WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS

Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE)

Kick-Off Workshop

Location:

Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel

108 Baker Street, London W1U 6LJ

9-11 February 2011

Principal Investigator:

Jacob Hodges, Q&P Ltd

1. Introduction

On 9-11 February 2011, the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes hosted a Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) Kick-Off Workshop for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CNE)/Commander, Naval Forces Africa (CNA) Deputy Director of Training/Readiness. The purpose of this three-day workshop was to kick-off the Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) project so that US/International Delegates can be involved in the development and deployment of medical mobile content that will provide emergent training/reach-back capability that supports global military operations.

The Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) project consists of academia, government and non-government delegates from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Egypt, France, Egypt, Germany, Georgia, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

2. Presentations/Discussions

Day 1 – 9 February 2011

a.  Jacob Hodges welcomed all participants to the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes and provide administrative announcements regarding minor changes to the schedule, room allocations, Safety, Delegate Listing, CD’s and other information.

b.  Herbert (Duke) Boutwell opened the Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) by providing a brief introduction and then asked each Country Delegate Lead to introduce their team members.

c.  Duke Boutwell provided his briefing, entitled “Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) Coalition Warfare Program.” He presented an Introduction of MoLE, map of the MoLE Participants, Goals & Objectives Overview, Overview of Deliverables, Organizational Chart, Primary Objectives, Desired End State, Overview of the Working Groups (i.e., Medical Content, Technology & Transition, and Testing & Evaluation) and ended with a discussion of National Languages.

d.  Geoff Stead presented “MoLE – The Movie,” which provided a short introduction of the MoLE Project and provided some stimulating thoughts on how the project will develop applications available to the twenty-two (22) international countries.

e.  Geoff Stead presented “Mobile Learning: Opportunities to Enhance How We Work and Learn” which discussed how mobile technology is transforming how we work and learn, State of the Art, International Mobile Footprint, International Variations on how mobile technologies are used, Mobile Internet Connectivity Around the World, QR Codes, Mobile Learning, Mobile Learning Convergence Point, and an MoLE Learning-Apps Overview.

f.  Jim Fike, the Medical Content Chair, presented the “Introduction: Mobile Medical Content Working Group.” He presented the Primary Objectives, Background, Approach, Collaboration Opportunities and introduced the Medical Content Team Leaders.

g.  Mark Willmann, the Technology & Transition Chair, presented the “Introduction: Technology & Transition Working Group.” He presented the Primary Objectives, Background, Approach, Collaboration Opportunities and introduced the Technology & Transition Team Leaders.

h.  Gary Anaya, the Testing & Evaluation Chair, presented the “Introduction: Assessment Working Group.” He presented the Primary Objectives, Background, Approach, Collaboration Opportunities and introduced the Testing & Evaluation Team Leaders.

i.  Following lunch, each MoLE Delegates participated in the breakout session for their respective area (i.e., Medical Content Working Group, Technology & Transition Working Group, and Testing & Evaluation Working Group). During the first day’s session, each group conducted an introduction of working group members and started collaborative discussions on the way-ahead.

(1)  The Medical Content Working Group convened in Doyle 3. The Working Group Chair started the Medical Content Working Group by presenting and Introduction and Overview and conducting Individual Introductions.

(2)  The Technology & Transition Working Group convened in the Boardroom. The Working Group Chair/Co-Chair provided Welcoming Remarks and each delegate introduced themselves. An overarching presentation was provided on the Working Group Description, Relationship to other Working Groups and Technical Design Excerpts from the CWP Management Plan before initiating in-depth collaborative discussions.

(3)  The Testing & Evaluation Working Group convened in Doyle 1. The Working Group Chair and Co-chair provided Welcoming Remarks and each delegate introduced themselves. In initiating discussions, the Chair provided an overview of the Assessment Primary Objectives, Assessment Process, Requirements, Assessment Critical Operational Issues (CoIs), Structure of CoIs, Issues and Criteria, CoIs, Measures of Effectiveness (MoE), Measures of Performance (MoP), Measure of Suitability (MoS), Data Analysis and Collection Plan, Evaluation Process Example, Working Group Tasks, and the MoLE Implementation Timeline.

j.  During lunch, a mid-year review was conducted on an Science & Technology (S&T) research project entitled “Understanding Cultural Differences When Deploying Speech-enabled Voice Capabilities.” The research project was awarded by the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) Grant # N62909-10-1-7120 and co-funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), ONR Global, European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD) and the ADL Co-Lab.

