Conferences are a concentration of expertise, and therefore a great place to get answers.
But, of course, the answers you get from attending a conference will depend very much on the questions that you ask as you visit the conference.
mLearnCon is the premier conference in the world on mobile learning in corporate settings, with a fantastic concentration of experts, experienced users, and solid vendors offering their services.
There is so much available that one of the problems is knowing what to choose from among the myriad options of keynotes, workshops, sessions, and exhibitors.
So, in an effort to help you sort out what to pay attention to at mLearnCon, here are 10 questions that can be answered by attending the conference.
I am new to mobile learning – where do I start?
If this is your first time at mLearnCon, and you are new to the field of mobile learning, there are some optional workshops and sessions provided just for you.
You can also speak to any of the many experienced vendors in the exhibition area. Some have been in the mobile learning business for over a dozen years.
Here are some choices of sessions to attend.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
P02 – Mon. June 23 (optional workshop) |
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. | Clark Quinn | mLearning 101: Getting Started with Mobile Learning |
F02 – Tues. June 24 | 2:30 -3:30 p.m. | Robert Gadd, Sarah Gilbert | What You Need to Know to Get Started with Mobile Learning |
110 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Sarah Gilbert | Understanding the Terminology and Scope of Mobile Learning |
207 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Edward Beale | Building a Smarter Classroom by Shifting Your mLearning IQ |
210 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Dora Rowe | Mobile Apps 101: Learn the Basics Before You Build |
305 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Anita Horsley, Karen Blades | An Introduction to mLearning (and eLearning) for the Responsive Age |
307 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Stephen Calhoun | Can I Get That Training To Go Please? |
308 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Imogen Casebourne, Sherry Archer | Make a move to Multi-device Learning in 10 Easy Steps |
402 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | John Park, Khoa Lam | How to Break Down the Barriers to mLearning |
910 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Jack Wexler | Goodwill’s Mobile Journey: From Concept to Implementation |
How can mobile learning impact the business side of my organization?
We all know that our mobile learning strategy should follow from the business objectives of the organization we work for.
Here are some sessions that pay attention to the impact of mobile learning on the bottom line.
How do I create a mobile learning strategy?
At Float, we believe that planning for mobile learning starts with developing a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for your organization.
The strategy includes many topics, including:
- overall business objectives,
- needs of stakeholders,
- content strategy,
- technology strategy,
- a design and develop.m.ent plan, and
- a project plan for implementation.
There are many decisions to be made along the way, and these sessions will help to answer your questions about strategy.
Ask Float about how we develop a specific strategy roadmap for mobile learning implementation for each of our clients.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
P01 – Mon. June 23 (optional workshop) |
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. | Brenda Enders | How to Build Your Organization’s Mobile Learning Strategy |
Tues. June 24 (Keynote) |
8:30 a.m. | Larry Irving | How Mobile Technology Is Changing Global Learning |
104 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Clark Quinn | Contextualizing mLearning as Part of the Learning and Performance Ecosystem |
109 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Keith Quinn | Using Mobile Technology to Maximize the Effectiveness of Learning |
302 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Jay Campbell | Designing Apps That Boost Behavior Change |
403 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Michael Casdorph, Roman Cibirka | Evolving Mobile Strategy: A Five-year Case Study |
406 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | David Wentworth | A Framework for Mobile Learning |
407 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Paul Morris | How to Use Agile Project Management for Mobile Projects |
503 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Scott Edwards | Building Learning on the Cloud |
504 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Bobby Zarr, Vincent Lucey | Leveraging Mobile Devices for Continuing Medical Education |
505 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Mark Geobel | Engaging Volunteer Education on Any Device |
510 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Clark Quinn | Setting Policies As If Your mLearning Strategy Depended on It |
605 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Linda Hiemer | “E” for Edsel? Lessons Learned from Henry Ford for Implementing eLearning |
610 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Andrew Paller, Tonya Smyth | Going Mobile: Considerations for Creating a Mobile Learning Strategy |
705 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Tiffany Crosby | Redesigning the Learning Sandbox to Include mLearning |
710 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Krista Hildner, Phil Cowcill | How to Calculate the Costs Associated with Building mLearning |
711 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Larry Straining | B.Y.O.D.: Engaging Participants with Their Own Mobile Devices |
801 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Sean Nugent | Implementing a Global Mobile Learning Strategy Across Jaguar Land Rover |
802 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Chris Osborn | Reaching and Teaching Employees in a 24/7 Connected World |
807 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Gary Woodill | The History of Mobile Learning, Through the Lens of Big Data |
904 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Mark Simon | Quality Assurance Strategies for Mobile Training Deployments |
907 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Myra Travin | Mobile Mentorship with the End in Mind |
How do I design for mobile learning?
Good design is critical to success in mobile learning.
A keyword to look for here is “affordances,” a term in the design world that indicates the features of a device or environment that allow you to do something. Only by understanding the many capabilities of mobile devices can you figure out what problems you can solve by using mobile.
