Marcus Ragus, Project Manager
This project examined the potential of the handheld, personal digital assistant (PDA) and its use for learning in the workplace. Its focus has been to provide new directions, opportunities and ideas for the use of PDA technology by organisations, practitioners and learners through the provision and documentation of trialled example resources and case studies.
The project brought together a number of specialist practitioners from areas of learning, multimedia, graphic arts and industry in the collaborative development of a series of mobile learning resources. An essential aspect of the project was to examine the potential of these resources as an effective and realistic means of delivering learning and assessment in the workplace.
The overall project trials produced some interesting feedback with evaluation response rates from all participants being high. Industry feedback throughout the project period was provided very enthusiastically. From this it was clear that there had been obvious benefits for the industry teams that had participated. Industry team participants found that the project had inspired new ideas for the incorporation of technology in the workplace, including education and interpretation programs. It was also found that participating in the project had opened new opportunities for staff and their personal development, both individually and as a team.
The project has showcased some of the unique opportunities available for the use of mobile technology in learning through the materials provided in the resources section. It was the intention of the project to provide a good practice example of how learning product can be developed in collaboration with learners, industry, learning practitioners and designers.
Video footage
Hear two video clips about the project:
Download a video overview of the project - clip 1
Read a transcript of the video
Download a video overview of the project - clip 2
Read a transcript of the video
Who is it for?
- VET training organisations, practitioners, industry and individuals interested in applying handheld technology to a range of workplace training environments.
- Organisations and trainers responsible for providing alternative solutions for meeting the training needs in rural and remote locations, including Indigenous communities.
- Staff development personnel who can use the project materials to inspire other staff to participate in innovative training delivery using handheld devices.
- Workplace assessors looking for alternative evidence collection tools.
- Organisations and individuals who work with younger learners.
Resources
The achievements of the project are a small insight into the possibilities of mobile learning and are presented to encourage and inspire further development.
- Mobile learning: handheld innovations in mobile learning website which contains exemplars developed throughout the project trials.
- The Project report part 1: project development overviews the background and development of the project.
- The Project report part 2: technology provides a comprehensive overview on PDAs and a series of hardware / software research summaries.
- The Project report part 3: case studies provide a comprehensive overview of the project trials within industry and workplaces.
- The Site induction: I need it now! report outlines the development, trial and outcomes of using PDAs within two groups: the building industry and undertaking assessment with younger learners.
- The Evaluation report provides a summary report on the impact of the project.
Download resources
View Mobile learning: handheld innovations in mobile learning website
 Download the Project report part 1: project development
Download the Project report part 2: technology
Download the Project report part 3: case studies
Download the Site induction: I need it now! report
Download the Evaluation report
New Practices in Flexible Learning CD-ROM
The project resources from the all the New Practices in Flexible Learning projects undertaken during 2003 and 2004, as well as additional video footage, sound and images, have been developed into two multimedia resources of 'new practices'. These CD-ROMs can be ordered through your local Framework communication officer by completing the online order form.
Order the 2003 collection of New Practices in Flexible Learning projects
NEW - Order the 2004 collection of New Practices in Flexible Learning projects
Update - October 2006
Workshops that explore this project are now available as professional development opportunities on a fee for service basis. We invite you to download the workshop resources relating to Mobile learning by going to our Workshop Resources page on the current Australian Flexible Learning Framework web site.
You can also download details of the professional development workshops for 2006
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