CHiLO: Using an e-textbook to create an ad-hoc m-learning environment

Abstract

Open education offers higher education opportunities for underprivileged communities and solves the problem of deficit in learning resources, such as human and material resources, throughout developing countries. Open education, however, has certain challenges in terms of dependency on the Internet. The use of mobile devices is expected to aid in meeting these challenges. Mobile learning (m-learning), which is learning through mobile devices using various modes of communications like a phone line and contiguous communications, can potentially provide learning services anytime and anywhere without using the Internet. Our Creative Higher Education with Learning Object (CHiLO) project aims to provide an adaptable learning environment corresponding to diversification and uncertainty in large-scale online courses such as MOOCs using device-agnostic m-learning centered on e-textbooks with media rich content. It also aims at a comprehensive open network learning system through the use of various existing technologies and various learning resources, including OER on open network communities, such as SNS. Our set of experimental outcomes demonstrates the efficacy of m-learning using CHiLO, particularly with an e-textbook, including media-rich content, nano lectures, and digital badges.