Mobile learning environment

My paper     http://vps.virtuaalikoulu.org/mmsmath/ has accepted to

IADIS International Conference
Mobile Learning 2009
Barcelona, Spain
26 - 28 February 2009

 ABSTRACT

This is a case study and constructive research. In Finnish Senior High School has been tested MMS-messages on the teaching of mathematics with GPL licensed MLE environment. About 65 % students which have used MLE want to use it again. Students don’t believe that learning results are as good as if we have used ordinary teaching methods. Small screen on phones is not so big problem in mobile learning. Students feel that it was slightly difficult to use MLE than Moodle, but it was little bit more interesting. Students don’t want to use mobile learning or Moodle if it doesn’t help them to learn. Mobile learning doesn’t have any self value to the students. It is also important to students, that mobile learning is easy to use. It was for men easier to follow theory and examples in MMS-messages. Men were also more optimistic than women that they learned via MMS-lesson at least as well than via ordinary lesson and that mobile learning was good tool to learn new things. If we take away form statistics students with zero points in the end test, comparison group has mean 6.62 and mobile group has mean 5.76, so difference between learning results is not huge.

 

KEYWORDS

MMS, mathematics, mobile learning environment, SMS-games, correlations, anova

Lempäälä muncipal has started a new  project with The Finnish National Board of Education. In this project ( 2009-2010) free Mobile Moodle is compared to the commercial mobile Opit environment. More information in finnish http://vps.virtuaalikoulu.org/oppimisymparisto/ This project is part of the national learning environment development work, more information in finnish http://www.edu.fi/SubPage.asp?path=498,49890 

I was last weekend in IADIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
MOBILE LEARNING 2008 ALGARVE, PORTUGAL APRIL 11-13, 2008.The most interesting papers from my point of view were

-using Moodle offline with mobile devices
-learning through treasure hunting in education
-using mobile phones for exam preparation (SMS)
-students attitudes to the use of mobile technology in education
-mobile lecture interaction (SMS used, there was three papers about lecture interaction!!)
-http://www.mg-bl.com/
-low cost mobile platforms

Wau!

This is perfect!

 FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences

has published Open Source products

http://mle.sourceforge.net/

http://mobilemoodle.sourceforge.net/

More information

http://virtual-campus.fh-joanneum.at/elt07/pdf/lazaridis.pdf

 I am now thinking, how to use this with my own projects. This is very interesting!!!

Kannel SMS-gateway and Wap-gateway instructions are now updated

http://vps.virtuaalikoulu.org/mle/?page_id=16 

 Wap-gateway is needed by some older MMS-phones. New ones uses Proxy, which is Squid in this mobile learning server.   

I am intrested to develop (hopefully with the community of developers) to MLE

- more support to GPS

- ideas for Nokia N800 (mobile Moodle ?)

If You want

a) use this system in your mobile learning project

b) give some suggestions to make installing instructions better 

c) help develop code of MLE

please leave comment to this message or mail mika.setala”AT”pp.inet.fi (put @ to “AT”)

1. Instructions for building of the mobile learning server has been published today in this blog > Pages on the left.

2. Source code of the mobile learning environment (version 0.9.) published today with GPL - license, so you can freely use and modify it.

More information in this blog and in these articles

In Finnish:

”Oppimisen mobiili ulottuvuus yleissivistävässä koulutuksessa – Teknologinen näkökulma” joka on julkaistu ”Interaktiivinen tekniikka koulutuksessa 2005 –konferenssin tutkijatapaamisen artikkelit” – julkaisussa, joka on luettavissa osoitteesta http://tampub.uta.fi/tup/951-44-6515-6.pdf

“Oppimisen mobiili ulottuvuus yleissivistävässä koulutuksessa: teknologinen ja pedagoginen näkökulma” joka on julkaistu ”Interaktiivinen tekniikka koulutuksessa 2005 –konferenssin tutkijatapaamisen artikkelit” – julkaisussa, joka on luettavissa osoitteesta http://tampub.uta.fi/tup/951-44-6822-8.pdf

Tilastollisia laskelmia (ristiintaulukointi ja Khiin neliö-testi, varianssianalyysi, korrelaatioanalyysi, reliabiliteettianalyysi ja faktorianalyysi), esitelmä pidetty ITK-tutkijatapaamisessa 2007:

http://vps.virtuaalikoulu.org/mobiilitilasto/mobiili_tilasto_Setala.doc

 

In English: Mobile Learning - from Hardware to PedagogyProceedings of the Workshop on Human Centered Technology HCT06

Read:  http://amc.pori.tut.fi/hct06/hct06proceedings.pdf

ABSTRACT

Mobile learning server is a platform to ordinary schools on which is possible to start mobile learning experiments. It includes SMS, MMS and Moodle environments. It has been developed to low cost use and mobile clients will be pupils own mobile phones or smart phones. Main tools in server are open source softwares Kannel and Mbuni. I have coded serves mobile learning environment onto Kannel and Mbuni and it is published with free GPL-lisence.  I hope that there will be born open source community to develop this mobile learning server. I published in this paper some general design patterns of mobile learning server.

