: In rural areas, for example, mobility can improve healthcare by making it easier for people to access professional help. Better communication can also facilitate more effective co-ordination between healthcare professionals working in the field, often in remote areas, who would otherwise have to work in veritable professional isolation. Specific health initiatives are also possible, such as using text messages to deliver test results or reminders about taking medication.
The benefits to education include the mobile delivery of multimedia materials to classrooms, as well as support for informal learning and knowledge sharing. Innovative training programs enable rural communities to develop the local capabilities they need in order to thrive.
While all these benefits are already being felt in many parts of the world, others have been excluded from the process because it has not previously been possible to offer them mobile access in a cost-effective way. The affordable access opportunities provided by Nokia Siemens Network’s Village Connection are set to change that.
LINKS
About Nokia see  www.nokia.com
About Nokia Siemens Networks see www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
 Newsportal: Mobile Learning
|
eLA Newsletter
