Content area
Full text
They're here, they're there, they're every flippin' where, mobile phones, mobile phones. But what makes them and their hand-held cousins vehicles for learning?
Mobile phones, much to the chagrin of some, are almost ubiquitous, and the proliferation of other devices such as PDAs, BlackBerries and iPods means that tens of millions of people in the UK now use mobile technology. No surprise then that mobile learning is making an impact.
James Foster, director of development at Mezzo Films, has been working with private and public sector organisations to provide mobile training programmes, j
He says several factors are pushing I employers in this direction, but a grow- ' ing understanding of mobile devices by staff and a lack of time to get away from the workplace have established a growing demand for 'm-learning'.
"Places such as the NHS really need this sort of learning because they are judged on how they deliver mandatory training," he says.
Social factors
Foster believes a range of social factors are also helping to drive this trend, with younger people especially happy to use mobile technology to learn new things.
"The way companies are trying to get staff engaged with training and learning is changing. People are looking for different ways of spreading knowledge and want to take more responsibility for their own learning," he says.
Mezzo has developed several systems that use personal media players, PCbased videos and satellite TV channels to train staff. "The main thing that we've found is that it can make training more accessible for staff in a way that's far more convenient.
"People don't have to drop everything and go to a training room or lecture theatre at a time when they may already be busy doing their day job. Mobile learning makes life easier for all parties," he adds.
He says the main benefits are around convenience and cost - two crucial areas for his clients in the NHS, who desperately need to meet very challenging targets but must also keep time spent off the wards to a minimum.
"It can save thousands of man hours and keep medical staff on the wards, looking after patients. It's part of a far more flexible solution to training needs across the NHS,"...