International award for mobile learning project

September 28, 2011

The International E-Learning Association has awarded its 2011 E-Learning Award to the Athabasca University Mobile Learning Project. The award was announced at the organization's annual conference in Piest'any, Slovakia on September 22, 2011.

Since 2007, Athabasca University has been doing cutting-edge research in mobile learning focusing on using mobile devices to deliver language training. The Athabasca University Mobile Learning project consists of four stages:

• Mobile ESL, a text-based interactive component designed specifically for new Canadians needing ESL training to enter the workforce
• Workplace English - a multimedia component for basic mobile devices and smartphones
• Accent Reduction - mobile workplace English content offering users a variety of speaking and listening activities to assist in improving English pronunciation
• Mobile French - a five lesson module developed for beginners. 

"Mobile learning will become more and more mainstream in the future with dramatic improvement in the capabilities of the next generation mobile phones and the continuing popularity of tablets and netbooks. Educational institutions need to adjust to this new reality for accessibility," said Dr. Rory McGreal, associate vice-president (research).

Another university project, Bacterial Taxonomy Learning Tree, picked up an honourable mention at the 2011 IELA Awards.

About the IELA
The International E-Learning Association (IELA) is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and practice of e-learning in the classroom and the workplace. With members hailing from every continent-and from the realms of business, industry, government, and academia-the IELA is a vibrant and diverse community of e-learning professionals, researchers, and students.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Rory McGreal
Associate Vice-President (Research)
rory@athabascau.ca
1-780-994-9579

 

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Updated August 21, 2012