Mobile Learning Project Management

Debbie Richards

@cre8iveii

Overview

• Discover how to frame and pitch a mobile learning business strategy.

• Identify project management considerations for a successful mobile learning development project.

• Learn about best practices for a successful mobile learning implementation plan.

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

Project Management

Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals.

http://www.dashe.com/blog/mobile-learning/barriers-to-implementing-mobile-learning/@cre8iveii

Case Study

Mobile technology is changing the way we live and it is beginning to change the way we learn.

@cre8iveii

Business Strategy@cre8iveii

Business Strategy

• Who is the audience?• What is the need? • What problem are you trying to solve?Understanding the business issues that are driving a mobile learning project is especially important when it comes to selling the idea to, and obtaining a budget from, senior management.

Mastering Mobile Learning by Chad Udell and Gary Woodill

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

Executive SummaryCompose a single page that will provide a clear, concise summary of the proposed solution.

@cre8iveii

Business Case

Implementation needs to be a response to a specific set of business problems.

Include

•Scope•Metrics•Estimates

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

Problem StatementClearly state the specific business problem(s) to be addressed.

Solution/Objectives

Proposed Solution: Outline the proposed solution.

Project Objectives: State what the proposed solution is trying to accomplish.

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

Current Process

Identify the organizational processes that the proposed solution will affect including:• Internal departments• Clients• external partners• Vendors• Competition

@cre8iveii

Requirements

List the resources needed to complete the project• Staff• Hardware• Software• Time• Budget

@cre8iveii

Stakeholders

Identify stakeholders at different levels of the organization – they will become your “champions”.Gather and evaluate their requirements.

@cre8iveii

Business Unit Managers

@cre8iveii

Learners

Work remotely and require “point of need” training support?

Travel often and need access to training materials from airplanes or other places with no internet access?

Use the same mobile devices, or is there a mix?

@cre8iveii

Alternatives

Compare and contrast each of the alternatives with the proposed solution.

State similarities and differences, benefits and detriments, and costs associated with each option.

Considerations@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

Project Management ConsiderationsArticulate and update policies that may be impacted by the project.

Review ethical and privacy standards that the technology may require.

@cre8iveii

Critical Success Factors

• Effects on partnership agreements with specific vendors, internal marketing and promotion

• Potential need for help desk or customer support

@cre8iveii

Teams

• Project manager• Stakeholder committee • Communications team• Development team• Delivery/Deployment team

@cre8iveii

Technology

• Choices• Company owned or

BYOD?• What software is

needed? Who will deploy and test?

• Security policies?

• Management• IT• External vendor

@cre8iveii

IT

• Crucial differentiators in resolving infrastructure needs and security protocols

• Help with establishing consistent policies on providing mobile devices to employees and accommodating BYOD

@cre8iveii

Constraints

Organization or Technical

@cre8iveii

Assumptions

• Do you assume a certain dollar return?

• Or productivity increase?• Or accident decrease?

@cre8iveii

Action PlanRecommendations

Propose specific action steps.

State your short-term and long-term action plans, including major milestones.

@cre8iveii

Success

Outline how you will measure the solution’s overall success (tie directly to project objectives).

Implementation@cre8iveii

Case Study

@cre8iveii

Implementation Plan• Should be dynamic and

adaptable• Anticipate additional

decisions and information that may come later in the project

@cre8iveii

Implement/Deploy

• Operations team trained • Will assist users going

forward• Perform regular evaluations

and collect usage data

@cre8iveii

Measure Results

• Quantitative – click rates, downloads

• Qualitative – user surveys, focus groups, performance improvement

@cre8iveii

Advocate for Greater Investment• Use effectiveness and

concrete examples of mobile learning’s positive effects on business pain points to demonstrate mobile’s contribution to the organization.

• Influence budgeting for and greater adoption of mobile programs.

@cre8iveii

Pilot Project

• Pick one project, and don’t try to do a lot of things at once.

• Clear focus, realistic schedules, specific goals, and small-scale pilots allow for evaluation and adjustments at every stage of development.

Steve Sniderman, Amway

Pilot Project

• Insight into what works well and what needs adjustment

• Goal• Success• How long• Selection and education

of participants

Pilot Project

• Generate buzz• Share project goals• Tell users how it will impact

their jobs

https://basecamp.com/@cre8iveii

https://sites.google.com/a/adlnet.gov/mobile-learning-guide/home/

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

@cre8iveii

• Building a Business Case for Mobile Learning http://ihrim.org/Pubonline/Wire/August12/SumT_wp_FieldGuide_MobileLearning.pdf

• How to Survive Your First mLearning Projecthttp://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1359/mobile-elearning-design-how-to-survive-your-first-mlearning-project

@cre8iveii

Summary

Debbie Richards@cre8iveii

debbie@cre8iveii.com