Project website
What research questions the project addresses, aims & themes
'MOTILL - Mobile Technologies in Lifelong Learning: best practices', was funded by the European Commission within the National Lifelong Learning Strategies programme. MOTILL aimed to investigate how mobile technologies may impact on the diffusion of a social model where learning and knowledge are accessible to all. The project involved 4 European partners (Italy, UK, Hungary, Ireland) and engaged with national policymakers to raise awareness of research evidence and best practices.
The project set out to review and critique existing mobile learning initiatives and projects, so as to identify those that were particularly applicable to lifelong learning. The concept of 'mobile lifelong learning' was investigated in depth by fully exploring the intersection of mobile learning and lifelong learning. The concept of 'transitions' also needed to be re-examined in the context of mobile lifelong learning. The project adopted a critical stance towards the idea of 'best practices'; at the same time, it sought to identify aspects of good or effective practices that could be communicated to different stakeholders including policymakers.
How the research questions are addressed by the project (methodology and activity/environment)
The project methodology included the collaborative creation of a database of reviews of research publications and the development of evaluation criteria for the identification of effective practices in the use of mobile technologies for lifelong learning.
The project adopted a rigorous approach to build the Scientific Annotated Review Database (SARD), which provided a comprehensive set of references to the major research initiatives and publications concerning the use of mobile technologies in Lifelong Learning, supported by integrative and critical commentary.
It was also necessary to develop a tailored methodological framework to analyse and highlight mobile learning experiences and projects. The resulting Evaluation Grid was then used as a basis for interviews with the leaders of a range of mobile learning projects. Analysis of the interview data helped identify a collection of 'best practices'.
Finally, a set of principles was articulated for the adoption of mobile learning in support of lifelong learning. These principles were endorsed by policymakers in a set of signed 'Intentional agreements' (Declarations of Intent) through which policymakers made a commitment to supporting and developing mobile lifelong learning.
Findings and outputs
- an up-to-date survey on the use of mobile technologies in learning and training projects in the partners' countries, taking into account the policies set up in the various countries by relevant institutions;
- a methodological framework to analyse and highlight best practices. This framework identifies the key factors to assess and the main indicators to consider, and establishes the principal criteria for constructing the Evaluation Grid;
- a MOTILL Web Portal aimed at supporting knowledge construction and sharing of common experiences, including an open space for public discussions, involving public and private institutions, research centres, educators, and trainers, on the impact of Information Society Technologies (IST) on the future of lifelong learning.
- A Scientific Annotated Review Database (SARD), i.e. an annotated repository, bringing together projects, key experiences and scholarly studies concerning lifelong learning experiences using mobile technologies.
- a Best Practices Collection (BPC), drawing together national m-learning projects examined from different points of view. This collection aids the determination of the impacts of various mobile lifelong learning projects on participation and social inclusion policies.
Project impact
In line with the initial objectives of the project, national agreements (Declaration of intent for best practices adoption) were signed with Italian, British, Irish, Hungarian and Netherlands policymakers, research institutes and universities.
27 Declarations of Intent were signed in Italy, the UK, Ireland, Hungary and the Netherlands with national agencies in the learning and training sector, research institutes, universities, local agencies, schools, entrepreneurial associations and vocational institutions. This large number of agreements signed with prestigious policymakers showed that the MOTILL results were greatly appreciated.
Publications
See the project website for documents and slides
Keywords
Lifelong Learning, Mobile Technologies, Mobile Learning
People involved
Agnes Kukulska-Hulme
John Pettit
Alice Peasgood
Rob Farrow
Project partners and links
- Italian National Research Council - Institute for Educational Technology of Palermo - Italy (coordinator)
- The Open University (UK) - Institute of Educational Technology;
- Trinity college of Dublin (Ireland) - Department of Computer Science & Education;
- Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary) - Department of Information Systems
Funder(s)
European Commission within the National Lifelong Learning Strategies (NLLS) - Transversal programme - Key Activity1: Policy Cooperation and Innovation of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013
Start Date and duration
1 March 2009 - 28 February 2010