Last month’s newsletter presented ways that mobile learning could be used to increase revenue. It explored how mobile devices could be used to educate customers about product features and benefits and examined ways to offer better service and support once a customer purchased a product. In addition, last month’s issued presented ways that mLearning could help improve sales force effectiveness by providing better training and access to information when sales professionals need it most. Read more »
In designing and developing any mobile application there are a few “C”s you have to be conscious of and plan for: Connection, Capabilities, Content and wait for it… Context. What is context in terms of mobile application terminology? Simply put, it is the combination of time, setting and intent in which the device is being used. Let’s explore this a little more in this post. Read more »
What does an oil spill have to do with a cure for cancer? Or maybe a stalled engine with the mystery of a hummingbird? In a mobile learning environment, all of these topics can leverage the power of real-time collaboration between separated parties. Powerful learning occurs when student and teacher, colleague and co-worker, or expert and apprentice, look at the same problem or challenge together and work to solve it.
I was reminded of this today when I saw the live video stream of the BP oil spill in the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. Even at this moment, gallons of oil continuously belch into the water endangering the ecology of the region and the world. As the leader of the Green Team in my company and a co-habitant of this planet, I can’t help but watch the video and become concerned, frustrated, alarmed and saddened.
But I also realized how the power of mobile content delivery has provided new avenues of problem-solving and collaboration in so many walks of life including disasters like the oil spill. Because the video stream is readily available over the web, a scientist or geologist or oil technologist can view the problem from afar and offer their expertise immediately, bringing new insight and opportunity for resolve that may have never been brought to the table. Someone on the other side of the world could solve the oil spill without ever setting foot in the same hemisphere. Footage could be recorded and then downloaded to be viewed locally by interested and concerned parties. That same footage could be used in future learning situations so similar accidents never occur again.
A cure for cancer? Doctors, surgeons, researchers and specialists from all over the world could all look at and discuss the same charts and diagnostics of a specific case together in real time. The stalled engine? A rookie technician could get step-by-step instructions on how to revive the engine at the breakdown site through his mobile device. And what if a junior ornithologist could send a picture of a hummingbird to a nature ranger and then learn all about his finding? All of these are examples of mobile collaboration. As you build mobile learning applications, don’t forget the powerful learning aspects of collaboration in your design. Not sure how to do it or have any ideas you are happy with? Why not ask somebody? That’s collaboration.
If you have a good example of collaboration used in mobile learning, please send it to me (scottm@floatlearning.com) or write a comment below. And, while you are at it, help solve the oil spill. Please!
That’s what Bruce Springsteen yelled as he entered the stage last November 13 in yet another sold out show in a long tour for zealous fans. He continued to thank his audience from Ohio for the first 30 minutes or so until his guitarist, the flamboyant Miami Steve Van Zandt, whispered into the ear of the Boss that they were in… Auburn Hills, Michigan. Read more »
We are in the middle of one of the most severe economic recessions since the Great Depression, with unemployment higher than has been seen in decades and companies are looking to cut costs in every way possible. It begs the question: how can an investment in mobile learning make sense? In recessionary times training budgets are one of the first areas to be reduced or eliminated. Right now employees are more focused on being heads-down and productive and doing their jobs than taking training. In this environment, how does any learning professional go to management and present a compelling case to spend money and invest in new skills and new technologies? In today’s environment, many people would expect to get a stern reminder of budgetary restraints. Read more »
We at Float Mobile Learning are very excited about our high level of participation and the activities we have planned for The eLearning Guild’s premier mobile learning conference: mLearnCon. The conference is being held June 15-17 in San Diego and Float is going to be as ubiquitous as an iPhone in Silicon Valley as we will be speaking in concurrent sessions, serving on panels and holding a welcome reception. If you are going to mLearnCon, make sure you come and see us at any of our events. If you are not going, why aren’t you?
We are privileged to get the opportunity to speak on several occasions during the conference. Float’s Chad Udell will be sharing his expertise at two sessions, “Design Approaches for Adapting Content for mLearning,” and “Building mLearning with Your Existing Toolkit.” Chad is also serving on two of the conference’s “mLearning Future Zone” panels, “The Universal Remote: Rich Ways the World Can Talk to Our Devices” and “Accessibility: New Challenges, New Opportunities.” As you can see, Chad has a wide range of expertise, especially about the technical aspects of mobile learning, and the conference is taking advantage of it. Our other speaker is Scott McCormick and he will be sharing some practical advice in a session called “The First 10 Questions Your Company Needs to Ask Before You Adopt mLearning.” It is a session for those attendees who are considering or starting a mobile learning strategy. Technical expertise. Common sense advice. Float has it all.
On the first night of the conference everyone will be invited to the Float Mobile Learning Welcome Reception! We have a fun evening planned for anyone who stops by to take advantage of the networking and refreshments. We hope you will come and see us at the reception. We have a special demonstration planned that you will not want to miss!
We can also let you in on a little secret. If you are planning on going to mLearnCon, let us knock some dollars off of your registration fee. Just contact us for a promo code and $100 will be taken off compliments of Float Mobile Learning. See? It pays to know Float!
The conference is coming up really quick! Go to the mLearnCom website and register today. (Save $200 until May 1st!) Then, come to the Float Mobile Learning Welcome Reception and attend our speaking engagements during the conference. We want to see you and “talk shop” and hear how mobile learning is changing your world. Come and see us in San Diego!
At one time Apple wanted you to know just how good the web was on the iPhone with the early ads focused on the web browsing experience the device offered. This was before the app store. Recent ads have shifted focus, drawing attention to the diversity of applications available for the platform through the app store. These are the “There’s an app for that” ads. The mobile carriers AT&T and Verizon have been battling for months on the whole “There’s an app for that” vs. “There’s a map for that.” AT&T feels as though the device’s capabilities and wide variety of applications available on the app store are a huge selling point. Verizon feels it’s about service coverage. Float thinks that both of them are missing the point when it comes to true mobile ubiquity and utility. Read more »
In today’s crazy, busy world where there never seems to be enough time, multitasking is becoming more and more a way of life. Waiting for the bus? Pull out your phone and check some emails. At your kid’s baseball game? Read the news on Mobile CNN. Late for that sales meeting? Look over the details of your customer’s products while you drive to the meeting. Woah, on your phone? Wait just a minute! Read more »
You might want to grab your dictionary for this one.
Even though my life has been spent working at an independent communications agency, I actually graduated with a degree in English secondary education. I was going to be a high school English teacher back in 1980 when I graduated from Illinois State. But life threw some changes at me and how I ended up here is another story. The reason I bring it up is because my education gave me such an appreciation for words. I am always interested in the words authors and people I encounter use and why they use them. I even get a little chuckle when people use certain words incorrectly or inappropriately (including myself!) especially when they are using “ten dollar” words trying to impress others. These people are being pedantic, or have a “narrow, often tiresome focus on the refinement of speech.” There’s your first word of the day. Read more »
With the proliferation of mobile devices and the increasing capabilities of today’s smartphones, mobile learning, or mLearning, has been getting a lot of press. Given the similarity between the terms eLearning and mLearning, one might be tempted to assume that mLearning is little more than eLearning on a mobile device. This assumption could not be further from the truth. Read more »
Float guides industry-leading companies to understand and leverage the power of mobile learning. We help companies meet their business strategies by making useful information accessible, anytime, anywhere. We are mobile learning strategy specialists.
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Float Learning: The iPhone is only five years old. How many of you reached your peak at 5? Mobile is just getting started: http://t.co/Sauqerx1 #float2012 - posted on 05/17/2012
