Tearing down the classroom walls
“Dude. Let’s tear down the barriers to organizationl learning though a mobile learning platform, also known as an MLN.”
We’ve recently spent some time on a new mobile learning platform, the MLN, or mobile learning network. Pretty soon you will be able to see it. In the meantime, let me, erm, talk about it!
The old problem
The platform has been designed to work for groups, dedicated cohorts within companies or other organizations, and to solve the biggest problems they face with language instruction: low attendance and the flagging interest that inevitably follows.
The MLN is designed around the possibility that this group may (or may not) wish to convene in a physical classroom as part of the learning mix. Example: a group of colleagues in Beijing who need to work on their business English skills. They meet for a certain amount of classroom instruction, but because of travel and scheduling restrictions, cannot often make class together. Once people start to miss classes, motivation takes a dive. In fact, by week 6 of the training, attendance typically trails off dramtically and few are getting the benefit of the thing.
We’re talking low impact and poor return on investment in this scenario. It is not uncommon. I would argue that it can even be quite bad for the organization as it sends the message that learning and training are neither effective nor important.
Enter, the mobile solution
But this could be about to change and it is mobile that could make the difference. Mobile access to the content and the cohort has one major effect: it collapses the classroom walls so that learning/engagement/interaction are no longer confined to any physical space or schedule. You can now have many of the benefits of the classroom without the physical and scheduling barriers. Any cohort of learners with a common goal can build a community of paractice that extends to wherever they happen to be, at whatever time and place they choose to do the learning. If 4 of them are in class with the teacher in Beijing while the rest are in various parts of the county, they are all still connected to the learning events that occur around the publication of the lesson, the dicsussion, etc.
In this regard, the MLN platform also builds around some older features from ChinesePod, most notably the freedom to choose from a large database of learning objects - short audio lessons with exercises and extras on top. One major difference is that the CPod platform is for individual study, while the MLN is for groups, with a teacher to choose the lessons and lead the learning. This dimension is critical in the context of the organization. It means that learners can work as team towwrds a common goal, while HR managers get an overview of who is learning what and the effort/progress they are making relative to each other.
Anyway, that was my 20 minute essay on collapsing classroom walls through mobile access. I think it offers a taste of what we’re working on, though I realize I’m just touching the surface.
Ken Carroll
July 30th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Ken,
It will be interesting to hear more about this and I wish you luck with the system. At a very basic level do you expect to build a system that makes it easy for students to participate in class (even when they can’t be physically present) or participate in the learning?
It sounds like the second.
I’ll be interested to find out what problems you see the MLN solving. It sounds like you are going to ask the platform to address affective problems that partly spring from a lack of social participation in the class building process.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Good to hear from you, Mike.
I see the platform as allowing participation in the social dymanic of a class (with colleagues) as well as the learning thag goes beyond the class (at the times and places of the learner’s choosing). Neither has to be confined to 4 walls. A ’school’ or ‘class’ is no longer a building, to my mind, but a series of social relationships. It is no longer time-based, textbook-driven, etc, but something else entirely. The platform was designed in this light.
There’s a lot to talk about. I’ll be writing more. I look forward to your comments.
Ken
August 1st, 2009 at 5:25 am
Ken,
I’m so intrigued by your last post. As a language teacher, my love for ChinesePod has extended beyond learning Mandarin into day dreams about… well, about MLN! I’ve been searching the web for this kind of communication platform for a few months now and nothing quite fits. So you can imagine my surprise at reading your post. In my humble opinion, this is not only a huge step for Praxis, but also for the language learning community. I’m so excited to see the details. Good work and good luck. ~matt
November 27th, 2009 at 6:17 am
As an English teacher in Asia I wish I could integrate the internet into my teaching. Unfortunately at this point it is not possible. However, as you consider tearing down the classroom walls I think about ways of taking my students out of the classroom into the world to use and experience English. From games to bowling to karaoke the possibilities are endless. Also, bringing English into the classroom through creative ways including more than just playing movies. Still, I look forward to the concepts you speak about in your blog.
December 19th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Good luck to you Ken, where ever you are!
January 17th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Hi Ken,
I just stumbled on your blog post and I’m interested to hear about how you’re getting on with the MLN. I also notice that the comments and original post are quite old.