In the context of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), I don’t see a lot of use of mobile technology for the actual delivery of programs. Most courses remain in the tradition lecture format with supplemental hands-on workshops. There has been some attempts to use audience-response apps such as ‘Poll Everywhere’ or ‘Top Hat’ and these apps are quickly replacing our dependence on iClicker devices in the lecture hall.
Many online courses exist but at this point, most of those I encounter are designed to be viewed on a larger monitor. As technologies now exist to design courses simultaneously for screen, tablet or smartphone, I believe that more courses will be available in this format. For busy professionals, on the go, it will be most beneficial for them to access CPD material anywhere.
One way I do see mobile technology used regularly, is the use of Twitter or other forms of texting during courses and conferences. Large conferences will release a Twitter address for the event. For the organizers, it is a great way to release updated information, such as “Lecture 2 has been moved to Room 7”. Many participants will use the Twitter feed to comment on interesting information they are exposed to. Sometimes their colleagues who were not able to attend the conference will check in on Twitter to see how things are going and if there is any information posted that is relevant to their own work.
Sometimes, the most interesting conversations at a conference happen on Twitter while a lecture is going on. Dozens of people listening to the same lecture will Tweet their comments and questions on the material. Instantly, a small learning community develops with rapid-fire exchanges in real time. Although it can be a distraction, it certainly keeps learners engaged in the subject at hand.
This type of exchange gives learners control within the learning environment, engages others in cooperative learning, gives individuals recognition for their contributions and even fosters friendly competition and challenge when people are trying to best each other at coming up with ideas or other sources information. In short, it hits all of Malone and Lepper’s six categories of intrinsic motivation (1987, as cited in Ciampa, 2013).
Resource:
Ciampa, K. (2013). Learning in a mobile age: An investigation of student motivation. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 30(1), 82–96.