MLearning, micro-learning, mobile apps, interactive video, social learning, personalised learning. On our trails, we have discovered that these terms can get a bit confusing. So, we’ve done the dictionary thing which we hope will help clarify the terms a little.
Mobile Learning or mLearning
This is education or training that is conducted by means of portable computing devices such as smartphones or tablet computers. Mobile devices can be used in the classroom to enhance student-centred learning, group collaboration among students through communication applications, interactive displays, and video features. As a form of distance education, m-learners can use mobile technology at their time convenience. Called “just-in-time learning”, it can also play an important role in on-the-job training.
Micro-learning
Micro-learning is an emergent learning strategy known for quickly closing skill and knowledge gaps. It deals with relatively small learning units and short-term learning activities. In environments where information changes quickly, microlearning seems to be an ideal instructional approach for many situations as information changes quickly. Examples might include a subscriber to a micro-learning service receiving screensavers, quizzes, words of the day, and flashcard software.
Mobile Apps (n)
A mobile application software or mobile app is software designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and these days possibly even televisions.
Interactive Video (n)
(Also known as “IV”) Interactive Video is a type of digital video that supports user interaction. These videos play like regular video files but include clickable areas, or “hotspots,” that perform an action when you click on them. You’re probably familiar with YouTube which added Video Annotations as an interactive layer of a clickable speech bubble, text boxes and spotlights back in 2008. There are also exploratory videos where the user can move through a space or look at an object such as an artwork from multiple angles; these are becoming more popular on Facebook. And then there are conversational videos which allow the user to interact with a video in a turn-based manner, almost as though the user was having a simple conversation with the characters in the video.
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory is the view that people learn by observing others. Social learning theory explains how people learn new behaviors, values, and attitudes. It can occur purely through observation or direct instruction, even in the absence of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement.
We see two applications, the first would be fostering a culture where people can identify individuals, across their organization, that possess high-demand skills and providing a means for those subject matter experts (commonly referred to as SMEs) to share those skills with their peers. The second approach would be to provide a place to expose your employees to vast amounts of learning content and let them decide (based on user reviews, recommendations, and popularity) what the best learning content is while connecting employees to each other’s learning achievements.
Personalised (adj) Learning.
Refers to a diverse variety of educational programs, learning experiences, instructional approaches, and academic support strategies that are intended to address the distinct learning needs, interests, aspirations, or cultural backgrounds of the individual.
We see adaptive learning as an important subset of personalised learning. Adaptive learning combines personalised learning with eLearning and uses individual analytics to allocate particular learning resources for the unique needs of the learner.