The evidence for mobiles

[John Traxler]

Judging by recent activity at UNESCO, USAID, World Bank, World Economic Forum and GSMA, learning with mobiles in regions of development and disadvantage now has increased visibility and momentum. Understandably as we move from small communities of activists and researchers to organisational, institutional, corporate and ministerial environments where scale and sustainability are priorities, the questions change. They become, "what kind of evidence, activity, advocacy, experience, expertise must we take to governments, ministers and officials to convince them that learning with mobiles is a viable and effective option to deliver their responsibilities to educate their communities and increase their national economic capability?", and likewise, "what kind of evidence, activity, experience, expertise and advocacy must we use to bring the necessary corporate and commercial stakeholders together in order that they can develop a commercially sustainable ecosystem?

[Daniyar Sapargaliyev]

I think that the main driver that can inspire governments to introduce mobile learning on national level is the use of national interest, ideas that can unite society. It should be a “painful” issue. For example, in both countries the post-Soviet space in Russia and Kazakhstan the word "rebirth" is key issue.

For Russia, it is rebirth of religion.
After 74 years (1917-1991) of promoting Marxism as ideology, the past 20 years, Russian society tries to replace of Marxist ideas on religious visions (Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, and others). Ministry of Education is introducing religious education in schools, universities and colleges.
One of the first attempts of using mobile technologies for religious education was in 2004 (!) : “Russia launches the first Bible SMS-school” http://english.pravda.ru/history/12-01-2004/4558-phone-0/
Today the problem of religion has recently become one of the "hottest". For example, “…trio found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/17/pussy-riot-sentenced-prison-putin
Nevertheless “Religious education becomes compulsory in Russia” http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world article.php?yyyy=2012&mm=02&dd=09&nav_id=78711

May be we can introduce “basics of world religious cultures” and “basics of secular ethics” to Russian schools by using mobiles?

For Kazakhstan, it is rebirth of Kazakh language.
After 74 years of total forgetfulness of Kazakh language, last 20 years, Kazakhstan tries to rebirth Kazakh language. “…Since that Kazakh language considered in national level the last period the public also dealt in it. But anyway there are many unsolved problems.”
http://www.kazpatent.kz/index.php?uin=1237449566&id=1237449566&pg=1286349826
One of the unsolved problems is that many people in Kazakhstan (especially adults) do not speak Kazakh. There are many other problems – poor quality of textbooks on Kazakh language, not good level of Kazakh language teacher professional development and support.
One of the successful examples of National Web 2.0 project was the ‘WikiBilim Foundation’ that was presented in May 2011. This is a non-profit organisation that mission is to promote online educational content in Kazakh language and attract more editors and improve quality of the articles. WikiBilim Foundation was announced as Wikipedian of the Year for increasing the the number of editors from 4 to 232 and number of articles from 7000 to 78 000 (!). As a result of project “…The Prime Minister announced his support to Kazakh Wikipedia and in particular WikiBilim.” http://wikibilim.kz/view-content/21/About-us.html.

May be we can support and develop Kazakh language learning on mobiles?

[Daniyar Sapargaliyev]

In addition, according to Agnes Kukulska-Hulme (http://iite.unesco.org/pics/publications/en/files/3214679.pdf) "...key advantage of using mobile and wireless technologies in education is better opportunities to acquire skills at one’s own pace, with a degree of privacy that may be missing when using shared computer facilities or relying on equipment belonging to somebody else."

I think that degree of mobiles' privacy is appropriate for Religious and Sex education. Because these spheres not only are very personal, but also very important for different nations and societies.

[Rebecca Hogue]

Another area where the privacy of mlearning might be useful is the continuing education of practicing professionals (e.g doctors, university professors). In many societies the image of the professional is such the privacy in learning may be desirable, so the professional's image of the expert is not threatened within the community. In essence, mlearning gives them a safe space for learning.

Cheers
Rebecca

[Linda Levitt]

Absolutely! This gets me thinking about the benefits of convenience that mlearning can provide for busy professionals who need continuing education credits. Also, the possibilities for peer learning and developing community are enormous, if resources are available to create such contexts. I know it can be difficult and costly to earn the required continuing education credits (conference fees, travel expenses, hotel and airfare)--what if it was exciting and rewarding and cost-effective instead?! 

Best,

Linda

Rebecca

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[Ignatia/Inge de Waard]

hi Daniyar, you touch a lot of really good ideas, and you enlighten me with your information on the Kazakh language. Looking from afare, I can see the benefits of language learning through mobiles, to at least get people back into a comfortable space.
 
