October 22 and 23, the United States Distance Learning Board of Directors met in Greenville, South Carolina, for the Fall Board Meeting. Highlights included reports from committees, discussion of National Distance Learning Week, and a review of the new USDLA.org website.

A theme throughout the meeting was finding additional ways to add value for Association members and sponsors.  The Board is slated to have a virtual meeting in January 2016 and then a face-to-face Board meeting is slated for May 9, 2016 in St. Louis.  The May meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual Membership Meeting and the National Conference at the Hilton / St Louis at the Ballpark Hotel.

Photos by Janet Major, USDLA Board of Directors

How can specific mobile apps support and enhance online courses? From LMS apps, organizational apps, and university apps to apps specifically design to support a unique course, explore the variety of ways mobile learning can enhance online learning.

This cross listed blog post shares links and resources for using mobile apps in three areas of online learning: Learning, Connection to the University, School or Organization, and Connection to the Instructor.

Learning

• Responsive design of your LMS
• LMS Mobile version:
  • Blackboard Mobile Learner
  • Canvas
  • Moodle Mobile, etc.
• Teaching students tools to help them stay organized, for example:
  • myHomework Student Planner
  • Evernote
  • Easy Bib
• Group interaction supported by mobile apps such as:
  • Facebook closed groups
  • Evernote collaborative notebooks
  • Groupboard
  • GoogleDrive
• Twitter for reporting in activities for jogging class
• Poll everywhere for polling in class students and online students; can embed in your LMS content as well
• Practice apps such as:
  • Kaplan Financial Practice App
  • Medical Terms
  • Anatomy Word Search
  • Exam Vocabulary Builder
• Quizlet to create your own practice for students or for students to create their own
• Apps that teach such as:
  • Duolingo for languages
  • 2 Minute English
  • Real Business English
  • Craftsy
• Students creating projects on their phone
  • Creating ads in a marketing class
  • Sharing a video introduction of themselves
  • Recording a skit on their cell phone
  • iPadio: phone in and record audio up to 60 minutes

Connection to your University, School or Organization

• Most university apps have calendars, catalogs, news, etc. Some examples:
  • iSheffield School of Aeronautics
  • HawkTools
  • Hello App Camp from Drake University
  • My ATSU Mobile
  • Apps that help students live around campus:
    • Bongo for bus schedule
    • Park Mobile for campus parking
    • University of Iowa Residence Hall Laundry app
  • What about online learners? Should we have apps that do special things for online learners? Should there be a separate app for on campus students and a different one for online students?
  • Athletics apps:
    • Hawkeye Sports Gameday Live
    • DU Bulldogs
    • Do online learners feel connected to the sports teams of their institution?

Connection to the Instructor

• Videoconferencing apps such as:
  • Skype
  • Zoom, etc.
  • Students can schedule one-on-one with the instructor; or attend class via their mobile device
• Texting students reminders:
  • WhatsApp
  • Remind.com
• Deliver content via apps such as iTunes U, YouTube, etc.

Additional Reading

• Aderinoye, R., Ojokheta, K., & Olojede, A. (2007). Integrating Mobile Learning into Nomadic Education Programme in Nigeria: Issues and perspectives. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 8(2). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/347/919
• Ally, M., & Samaka, M. (2013). Open education resources and mobile technology to narrow the learning divide. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 14(2), 14-27. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1530/2479
• Han, I., & Han, S. (2014). Adoption of the mobile campus in a cyber university. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 15(6). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1950/3132
• Hsu, Y., & Ching, Y. (2012). Mobile microblogging: Using Twitter and mobile devices in an online course to promote learning in authentic contexts. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 13(4), 211-227. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1222/2313
• Iqbal, S., & Qureshi, I. (2012). M-learning adoption: A perspective from a developing country. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 13(3), 147-164. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1152/2213
• Kenny, R., Van Neste-Kenny, J., Burton, P., Park, C., & Qayyum, A. (2012). Using self-efficacy to assess the readiness of nursing educators and students for mobile learning. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 13(3), 277-296. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1221/2261
• Ozdamar Keskin, N., & Kuzu, A. (2015). Development and testing of a m-learning system for the professional development of academics through design-based action research. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 16(1). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1613/3194
• Park, Y. (2011). A pedagogical framework for mobile learning: Categorizing educational applications of mobile technologies into four types. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 12(2), 78-102. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/791/1699
• Shin, W., & Kang, M. (2015). The use of a mobile learning management system at an online university and its effect on learning satisfaction and achievement. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 16(3). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1984/3345
• Young, S., & Hung, H. (2014). Coping with the challenges of open online education in Chinese societies in the mobile era: NTHU OCW as a case study. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning, 15(3). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1742/2908