Day 2 – 10 February 2011

a.  The Medical Content Working Group continued from Day 1 by conducting a Primary Objectives Review, discussing What Has Already Happened on the Project, Medical Support to Non-Combatant Operations, Methodology, Expectations and Deliverables. The MoLE Video was replayed and the Next Steps/Workshop Goals were discussed.

b.  The Technology & Transition Working Group continued from Day 1 with more in-depth discussions. Working Group discussions focused on Mobile Technical Considerations, Medical Mobile Development, Mobile Application Characteristics and Use, LMS Integration and Mobile Applications a, and Applications and LMS Technical Design. Geoff Stead presented “Mobile Apps for Learning,” which discussed Mobile Learning Convergence Point, MoLE Project Convergence Point, MoLE Learning-Apps Overview, One App-Many Devices-All My Learning, Cross-Platform Mobile Development, Mobile Web and HTML5, Web – App Hybrid = Sweet Spot, Live Content Can Be Downloaded, HTML – Style, Template – Style, ‘Not e-Learning Style,” Mobile Learning Eco-System, App Architecture Optimized for Extensible Learning, Multi-tiered Approach to Deal With A Range of Devices, and Some Specific Challenges Around Interactivity.

c.  The Testing and Evaluation Group continued from Day 1 with more in-depth collaborations with the use of several sub-working groups discussing Multi-National Testing & Evaluation Requirements, Learning Effectiveness, and Technology/Human-Computer-Interface (HCI) Interface.

d.  During lunch, a kick-off meeting was conducted on a Science & Technology (S&T) research project entitled “Language (Medical Terminology) Assistance to Multinational Partners in Coalition Operations.” The research project was awarded by the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) Grant # N62909-11-1-7045 and funded by the Coalition Warfare Program (CWP) as part of the MoLE Project.

Day 3 – 11 February 2011

a.  Duke Boutwell opened the final day by providing a “Thank You” to all of those involved in making this project happen – from the program sponsor (OSD AT&L/Coalition Warfare Program (CWP) Office) to the MoLE Team Members.

b.  Duke Boutwell provided a stimulating discussion on Expectations and “What’s In It For Me?” He stated that he expected each MoLE Delegate to actively participate on the MoLE Collaboration Portal, Develop a “Home Team” that engages with each of the MoLE Working Groups since the next 30-days is critical to the project. In return, MoLE will help each country overcome some of the challenges of providing health services, help each country team benefit on the applications created by MoLE and provide a sustainable product.

c.  Jim Fike provided a “Mobile Medical Content Working Group Outbrief” which included Working Group Challenges/Progress, Case Study #1: Quick References, Case Study #2: Refreshed m-Learning Materials, Case Study #3: Potential Productivity Tools, Case Study #4: Collaboration and Communication, Additional Issues and the Next Steps/Post-Workshop Goals.

d.  Mark Willmann provided a “Technology and Transition Working Group Outbrief” which included MoLE Kick-Off Accomplishments, Related Requirements, Milestones, Documentation and Coordination Meetings.

e.  Gary Anaya provided a “Testing & Evaluation Working Group Outbrief” which included Assessment Accomplishments and Assessment Issues.

f.  Scott Shephard and Mark Willmann demonstrated the usage of the Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) Community of Interest (CoI) (https://jko.harmonieweb.org/coi/mole) and showed delegates how to use the portal as well as how to change their password. Questions and Answers were taken from the delegates to address current issues or problems in logging-onto the JKO MoLE CoI.

g.  Scott Shephard closed the MoLE Kick-Off Workshop by recapping Expectations and “What’s In It For Me.”

h.  During the lunch-time session, a kick-off meeting was conducted on a Science & Technology (S&T) research project entitled “Mobile Learning Environment (MoLE) Science & Technology (S&T) Transition.” The research project was awarded by the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) Grant # N62909-11-1-7025 and funded by the Coalition Warfare Program (CWP) as part of the MoLE Project.

This work relates to Department of the Navy Grant # N62909-11-1-1032 issued by the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG). The grant was co-funded by OSD AT&L (CWP Office), ONRG, European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD) and U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).