A nice example of a mobile literature awareness and practice was done with the m4lit, or Yoza project from South Africa and developed/researched by Steve Vosloo. They reached tens of thousands of youngsters, all reading books, and editing them ... improving their language skills. With mobiles, and especially with mbooks there is an opportunity to reach a wide variety of citizens and get them back into language, I think (slideshare here:
http://www.slideshare.net/uocunescochair/m4-lit-unescobarcelonaoct2010sprinkling .

On the other hand, you could also develop a project that calls out for people to provide their Kazakh language expertise... in translation, or getting them to speak (I am not sure, but from a Flemish point of view, the flemish were occupied for centuries by French speaking minority that insisted on speaking only french for important issues: in court, in administration, in government... as such after centuries it gave rise to a Flemish movement (this is a purely language movement). At the point where the movement started to grow, most of the people did talk Flemish, but the written language was not used that much (only by a few). I imagine that if people did not practice their language in writing for a long time, it will be easier to speak. As such it might be an idea to ask older people to call in language or sentences by phone... Make somekind of mobile contests where the most common language mistakes are part of a language contest. Or ask people to crowdsource for specific language, like cultural objects, or flora and fauna, things that are very much linked to local language.

Like the others and you, I also agree that mobile does allow for a more 'private' kind of space that can be used for specific learning, and I absolutely love your suggestions. It can also give rise to getting people involved for specific sensitive projects, where anonymity can be of interest.

On Sat, Sep 22, 2012 at 1:55 PM, Daniyar Sapargaliyev <dsapar...@gmail.com> wrote:

In addition, according to Agnes Kukulska-Hulme (http://iite.unesco.org/pics/publications/en/files/3214679.pdf) "...key advantage of using mobile and wireless technologies in education is better opportunities to acquire skills at one’s own pace, with a degree of privacy that may be missing when using shared computer facilities or relying on equipment belonging to somebody else."

I think that degree of mobiles' privacy is appropriate for Religious and Sex education. Because these spheres not only are very personal, but also very important for different nations and societies.

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[nilgün keskin]

Thanks diyana. İt was good information for me. We have a turkish language learning program based on e-learning as anadolu university. İ think it is a good case for learning. You should check "turkish cerrificate program" via google.

Best regard

Nilgun

22 Eylül 2012 Cumartesi tarihinde Ignatia/Inge de Waard adlı kullanıcı şöyle yazdı:

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[Daniyar Sapargaliyev]

Dear Rebecca Hogue, Linda Levitt, Inge de Waard and Nilgün Keskin!

Thank you so much for your comments! There are so many ideas and advices that I will use in the future.

But we should remember about our topic: “The evidence for mobiles”. In my opinion, the word “evidence” is very important for further development of mobile learning.

Because I think, we should demonstrate to each society and country the “evidence” of using mobiles in education.

I tried to find a constant (20 years) problem for each country (for Russia – religious education, for Kazakhstan – Kazakh language learning). These problems have status (or level) of national problems. How we can solve these? May be by using mobiles?

It does not matter, what kind of problems. I think is more important to find problem that will be interesting for many people in country (teachers, parents, politicians, journalists, bloggers and others)

These people can discuss about problem on national (global) level. They can use different recourses (TV, newspapers, Internet, meetings) for discussing.

As a result we will get popularization of “problem” (Kazakh language learning) and popularization of “solution” (using mobiles for Kazakh language problem).

It is time for “jumping” from pilot project stage to national project level. For example, in Kazakhstan WikiBilim project immediately became a national, without pilot testing stage, because its need was evidential!

Best regards,

Daniyar

[hambr...@gmail.com]

Dear Daniyar

Can you tell me more about the WikiBilim intervention. What was it used for exactly? I find it imteresting that it was used on a national level.

Kind regards
Helga

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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From: Daniyar Sapargaliyev <dsapar...@gmail.com>

Sender: mobimoo...@googlegroups.com

Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 02:31:04 -0700 (PDT)

To: <mobimoo...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: mobimoo...@googlegroups.com

Subject: [MobiMOOC global] Re: The evidence for mobiles

[Daniyar Sapargaliyev]

Dear Helga Hambrock!

Thank you so much for your message! 

"WikiBilim" Public Foundation - is a non profit organization.  "WikiBilim" means WikiKnowledge (in Kazakh).

Other additional information you can find on http://wikibilim.kz/view-content/21/About-us.html

Best regards,

Daniyar