Here are key sessions on design for mobile.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
P06 – Mon. June 23 (optional workshop) |
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. | Jim Ferolo, Chad Udell | Creating User Interface and User Experience for Mobile Apps and Websites |
101 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Steven Hoober | How People Hold and Touch Their Mobile Devices |
102 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Sean Bengry | Learners Don’t Color Within the Lines |
103 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Mike Brock | Mobile Blended Learning – a Case Study |
106 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Krista Hildner, Phil Cowcill | Design Considerations for Learners on the Go |
302 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Jay Campbell | Designing Apps That Boost Behavior Change |
401 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Nicholas Yates | Designing Dynamic and Unique Mobile Learning Solutions |
404 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Christopher Allen | Can Serious eLearning be Delivered on a Mobile Device? |
412 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Anita Horsley, Karen Blades | B.Y.O.L.: Optimal Design for Multiple Devices Using Adobe Captivate |
502 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Chris Van Wingerden | Responsive Design – a New Model for Web-based Learning Opportunities |
608 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Tim Wright | Using Empirical Research to Get mLearning Right |
702 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Gary Woodill | How to Apply Design Thinking to Mobile Learning |
703 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Cammy Bean | The Accidental Mobile Designer |
708 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Nick Floro | Designing a Mobile App from Paper to Delivery |
803 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Jose Palomares | The Importance of Language on a Tiny Screen |
810 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Sarah Arkins | Design Basics for Mobile Development: Elements and Principles |
905 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Amy Som | A Responsive Web Solution for a Complex Online Educational Platform |
906 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Deborah Thomas, Sarah Gilbert | Designing a Virtual Mobile World: A Case Study |
908 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Crystal Rose, Tiffany Le Brun | Real-world Responsive Web Design: A Case Study of the mLearnCon Website |
How do I build effective mobile learning content?
The answer to this question depends on your ideas on what constitutes mobile learning content.
At Float, we see it in the broadest terms, from the presentation of materials to live experiences where mobile devices augment a learner’s interaction with the local environment in which they are operating.
The sessions on content development at mLearnCon show the industry thinks of content in many different ways, so if you end up confused, drop by the Float booth and chat with us. We’ll help sort out the issues with you.
How can I use mobile learning for performance support?
While there are many different ways to deploy mobile learning, we think that one of the smartest ways to use it is for performance support.
Instead of just presenting materials in the traditional way (“push”), mobile learning works best when users ask for specific information when they need it (“pull”). Pull requires a new way of thinking for training departments, regarding information architecture and availability.
Here are sessions that reinforce the possibilities of performance support with mobile.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
205 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Paul Schneider | Meeting the Moment: Learning Needs, Mobile Training, and Performance Support |
212 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Paul Clothier | B.Y.O.L.: Simple Tools to Create Mobile Performance Support Content Fast! |
304 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Chad Udell, Marcus Birtwhistle | Assisting Transitioning Vets: A Mobile Performance-support Case Study |
511 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Stephanie Lawless | B.Y.O.L.: Leveraging Articulate Studio’s Engage Tool for Performance Support |
602 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Shailesh Joshi | Mobile Augmented Reality Solutions for Performance Support |
603 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Rebecca Hogue | Using Mobile to Support Clinical Teaching in Family Medicine |
704 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Gregory Moore | Enterprise On-demand Performance Support |
706 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Phillip Neal | Continuous Learning: Does Mobile Have What It Takes? |
Where is mobile learning going in the future?
No one can predict the future with certainty, but some of the most experienced people at the conference have sessions that point to trends over the next few years.
Check out these sessions for a glimpse of the future of mobile learning.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
Tues. June 24 (Keynote) |
8:30 a.m. | Larry Irving | How Mobile Technology is Changing Global Learning |
F03 – Tues. June 24 | 2:30 -3:30 p.m. | Geoff Stead | How Emerging Mobile Technologies Are Redefining the Concept of Content |
202 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Buck Bard | Mobile: Exploring the Future of Learning |
203 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Robert Gadd | Next Gen mLearning: Mixing Formal and Informal for Your Mobile Workers |
Thurs. June 26 (Panel) |
11:00 a.m. | Imogen Casebourne, Clark Quinn, Chad Udell | Today’s mLearning: Exploring Technologies, Strategies, and Possibilities |
Where can I hang out with other techies like me?
Some sessions at mLearnCon are more technical than others, which will attract fellow programmers and developers.