KEYWORDS

Open source, server technology, MMS, SMS, design patterns

1.       design patterns

A design pattern “describes a problem which occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution to that problem, in such a way that you can use this solution a million times over, without ever doing it the same way twice” (Alexander et al, 1977).

 “The patterns are ordered, beginning with the very largest, for regions and towns, then working through neighbourhoods, clusters of buildings, buildings, rooms and alcoves, ending finally with details and constructions.This order, which is presented as a straight linear sequence, is essential for the way the language works” (Alexander et al. 1977).

There is hierarchical connectivity between the patterns on different levels. This connectivity relates all patterns in a sequence to each other building a semantic tree that represents a total structure.

Design patterns have the aim of externalizing knowledge to allow accumulation and generalization of solutions and to allow all members of a community or design group to participate in discussion relating to the design (Mor 2007).

The pattern description format used here contains the following fields (adapted from Avgeriou 2003):

a. Name – a unique name to distinguish the pattern and uniquely refer to it.

b. Problem – a brief description of the design problem at hand.

c. Motivation – an explanation of the origins of the problem, probably with an example for better communicating it. It may also contain the context of the particular problem if it is necessary in order to make it more comprehensible.

d. Solution – a description of the solution proposed by this pattern that addresses the problem and motivation stated earlier.

e. Known uses – examples of the pattern in real LMS. This is an important attribute of a pattern since it is claimed that a proposed pattern gets accepted by the corresponding pattern community, only if there have been two or three examples of its use by someone other than the one who suggested the pattern.

2.       Mobile learning server

Mobile learning server (MLS) consists of two parts, server core platform (SCP) and mobile application platform (MAP). MLS is not important as itself. There is a lot of “technology toys”, which doesn’t change world of learning and it is possible, that MLS is one of them. MLS is however potentially important, because it makes possible to rapidly and easily to construct applications for mobile learning which together constitutes a mobile learning environment (MLE).

MLS relies on open source technology and open content. Server core platform and mobile application platform is build from existing and reliable open source components. First parts of MLE that I have constructed are also open source that I licensed with free GPL license. Exercises I created to mobile learning experiments are open content.  I hope that there will be some day a community of software developers and teachers interested of mobile learning that will together develop MLE and its pedagogical use.

I have published specifications and exact building instructions of MLS in my blog vps.virtuaalikoulu.org/mls. With these instructions for example schools teacher of information technology or it-support person can build own server and teachers can begin to use MLE and develop own models of using mobile learning.     

Hardware needed is an ordinary desktop computer (500 euros) with two hard drives and an ordinary mobile phone (100 euros) with SMS-capability connected to server with data cable. Server’s mobile phone is a gateway to GSM-network. MMS-messaging and mobile internet use needs that MLS is connected to public internet. That is why so much effort is used to get MLS to be a real production server with high security.

                       Use of MLS is cheap. Sending 1000 messages from server to pupil’s costs only 10 euros. MMS-messaging costs only data costs, because with MLS it is possible to send and receive MMS-messages without telecom firms MMS-servers. If in pupils phone is support to WLAN, use of MLE costs nothing in schools own WLAN or some open WLAN.

                       A teacher controls MLE by using WWW user interface, which I have coded. He or she can with user interface build from pieces SMS, MMS and email messages and sent these messages to students and students can answer to these messages. It is possible to collect students answer to WWW gallery and students can comment other students’ answers, such as photos and videos. Environment makes possible also building of simple learning games. Also collaborative learning is supported so that learners can in teams make for example problem solving exercises. Students can send messages to other students or group of students from mobile to mobile, from mobile to WWW and from WWW to mobile and from WWW to WWW. Students WWW user interface is of course possible to use via mobile Internet with GPRS, 3G or WLAN connection.

3.       some design patterns for mobile learning server

SMS/MMS-games / MMS-blog

                                                    |

     WWW-server ———- Backup and security

                |

SMS-gateway / MMS-gateway

 

a. Name

WWW-server

b. Problem

How to build WWW-server for mobile learning environment?

c. Motivation

Most easy way to admin mobile learning environment and store data of environment is a WWW-server.

d. Solution

An ordinary Debian server is a good solution. Server can includes Apache HTTP-server with PHP & MySQL database support, proxy server, SSH server and email server. It is possible to install any Debian software packets needed for example WordPress, Mediawiki and Moodle.

e. Known uses

MobilED project : http://mobiled.uiah.fi/?p=37

 

a. Name

SMS/MMS-games

b. Problem

How to build interactive SMS/MMS- games?

c. Motivation

Many teachers and researches think that games can be effective tool in learning.  Also mobile learning needs gaming solutions.

d. Solution

With SMS/MMS-gateway is it possible to build a connection between WWW-server and the phone network. With gateways configuration files we define sms-service like

group = sms-service

keyword = key1

get-url = “http://localhost/code/answer.php?sender=%p&to=%s&text=%r”

 

which calls script answer.php when to the gateway incomes message with keyword key1. Script answer.php gets as parameters students phone number, which identifies student, and students inputs to the game and with these inputs answer.php calculates response to the student.

