Artybartfast

At this morning’s E-learning Practitioners’ Forum we heard from Geraldine Jones and Gabriele Edwards about their pilot project to embed e-learning and m-learning into an undergraduate unit (Exploring Effective Learning).

It was clear that this particular unit of study was an ideal choice for the pilot – it’s a unit that students take in their first semester, fresh from sixth-form college – with plenty of emphasis on reflection, self-awareness and other skills required to become an effective, independent learner.

The unit of study uses pre-seminar and post-seminar activities which are presented both on Moodle and by text message. Text messages are also sent to remind students of set tasks.

The question was raised as to whether directing students’ learning in this way might actually impede their development as independent learners. However first year undergraduate students are generally used to a closely-directed learning process, and I don’t see the harm in providing them with a structured and supportive learning environment in which they can build the skills and confidence to become independent learners. The question is; can we expect learners to become independent independently?! 

It will be interesting to see whether the m-learning activities affect student retention. There’s already evidence that the students feel more supported by (and connected with) the tutor, and that receiving tasks by text helps them to manage their studies. These are important factors in preventing struggling students from falling by the wayside.

Another interesting point raised was that the m-learning tasks had not made much of an impression on those student athletes who spent a considerable amount of time away from campus. It’ll be interesting to get specific student feedback on this. If the mobile learning tasks are dependent on the material on Moodle, restricted access to computers/internet at the training camps or competition venues could be the primary issue. Other reasons might be the increased cost of texting while abroad, or simply a priority shift (away from their studies) on the part of the competing student athlete.