Transcript Digital Reading Room: Present & Future

Mobile Library: Connecting Mobile Learners to the
Library in the Digital Age
Tony Tin, Colin Elliott and Doug
Kariel
Project supported by the
Today’s Presentation
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Introduction – Athabasca
University
About Mobile Library
Special Features
Technology/Design
Challenges
Mobile ESL Project
Food for Thought
Athabasca
University
http://www.athabascau.ca
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Canada’s Open University
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Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
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More than 32,000 students
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Mandate: Remove barriers for students
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Leader in M-learning and M-library Research
What is a mobile library?
 The
idea of a mobile library
is to provide learners with
access to the university
library and to course
resources using mobile
devices
Why a mobile library at AU?
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AU students study from a distance
Quick and efficient access to
electronic resources and library
services is essential
Students have even more options
for fitting learning into their busy
lives. It allows individualization &
self-pace
Why a mobile library at AU?
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They pick the time and the place to
learn using mobile devices to access
course resources and information
Supports those with special needs
Special Features
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desktop3.avi
Mobile friendly AU Library site: Supported
device: PDA, Palmtop, Blackberry, IPAQ,
Smart phones
The site includes mobile friendly:
 Digital Reading Room
 Digital Reference Centre
 Digital Thesis & Project Room
 Library catalogue
 Search engine
Model adopted by UK Open University
Special Features (ctd)
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Auto-detect and reformat
Learning object reuse
Easy web maintain/update
Multimedia file support
Ipodcasting
Wireless library catalogue
Search
Mobile content conversion on the fly
M-library Design/Technology
AIRPAC
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Enables users to
access the AU library
catalogue through
their handheld mobile
device as long as
they have access to
the Internet.
AIRPAC (ctd)
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Activities available:
Search catalogue
 Request books from the catalogue
 Place interlibrary loan requests
 View their library account
 Renew material
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Future features for AIRPAC
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Athabasca University Library will
explore how to enable users to view
book jackets, table of contents, and
reviews of books through the
wireless catalogue
Challenges for the M-library
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Defining content for the M-library
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Design of the format
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Normal website vs. mobile version
content and information
text, images, graphics, tables, location
Separate the content from the format
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Define the amount and type of information
XML and XSL
Display models
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different display model and stylesheet
Challenges (ctd)
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Lack of a standard
Handling of PDF documents
Handling of multimedia file types
Corporate restriction on private or
education use
From Mobile Library to Mobile
Content: Mobile ESL Project
Overview of Project
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Develop and test innovative
approaches to ESL learning using
mobile devices and a variety of
testing and practice methods
Based on best selling Penguin series
86 lessons and related interactive
exercises
Repurposed for Canadian content
Downloadable in .doc or .pdf format
Student Feedback
Students indicated that the a
good use of mobile technology
for ESL would be whenever they
have a few spare minutes
 One concern expressed was the
cost of Internet access
 Reported positive experience
with the ESL grammar course
and the use of mobile
technology in learning ESL
grammar
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Results
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CBC News Coverage
Honorable Mention at the 2008
CNIE Conference for Innovative use
of technologies to support Elearning
The Mobile Benefit
“You decide where
class is and when
class start.”
Food for Thought
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“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have
these devices built into you and
powered by your body”
-Martin Cooper
inventor of the
cellphone
Further Information
Website:
http://library.athabascau.ca/
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Publications:
http://library.athabascau.ca/drr/pub.
php
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Acknowledgement:
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CLA Library Research and
Development Grant