 

a. Name

MMS-blog

b. Problem

How to build MMS-blog?

c. Motivation

With MMS-blog it is possible to collect student generated content to WWW-pages from for example nature and excursions to museums. 

d. Solution

I installed Mbuni to my Debian Sarge Internet-server as MMSC and as VAS Gateway. When MMS-phone is configured to use my server as MMSC (it is possible to use many configurations, so it is easy to change to ordinary MMSC of phone operator) , MMS-messages goes from client to MMSC, from MMSC to VAS Gateway and from VAS Gateway to my MMS-blog. My MMS-blog is self coded PHP&MySql-script that puts parts of MMS-message to webpage. One row of table includes parts of one message: photo, text and video. Last column of row is a place for comments. All blog viewers can give some comments about message.

 

a. Name

SMS-gateway

b. Problem

How to build a SMS-gateway for mobile learning?

c. Motivation

SMS is very simple technology, but very popular and that’s why it is even nowadays useful for mobile learning and information systems. Every student has a mobile device, that supports SMS and they are experienced to use them. It has been used even in rural areas of Africa for mobile learning, so this technology is very equal in many senses.

d. Solution

Kannel is an open source WAP gateway. It attempts to provide this essential part of the WAP infrastructure freely to everyone. Kannel also works as an SMS gateway for GSM networks.

In mobile learning server Kannel can be used  

1. to send SMS messages with GSM-phone connected to server with USB or serial cable

2. to receive and handle incoming SMS-messages for example in pedagogical games

2.with Mbuni to handle MMS with older phones

The first version on Kannel has published 2001 by WapIT Ltd. and the newest version 2006. My experience of Kannel is that it is fully reliable and speed of sending messages is good enough, about 6 messages per minute. Documentation is excellent and community of Kannel developers and users gives support actively.

e. Known uses

ULTRALAB:s project: http://www.formatex.org/micte2005/4.pdf

University Mobile Portal:

http://www.nano-world.org/nano/People/Martin.Guggisberg/wattinger2004_a.pdf

 

a. Name

MMS-gateway

b. Problem

How to build a MMS-gateway for mobile learning?

c. Motivation

The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) provides a rich set of content to users (pictures, audio, videos etc). It supports both sending and receiving of multimedia content by properly enabled client devices.

d. Solution

Mbuni is a  Free/Open Source Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) gateway. It includes both core network MMS switching capabilities as well as messaging gateway features, and is suitable for operators and MMS value added service providers.

First version of Mbuni published 2005 by Digital Solutions Ltd. The newest version is from year 2007.

e. Known uses

CoMobile-project:

http://www.emobility.unibe.ch/workshops/2006-10-

27/presentations/MobileTechnologies.ppt#266,21,MMS gateway – Mbuni

 

a. Name: Backup and security

b. Problem: How can mobile learning system prevent the loss of data after system failure? How to control risks of spam and viruses?

c. Motivation: Mobile learning systems contain important information in the form of student data,

course and information material. Possible system crashes can cause the loss of this information. Spam and viruses are reality also in mobile world.

d. . SCP replicates data among two hard drives (RAID) , takes backups to another server (rdiff), and has a software firewall (iptables) and an anti-spam  tool (SpamAssasin) and anti-virus tool (ClamAV).

 

REFERENCES

Alexander, C., Silverstein, M. and Ishikawa, S. (1977) A Pattern Language: Towns,

Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series). New York,

NY: Oxford University Press.

 

P. Avgeriou, A. Papasalouros, S. Retalis, “Patterns For Designing Learning Management Systems”, European Pattern

Languages of Programming (EuroPLOP 2003) 25th–29th June 2003, Irsee, Germany.

 

Mor, Yishay and Winters, Niall (2007) Design approaches in technology enhanced learning. Interactive Learning

Environments (15)1:61-75. Taylor & Francis.

 Kannel, 2008. www.kannel.orgMbuni., 2008. www.mbuni.org  

Why has not mobile learning emerged from its project status and entered into mainstream education and training?
Only 14% of distance educators (88 responses from 27 countries) were reporting that their institutions indeed have developed course materials for use on mobile devices. (Zawacki-Richter  2006)
Keegans opinion was that mobile learning is not seen as a satisfactory revenue stream by the telecommunications operators (Keegan 2005).
How about open source and technical innovations that make mobile learning as cheap as possible and easy to take in use?
 
I state that one reason why mobile learning is not in mainstream, is that we have lack of mobile infrastructure in schools. We need introduce pedagogy of mobile learning to ordinary schools, but also pure technology is needed. In the field of learning technology we can’t go the pedagogy without technological infrastructure.
One technological answer would be this mobile learning server.

Keegan, 2005. THE INCORPORATION OF MOBILE LEARNING INTO MAINSTREAM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
http://www.mlearn.org.za/CD/papers/keegan1.pdf. Mlearn 2005

Zawacki-Richter, Brown,  2006. Mlearn 2006
http://auspace.athabascau.ca:8080/dspace/bitstream/2149/1258/1/Zawacki-Richter_Brown_Delport+mlearn06.pdf