This document discusses whether common eLearning authoring tools are ready for creating mobile learning content. It analyzes several popular tools on mobile devices and finds that while the core content can display, usability issues arise due to small screen sizes and some interactivity not working well. It recommends either modifying existing designs for mobile or using specialized mobile learning authoring tools that are optimized for touchscreens and mobile formats.

1. ARE ELEARNING TOOLS
READY FOR THE MOBILE
REVOLUTION?
Helmut Doll, Ph.D., Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University,
Eric Milks, Project Manager, Institute for Interactive Technologies,
Bloomsburg University,
Mary Nicholson, Ph.D., Professor, Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg
University,
Timothy Phillips, Ph.D., Chairperson, Instructional Technology,
Bloomsburg University

2. HTTP://WWW.SLIDESHARE.NET/
HDOLL/ARE-ELEARNING-TOOLS-
READY-FOR-THE-MOBILE-
REVOLUTION

3. HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION
CREATED MOBILE LEARNING
CONTENT?

4. IS THERE DEMAND IN YOUR
ORGANIZATION FOR
MLEARNING?

5. APTARA STUDY (EARLY 2010)

6. WHAT IS YOUR ‘USUAL’
AUTHORING TOOL?

7. THE QUESTION:
Can you use your usual rapid authoring tool to create mLearning
content?
Can you convert your existing content (built using those tools) to
mLearning?

9. THE TOOLS

10. HTTP://IIT.BLOOMU.EDU/
SALT2011/

11. THE DEVICES

12. ITEMS WE LOOKED FOR
๏ Compatibility
๏ Multimedia
๏ Interactivity

13. SUPPORTED TECHNOLOGIES

14. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

15. FIRST APPROACH: DON’T DO
ANYTHING DIFFERENT FOR
MOBILE

16. EXAMPLE 1: http://iit.bloomu.edu/salt2011/articulate/
ARTICULATE ON
ANDROID

17. EXAMPLE 1: http://iit.bloomu.edu/salt2011/articulate/
ARTICULATE ON
ANDROID

18. http://iit.bloomu.edu/salt2011/articulate/
Click and hold on/below URL address bar to
HINT enter full-screen mode

19. SUPPORTED FEATURES
flv wav
mp4
mp3
m4v

20. Large
buttons
Small work well
buttons are
almost
unusable
SIZE ISSUES ARE BIG

21. NOTICE: SIZE OF Size especially affects Engage interactions and
NUMBER BUTTONS navigation

22. ARTICULATE HTML PLAYER

23. WHAT ABOUT TEXT INPUT?

24. DRAG AND DROP

25. BETTER APPROACH: MODIFY
YOUR DESIGN

26. RECOMMENDATION: CUSTOM
NAVIGATION BUTTONS

27. INCREASE FONT SIZES

28. ADOBE CAPTIVATE
๏ Very similar results
๏ Everything works technically
๏ Usability issues due to small size

29. ROLLOVER INTERACTIONS DO NOT
WORK

30. ROLLOVER INTERACTIONS DO NOT
WORK

31. CAPTIVATE WORKFLOW

33. LECTORA
๏ Template based content authoring
๏ HTML output
๏ Interactivity with HTML/JS/CSS and Flash Games
๏ Mobile templates for phones and tablet devices

34. SOME ISSUES
๏ DEFAULT TEMPLATE SIZE 320X480
๏ REQUIRES MORE ADJUSTMENTS
๏ INTERFACE ELEMENT SIZES MORE
APPROPRIATE FOR MOBILE
๏ PLACEMENT OF ITEMS SOMETIMES
DOES NOT FIT THE TEMPLATE AT
ALL
๏ DRAG-AND-DROP INTERACTIVITY
DOES NOT WORK

35. THE GOOD NEWS
๏ Almost all functionality of Lectora sites is available on
most smart-phones

36. SPECIAL CASE: POWERPOINT
๏ No support from factory
๏ But: many options

37. PPT MOBILE OPTIONS

38. SPECIALIZED TOOLS FOR MLEARNING
http://www.outstart.com/about-hot-lava-mobile.htm
http://www.mobl21.com/
Ready go Web Course Builder
http://www.readygo.com/
mLearning Studio
http://www.rapidintake.com/products/mobile/
mobile-learning-studio/
Any we missed?

39. WHAT IS MISSING?

40. GESTURE SUPPORT

41. OTHER ITEMS

42. SUMMARY
๏ HTML/Flash or Apple/World divide is the largest obstacle
๏ The common rapid eLearning authoring solutions can be
used to create mLearning content
๏ Size issues are common
๏ Some interactivity does not work on the mobile devices
๏ Content should be redesigned for mobile learners