Author: Janine Lim, Associate Dean for Online Higher Education, Andrews University; Janine serves on the USDLA Board of Directors. Read more on her blog.

USDLA President, Elaine Shuck, recently visited Alaska to share and to learn best practices in educational videoconferencing. USDLA members and friends are invited to read about her experiences on her blog.

Here’s another area that’s a little intimidating. Educational videoconferencing is my world and I love it. But in Alaska, I’ll be with some highly effective teachers who routinely use videoconferencing – not as a device for special activities – but as an implemented component used every day for teaching. Picture Elaine Shuck, an expert from the Lower 48, coming to teach them all about videoconferencing? I don’t think so! I’ll likely learn a lesson or two myself.

Alaska is known as the Last Frontier. The state does push back a lot of boundaries and some of those boundaries have to do with education and pedagogy. One of the aspects I love about my work is that wherever I am, I always (always!) learn from those I’m privileged to visit. This trip also presents me with an opportunity to learn a lot and take those lessons with me to share with others.

One stop I’m particularly excited about is the opportunity to reconnect with Greg Zorbas, Alaska’s 2014 technology teacher of the year, in Kenai. Our company has worked together with Greg and his colleagues for the past several years and the relationship has benefited both sides.  Not only have we shared tactics and strategies surrounding electronic collaborations, but also we have formed a strong friendship in addition.  Several years ago, I visited the Zorbas family and went dog sledding. I’m not sure what’s in store this time, but I’m hoping to join them – and the bears! – for some salmon fishing in their world-class rivers. This really is the way work-life balance should be – the Alaskan way! And I’m looking forward it!

Read more:

• Day 0: On my way to Alaska to teach and be taught >>
• Day 3: Hopping a Freighter to Bethel >>
• Day 4 and 5: Twelve halibut and a hali-bucket >>
• Day 5: Home again…sort of >>
• Day 6: Float to remote >>
• Day-7-Homeward Bound

Melanie Graysmith, writer for the Higher Ed column of Examiner, recently conducted an interview with Elaine Shuck, USDLA President. Below is a snippet from the interview:

MG: In reviewing your impressive background in education and extensive experience with educational technology, how do you keep it fresh and exciting? Is it the students who excite you?

ES: For me, when I see a student in the classroom, eager to learn, and they’re using video conferencing as a medium – because books alone are not engaging – that gets me excited. For example, I had students (including my daughters) interview a female leader of Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising. This leader was one of the notables we used that year to mark Black History Month. And what better way to learn than to speak to someone with first-hand experience? Videoconferencing for distance learning is not meant to replace anything in a classroom, but these are experiences that a book can’t provide.

Read the full article online.

To our USDLA Members and Friends, we are pleased to announce that we have launched an upgraded USDLA website! We are excited about the new, sleek, mobile friendly design, and the streamlined links and resources.

Take some time to explore the site:

• Learn about the upcoming events: The Policy Forum in November; National Distance Learning Week, and the 2016 USDLA Conference.
• Explore our resources – a list of distance education journals, a variety of seminal reports, and other resources essential to distance education professionals.
• Explore the variety of membership levels and become a member today.

You will find that USDLA is your one-stop location for all things distance education.

If you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter!

We hope to see you at a USDLA event in the near future!