E-learning or m-learning. That’s not the question

This is a translation by Snackson of a post originally written in Spanish by Jordi Pizarro, who published it at designtraining.cat.

Could you say why do I  defend that the courses I design with Storyline can’t be considered as m-learning?

We should not confuse the fact that our courses can be seen from any mobile device with mobile learning. It’s not the same and can’t be the same… and if someone tells you that it is, you’re being misled. It would be like saying that as I know how to kick the ball, I’m Messi (or Cristiano, not to hurt sensibilities).

M-learning requires some specific aspects, the first and essential is that it’s thought for mobile phones. Just like that. You learn by using that tool, exclusively.

 

E-learning or m-learning. That’s not the question

When we design e-learning courses with Storyline or with any other tool that can be played on diverse devices, we make it with a “computer” mental framework, that is to say, our designs still maintain the basic structure we used 10 years ago and, at most, we make sure that they can be correctly seen on tablets (the size of these devices allows a correct display). So now we have one more problem, because if you don’t know the tool you will only be able to watch it as there are some interactions that won’t work unless you know how to program.

It is clear that mobile learning has to be the near future and the logic evolution of the e-learning, but it doesn’t mean that our courses are boring or old-fashioned or not appropriate for learning.

Working with multidevice tools compels you to change your mental framework as a designer, yours and the one of the educational staff. Such thing as placing text and text and text and a little question has come to an end.

You must adapt the technological elements and carry out a pedagogical liquefaction process with them that surprises the student and that allows an efficient interaction beyond computers. Remember, the time of the mouse is running out gradually and, increasingly, the time of the index finger is approaching (and the tendinitis days come with it).

We are forced to think in touchscreen format. And if you don’t do it like that, you’re losing time.

We are forced to think  in “video-audio” format. And if you don’t do it, you’re about to get to know the abyss.

It’s the time of creativity, because despite the technological progress, e-learning is not going to disappear. However, what will happen is that it will demand to give a step forward in the pedagogical approaches taken to solve the training needs of companies. So or you know what you do, or you are going straight to an absolute abyss of a zero-euro remuneration. You are compelled to investigate and adapt elements as videos or corporate social networks in your courses.

Moreover, as an e-learning professional, or as a user, you also are obliged to be fair or, at least, I try to be so. If I affirm that my courses cannot be considered as m-learning, but they are ideal to take them on your tablet, it’s because it’s true. It’s because we’ve made the effort of getting to know our working tool, it’s  because we’ve changed our mental framework with regard to the instructional design of the material, it’s because we’ve worked hard to share our concerns with our clients, it’s because we’ve listened to them, it’s because we’re not afraid of the existing entry of unqualified people into our professional field, it’s because we are proactive and we try to offer solutions which, although it may be obvious, are just that, solutions to the problems that we face in corporate learning.

We firmly believe that e-learning and m-learning should coexist for a number of years, and that we have to be able to create complementary material. Because, like the song says, “todo se transforma” (everything is changing)