Brian Ward of Mission Aviation Fellowship's Learning Technologies division discusses how MAF-LT helps ministries move forward with distance education and mobile learning. This presentation was given at the December, 2011, meeting of the Mobile Ministry Forum.

Mobile Ministry Forum Consultation 2011 - MAF-LT and Mobile Ministry from Clyde Taber on Vimeo.

A Pedagogical Framework for Mobile Learning: Categorizing Educational Applications of Mobile Technologies into Four Types

Yeonjeong Park

Virginia Tech, USA

One of the issues that we on the Education Services team are looking at is how to design effective learning using the ubiquitous mobile phone.

In this paper, Mr. Park discusses the unique ways in which mobile phones can be used to deliver and receive effective learning. As Mr. Park says, “few instructional design guidelines based on a solid theoretical framework for mobile learning exist.”

We encourage you to read this paper and participate in the discussion. Find the article at

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/791/1788

From his conclusion:

In this paper I introduced a definition of mobile learning, outlined its characteristics, and compared it with e-learning. Despite the great potential mobile learning has and the innovative development of mobile technologies, a theoretical framework in which to review diverse mobile learning projects in the context of distance learning has been lacking.

We at Learning Technologies look at a lot of learning management systems (LMS), which is a fancy name for programs for creating and delivering digital courses. We recently ran across an easy to use system that we are experimenting with called Haiku. My colleague used the word "giddy" as he described his experience with this easy to use LMS. The first course is free, then there is a reasonable charge for additional courses.

We've used Moodle a lot and easy to use was never something we said about Moodle. Free, yes, easy, no. We recommend that you check out Haiku.

Laura and I often speak about the 80%-90% of pastors from remote locations that do not return home after graduating from Bible college or seminary. The reasons are many and varied - better quality of life, safety, and security are some of the most common issues. But over the past few months, the 80%-90% figure became just something that was 'part of our presentation'.

Then last week we met the administrator at a Hispanic bible seminary in the Los Angeles area that trains Spanish speakers for church leadership. Many of their students come from Latin America to receive their pastoral training. We asked him what percentage of his 22 seminary students would be going back to Latin America to pastor churches. He paused for a moment and answered....none, 0%. At that moment, 80%-90% became very real to us.

• Rapid E-Learning Blog 
• Cathy Moore Blog 
• How to save the world with eLearning scenarios     

• William Horton – E-learning by Design 
• Moodle Teaching Techniques 
• Michael Allen – Designing E-Learning & Guide to E-Learning 

• Clark & Mayer – E-Learning and the Science of Instruction 

• Stephen Krug - Don’t make me think 2^nd Ed. 
• Robin Williams - The Non-Designer’s Design Book 3^rd Ed. 
• Rosendfeld & Moreville - Information Architecture for the World Wide Web 3^rd Ed. 

• Robinson & Robinson - Performance Consulting 

Situational awareness:

Awareness of what happens around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions impact your goals and objectives now and in the near future.

Traffic is hectic as you take yet another daily commute on the interstate. Suddenly someone swerves into your lane. You hit the brakes and fervently glance behind you to see if a rear-end crash might be eminent.

While dangers that come with travel on crowded freeways are unavoidable, how we react to those dangerous situations is within our control. If fatigued or stressed, we are likely to be less aware of what is going on around us. This leads to poor reactions that heighten the chance of tragic outcomes.

MAF pilots and maintenance staff who work long, non-routine hours in remote locations often face stress and fatigue which can lead to unsafe conditions. To address this issue, MAF Learning Technologies (LT) staff is working with Kent Contrucci, MAF Safety Specialist and a former MAF pilot and flight instructor, on a safety curriculum that emphasis situational awareness.