M-Learning Case Study: Go-le@rn Mobile Learning Portal

In 2007 a pure research project that made it into the real military world was the concept of using soldiers own mobile devices to deliver learning.

Soldier’s tend to be even more technology minded than the normal ‘man on the street’. When away from home they have their favourite media player or mobile and keep care of them. Even in land rovers or warrior armoured personal carriers, you will see crewmen modify their vehicles to hold their iPods nice and safe. So why not try and use those devices as a delivery platform for learning. A platform that aims to provide content that will work on the widest range of mobile devices possible.

From 2007-2010 our in-house developed Mobile Learning Portal allowed military students to download video and audio based learning resources to their mobile device whether it may be a mobile phone, Ipod or other MP4/MP3 player.

Access to the portal was available either through your desktop or via your mobile phone. Actually my favourite device for access was a Sony PSP via my home wifi!

Early on we identified the need for the portal to have a ‘critical mass’ of learning content, as without that students would not come back if all they saw was one or two bits of learning. The client agreed and using a number of bespoke content suppliers as well as off-the-shelf products, we were able to host nearly 300 mobile courses, mostly in MP3/MP4 format.

Since its roll-out within the MoD, the portal has been quite successful and has an established small loyal user base.