100 Seconds of Mobile Learning

1. 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning John Gibbs Instructional DesignerAtlanta, GA mLearnCon & mLearningDevcon San Jose, CA June 19, 2013

2. Presenter John Gibbs • Instructional Designer • President, ISPI Atlanta • M.S. Instructional Systems; M.A. Mass Comm. • Needs analysis & solution implementation for corporate, government and NGO clients 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 2 John Gibbs

3. Agenda • Mobile learning nuggets: An old or new approach? • What are learning nuggets? • Rationale for mobile nuggets • Sample learning nuggets • Dimensions of strategic nugget solutions • Needs • Delivery • Formats: Instructional and media • Overcoming de-contextualization of short segments • Delegating production to non-designers • Strategic use of learning nuggets 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 3 John Gibbs

4. Is Mobile Learning New? But Mom, we haven’t taken “Hunting 101” yet. This is it, kids. Keep moving if you want dinner. 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 4 John Gibbs

5. Is Quick Learning New? Envisioning the education of young Larry Page (pre-Google) Larry: Mom, how could I calculate the area of this apple pie? Mom: Pi * r2 Larry: What’s Pi? Mom: About 3.14159 Larry: Someday I’ll make it even quicker to find the answers. 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 5 John Gibbs

6. Defining the Boundaries of Learning Nuggets • Which of these should we call learning nuggets? • Free-standing extracts from an existing course • Contiguous sub-components of a course • Organizational policy statements • A 5-minute module • Any short learning object • Job aids • Documents • Links to ebook segments • Utilitarian definition: What’s useful to your situation? • Avoid diluting the concept by throwing in everything 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 6 John Gibbs

7. Rationale for Mobile Learning Nuggets: Givens Well established: • Mobile = Popular • Short = Good • Shorter = Better • Mobile = Short So: • Mobile nuggets = A natural 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 7 John Gibbs

8. Rationale for Mobile Learning Nuggets: Details • Fast pace of work and change • Shrinking attention span • Desire for brisk learning events • Ultra-rapid development by SMEs & customer units • Need to get information out before it’s obsolete • Workers are already using mobile devices, so why not insert your messages in this popular channel? • At last—after years of hype—reusable learning objects! 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 8 John Gibbs

9. Sample Learning Nuggets: New and Old 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 9 John Gibbs

10. Dimensions of Nugget Solutions 1. Need Drivers Organizational • Individual failures on performance objectives • Workgroup performance gaps • Process/policy/product updates Top-Down Required Tracked Personal/Group • Ad-hoc information/performance needs • Discretionary refreshers • Self evaluation post-training or periodic review Bottom-Up Discretionary 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 10 John Gibbs

11. Formative Evaluation to Identify Content Candidates • You can assume . . . • . . . that your analysis, design, development and implementation met every objective completely for every learner. Or you can assure . . . . . . that you plug the remaining holes using targeted nuggets for critical and confusing content, using formative evaluation to identify: High-impact (costly errors) High-frequency (even low-impact errors incur costs) 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 11 John Gibbs

12. Dimensions of Nugget Solutions 2. Delivery Systems Schemas Linear/Sequential Hierarchical Web shaped • Search by tag/text/ keyword/QR code • Competency/ objectives maps Push Email, SMS Tweets, Apps • Hosts • Native (local) apps • Web apps • Intranet/Extranet • LMS/LCMS • Knowledge management platform • Elect performance support system • Pull • Menus, Flowchart, Search 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 12 John Gibbs

13. Dimensions of Nugget Solutions 2. Delivery Systems: Access Schemas Linear Hierarchical • Topic 1 • Subtopic 1A • Subtopic 1B • Topic 2 • Subtopic 2A • Subtopic 2B • Topic 3 • Subtopic 3A • Subtopic 3B • Subtopic 3C Web-shaped Random Access • Step 1 • Step 2 • Step 3 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 13 John Gibbs

14. Dimensions of Nugget Solutions 3. Content Formats • Performance support • Job aids: static or interactive • Instruction • Games • Micro-assessments with feedback • Repurposed course extracts, SCOs • Elaborations on prior content • Summaries and reviews • Blended & multi-purpose • Demos • Videos/animations • Walk-throughs on use of job aids 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 14 John Gibbs

15. Content Candidates • Right-sized nuggets • In duration • Per form factor • Information sources • Extracted from existing courses, manuals, guides • Developed specifically for mobile • On-the-job support • Review, refresh, reinforce • Location-based • Infrequent/high-precision tasks 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 15 John Gibbs

16. Instructional Formats • Simple presentation • Navigable mind map • Quick scenario • Quiz, then teach • Summary job aids 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 16 John Gibbs

17. Overcoming the Risks of Ultra-Short Content • What do you risk losing? • Complexity • Linearity • Connections • Context • How can you compensate? • Collections • Hierarchical schemas • Links and references • Web-shaped schema • Linear:“Next” button consisting of deep link to next object • Combinations • Key Solution: • Quicklyset context 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 17 John Gibbs

18. Maintaining Context • How the mind processes new information • Starts with the “branch” to locate the information • Adds new information to that branch as an elaboration • How to achieve this in learning nuggets • Select nuggets from hierarchical or other logical arrangement • Expand context via layering; pop-ups, links • Quick segues from previous to next information • Question: • Would you teach a whole course through nuggets? 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 18 John Gibbs

19. The Art of the 5-Second Segue Object 1, Segue In: Once you’ve jacked up the car, remove the lug nuts from the wheel. • . . . . • . . . . Object 1, Segue Out:This sets you up to remove the wheel. Object 2, Segue In: With the lug nuts off, you’re ready to remove the flat tire. • . . . . • . . . . Object 2, Segue Out:With the flat tire off, you’re ready to install the wheel with a good tire. 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 19 John Gibbs

20. Delegating Production to Non-designers • Templates to the rescue • Provide broad guidelines • Provide annotated examples of finished nuggets • Provide a review of early efforts—gently • For video: • Forget about word-perfect rehearsals • Try multiple takes with broad direction 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 20 John Gibbs

21. Tips for Incorporating Nuggets Strategically • Keep a performance improvement mindset • Don’t assume your training fills every gap 100% • Reserve percentage of budget to fill remaining holes • Let nuggets do what they do best • Introduce, review, refresh, assess • Fill gaps: Determined through evaluation 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 21 John Gibbs

22. Continuing the Discussion • Where shall we continue this discussion? • Address follow-up questions to: John Gibbs johndavidgibbs4@gmail.com+1 678.778.7561 100 Seconds of Mobile Learning 22 John Gibbs