If you like tech talk and want to delve into the code and operating systems, these sessions are for you. You will also pick up lots of new ideas from these experienced techies.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
107 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Robert Christie | Content as an API: The Future of Content Distribution |
111 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Chad Udell | B.Y.O.L.: Create a Tappable App Prototype in Under an Hour |
206 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Jody Baty | Apple iBeacons for Just-in-time Learning |
310 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Richard Schilke | College in Your Pocket: Active Native Application for Online Education |
410 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Art Werkenthin, Chad Udell | PDF Annotation in the Cloud: A Real-world Application of the xAPI |
501 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Tim Martin, Tom Gilbert | Exploring an Advanced Deployment of the xAPI at Lifeway’s Ministry Grid |
508 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Hiba Iseail | Implementing Mobile Learning in a Secure Environment |
509 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Jason Haag, Tyde Richards | EPUB 3 and the xAPI: An Open Platform for Activity-based Mobile Learning |
609 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Jeff Batt | Create Native Learning Apps with Appcelerator |
707 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Kathleen Nordstrom, Szymon Engel | Creating a Mobile Reader… and Beyond! |
806 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Nicole Legault | Three Things You Need to Know to Develop mLearning Using HTML5 |
812 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Jeff Batt | B.Y.O.L.: Learn to Build jQuery Mobile Apps Easily and Quickly |
912 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Michael Sheyahshe | B.Y.O.L.: Using the Power of HTML5 for Mobile Learning |
Where is the cool stuff?
I don’t mean to imply that other sessions are not cool, but this selection of topics features some of the newest ideas and technologies emerging today.
If you want leading-edge thinking for mobile, then attend some of these sessions.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
P04 – Mon. June 23 (optional workshop) |
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. | Robert Gadd, Bryan Austin | Serious Games vs. Gamification: Which Way Should We Play On Mobile |
F01 – Tues. June 24 | 2:30 -3:30 p.m. | Sean McCracken | Wearable Devices and the Future of Mobile Learning |
F03 – Tues. June 24 | 2:30 -3:30 p.m. | Geoff Stead | How Emerging Mobile Technologies Are Redefining the Concept of Content |
105 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Jason Haag | Examples and Tools for Augmented Reality |
108 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Caroline Avey, K. Myasoyedov | Immersive mLearning and Its Impact on Learner Engagement |
109 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Dennis Viehland | Digital Badges for Mobile Learning |
206 – Tues. June 24 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Jody Baty | Apple iBeacons for Just-in-time Learning |
309 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Nancy Reyes | Getting Started with Mobile Game-based Learning; It’s Easier than you Think! |
405 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Cory Colton, Kerry King | It Really Is All Fun and Games: Sales Training Goes Mobile at AutoTrader |
408 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Bill Crose | Using Augmented Reality for Mobile Performance Support |
410 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Art Werkenthin, Chad Udell | PDF Annotation in the Cloud: A Real-world Application of the xAPI |
411 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Carole Meade | B.Y.O.D.: Developing Image Recognition Augmented Reality Training |
501 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Tim Martin, Tom Gilbert | Exploring an Advanced Deployment of the xAPI at Lifeway’s Ministry Grid |
503 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Scott Edwards | Building Learning on the Cloud |
507 – Wed. June 25 | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. | Anne Knowles | Integrating Mobile Media and Full-size Simulators |
602 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Shailesh Joshi | Mobile Augmented Reality Solutions for Performance Support |
606 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Steven Lowenthal, Serge Abellard | Adapt: Device-proof Your Learning |
807 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Gary Woodill | The History of Mobile Learning, Through the Lens of Big Data |
811 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Michael Sheyahshe | B.Y.O.L.: Using Unity3D to Create Insanely Immersive Environments |
911 – Thurs. June 26 | 9:45 -10:45 a.m. | Myra Villar | B.Y.O.L.: The Unique Multi-device Thinking Behind Adobe Edge Animate |
Where can I meet those nice folks at Float Mobile Learning?
As a leading custom mobile learning developer, Float has a strong presence at mLearnCon. You can either drop by our booth (#204) or attend a session given by one or more of our experienced staff (four different Float staff are presenting at this conference). Here is where you can find us.
Session No. & Date | Time | Speaker | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
P06 – Mon. June 23 (optional workshop) |
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. | Jim Ferolo, Chad Udell | Creating User Interface and User Experience for Mobile Apps and Websites |
111 – Tues. June 24 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Chad Udell | B.Y.O.L.: Create a Tappable App Prototype in Under and Hour |
304 – Tues. June 24 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Chad Udell, Marcus Birtwhistle | Assisting Transitioning Vets: A Mobile Performance-support Case Study |
410 – Wed. June 25 | 10:45 -11:45 a.m. | Art Werkenthin, Chad Udell | PDF Annotation in the Cloud: A Real-world Application of the xAPI |
601 – Wed. June 25 | 2:45 -3:45 p.m. | Scott McCormick | Using Game Elements in Mobile Learning Applications |
702 – Wed. June 25 | 4:00 -5:00 p.m. | Gary Woodill | How to Apply Design Thinking to Mobile Learning |
807 – Thurs. June 26 | 8:30 -9:30 a.m. | Gary Woodill | The History of Mobile Learning, Through the Lens of Big Data |
Thurs. June 26 (Panel) |
11:00 a.m. | Imogen Casebourne, Clark Quinn, Chad Udell | Today’s mLearning: Exploring Technologies, Strategies, and Possibilities |
Of course, these are not all the sources of information to answer your questions at mLearnCon 2014.
There are also two stages of brief sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, and many knowledgeable vendors who are more than willing to answer your questions about mobile learning.
We look forward to meeting you at the conference.
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