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mPSS: a system for mobile and vocational education and training

Abstract

Mobile devices are always available, are very popular and can be used for different learning functionalities, ranging from communication and collaboration purposes to providing access to contents, both informational and instructional. Performance-centered approach has been proven to be more effective than the traditional lecture-practice-test (expository inductive) in training higher order skills, for preparing learners for self-learning, improving, adapting for changing jobs.

The mPSS project applies performance-centered approach in mobile learning management system for educational and training purposes. Students receive a set of learning resources, consisting in description of adaptive scenarios performance centered assessment methods and criteria for evaluation and experts’ advices. Evaluation plan/strategy and the measurement instruments are aimed at measuring the effect of the project on knowledge, skills and attitudes of students and trainees. We present the design and implementation of this project for several courses that will be used by different students of various matters in several European countries.

Introduction

There is an old adage in distance education research which states ‘It is not technologies with inherent pedagogical advantages which are successful in distance education, but technologies which are generally available to citizens’. This is nowadays closely related with mobile telephony technologies. It is not an outrageous statement to say that every student in every program in every institution possesses one and use them constantly for every aspect of life except their education. Mobile learning may be defined as the provision of education and training on mobile devices: PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) smartphones, and mobile phones, including handhelds and palmtops, MP3 players and iPods. Dye1 gives a much more conceptual definition saying that device should be ‘able to be used wirelessly’, ‘able to be used standing with minimal effort’, ‘small enough to be held in one hand’ and ‘a device that a gentleman can hold in a pocket or a lady in a handbag’. We think that if several different industries (news, sports, and pornography) are able to provide without problem text and graphics to their customers, we can design our system being sure that it is clearly possible for mobile learning providers to provide mobile learning courseware to their students.

What is mPSS?

Our group has been involved in the design, development, evaluation and implementation of PSS (Performance Support Systems) in higher engineering and vocational education2, leading to the development of Internet-based Performance Support System with Educational Elements (IPSS_EE) 3, which exhibits all features of a Learning Content Management System.

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Castro, M., & Diaz, G., & Lopez-Aldea, E., & Oliva, N., & Mileva, N., & Martinez-Mediano, C., & Milev, M., & Tzanova, S., & Tovar, E., & Llamas, M. (2010, June), Mpss: A System For Mobile And Vocational Education And Training Paper presented at 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. 10.18260/1-2--16072