Here are some starting questions for you to consider when planning a mobile learning initiative.
Objectives
Why do you want to implement a mobile learning project?
What unique result do you want to achieve?
How you will know when you have met your goals?
What do you really want to do?
Internal Forces
Is use of mobile devices increasing?
Is the average age of learners decreasing?
Are there training needs that are not being met for mobile audience?
Does important information change frequently?
Is there sufficient support from IT and content owners?
External Forces
Are mobile devices in use by targeted audience?
Are others leveraging mobile devices for learning?
Who currently administers mobile devices?
What future developments for mobile learning are on the horizon?
Instructional Strategies
Is this for formal learning programs, informal learning or performance support?
What kind of user interface will you use?
What content creation tools will be used?
What interactions will be used?
Who owns the rights to content?
Implementation
Who is going to produce the content?
What content product standards will be employed?
What devices will be used/supported?
What actions or activities need to be tracked?
Does the content currently exist in another form?
Audience and Stakeholders
For whom is your mobile initiative intended?
Who are your major stakeholders?
What will your stakeholders need to be successful?
Is there a champion in management that can help mobile learning?
Have you involved both legal and IT?
Technical
Where is the content going to reside?
What content distribution methods will be used?
Who will provide the service?
What network will be used for distribution?
Evaluation
How will you evaluate your effectiveness?
How will you assess learning?
What reports will be generated and for whom?
Do you have a core group available for testing and evaluation?
Challenges
What do you need to get the project done?
How are you going to fund it?
Who is going to pay for the equipment, the network and service charges?
How will this new opportunity be communicated/marketed?
How long will you be able to sustain it?
Opportunities
Is there a specific initiative that will benefit from mobile learning?
What current content can be re-purposed for mobile distribution?
Is there an additional audience for your content?
Security
What security mechanisms will you have in place?
What training on securing devices will be available?
Support
What user support do you need to provide?
What user support will you provide?
Will users need training on the use of the devices?
