I was part of an AACE executive board discussion, in which Saul Carliner said,
One of my favorites is Roger Schank’s prediction for 2010 in eLearn Magazine: “Bye bye phone,” predicting the demise of mobile learning citing the difficulty of reading a phone or even an iPod screen. Others are touting the same technology.
Curt Bonk immediately responded:
I thought Roger Schank’s prediction was the most ridiculous. He is not thinking outside the box – bendable and fold-out screens and electronically projected ones. Samsung is working on that. Mobile devices tomorrow are not what we see today. But bold predictions like Roger’s would get people to chat and interact.
And Saul came back:
My point. I said it was my favorite – but I didn’t say why or that I agreed with him.
Interestingly, the only comments that critiqued the Predictions for 2010 were about Roger’s prediction. One said,
How can you say its going to go away from the phone, especially with the iPhone and Android-based phones that allow for simulations and interactivity that couldn’t be done before?
Maybe it is just my age group (under 30), but I find that I’m constant using my iPhone for on-demand learning, whether it be to Google something, access a video tutorial (like Lynda.com), get my RSS feeds, etc… I think mLearning is just in its infancy and we will continue to see it grow.
Just my $0.02. Cheers!
Another person commented,
Dr. Schank – I have followed you and your career for years and I have immensely benefited from your body of knowledge. I am curious, however, about your bye, bye phone prediction for 2010. While I agree in someways (yet not in others) that a full blown training program may not best be delivered via mobile features or applications, I strongly feel that mobile devices hold incredible promise for learning and will only increase in the future. The traditional training paradigm of larger/longer scale design for learning has been engaged in a renaissance for sometime – in saying this I am thinking of re-useable learning objects, simulations, storytelling, game theory, virtual worlds, etc – major premises that can enable a strong mobile learning platform, paradigm, and adaptation.
One of the greatest benefits I see of mobile devices (and I hope there will be many) is the push of learning information as needed or the pull of information as wanted – not to mention the simultaneous usage of features on today’s equipment (think AT&T and Apple”s ability to talk and use apps at the same time). The connectedness to corporate systems/innovative design approaches and the creative implications of the larger learning outcome(s) to a mobile event is what will make this either a smooth learning experience or a disastrous one. I’m a bit more optimistic.
I can’t help but also think about how opinion was similar about CBT/WBT to what now is “eLearning” – once upon a time.
Is it time for a rebuttal from Roger?
I’m now developing educational iPhone apps. I’ve found that the majority of people over 50 thought the text was to small and this will never happen. I’ve had at least 10 people say that. Whereas people my age, are say thats cool, let me play with that.
I think because the younger generation are digital natives, used to smaller devices and have those devices they are more apt to learning on those devices, than say someone that is 50+.
My point is not to discriminate, but simple share these are the reactions I’ve received.
I have found that when I attack sacred cows I am frequently misunderstood. I attacked Chomsky for assuming that syntax was the central issue in language and am still being ridiculed for that position in linguistics. Focus on teh real issues, not the easy ones. Devices don’t matter. You all need to think about changing how learning works in the world of education. iphone apps for kids are nice. Even I produce iphone apps for little kids (my company is Milomax) to learn from. Real deep learning will not take place in 20 minute increments. Get over it and do something important.
Two things.
1. Roger did not include “Bye Bye, Phone” in his submission. That was added by the editor (moi).
2. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the kind of learning I do now as a professional is drastically different from what I did as an English literature and journalism student, namely, that I no longer read closely and deeply. All the deep learning I did was in books and on paper, whereas in my professional career, it’s exclusively online, quick, shallow. Bite-sized. Multi-tasked. I _could_ read deeply online or on a mobile device, but I typically don’t unless I set my mind to it. It’s not part of the lifestyle. (I’m in the “younger” rather than “older” group.)
Geez. Doesn’t anyone think we can learn by listening? You don’t have to read a phone. (My eyes are failing, too, Roger.)
Jill – I fully agree. Everything I learn for my job is Just-In-Time Education. I’ve heard my generation referred to as the “Google Generation” because we literally have the world at our finger tips. Instead of reading a 1000 pages book I can simply get the PDF version and search for specific keywords of what I’m interested in learning and not all the other stuff.
Roger – I respectfully disagree. Devices do matter! I’m not saying iPhone is KING or that any specific device should be used, but rather that having your eLearning content anywhere you go and can scale up and down to any size screen…. is really important. People nowadays are always on the go and learning has to conform to their lifestyle, not vice versa.
Real learning can and does happen in short periods of time. I can read a tutorial from a blog on the latest Photoshop effect and try it out in a short period of time and retain it. While I think it is false to assume that people can just sit down and watch a 30 minute tutorial and say they’ve “learned it”. I think if that video is followed up by an interactive exercise, that right there, is an effective form of eLearning.
Just my $0.02
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In medicine, busy residents use mobile devices for quick information updates, so we are planning a series of 15-20 minute modules at their request. Learning doesn’t have to be in the traditional 1 hour format. Discussion boards for more thoughtful posts will be included. I’m surprised that Roger Schank is so traditional in his view of learning.
In medicine, busy residents use mobile devices for quick information updates, so we are planning a series of 15-20 minute modules at their request. Learning doesn’t have to be in the traditional 1 hour format. Discussion boards for more thoughtful posts will be included. I’m surprised that Roger Schank is so traditional in his view of learning.
Mobile devices tomorrow are not what we see today. But bold predictions like Roger’s would get people to chat and interact.