Stanford University's International Outreach Program (IOP) is changing the way universities think about distance learning. In April 2007, IOP launched the Dunia Moja Project - "one world" in Swahili - at Stanford and three partnering universities in Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa. The mobile-learning pilot project gives scientists and students the ability to access environmental-science course materials and interact with each other using high-tech mobile phones.
Once conducted by mail, distance-learning programs now offer web-based courses and materials. But in Africa and other parts of the developing world, students have better access to cell phones than to computers and Internet connections. So IOP proposed an innovative approach: Offer course materials via cell phones.
"We're experimenting with a new model for distance learning that incorporate both local and global perspectives," says Shelley Goldman, Stanford professor of education. "We're looking at how mobile technologies can be used to give people access to information and education."
Both Ericsson and Sony Ericsson collaborated with Stanford to provide mobile smart phones equipped with video cameras, audio recorders, and Internet capability, as well as technical and other support for the pilot version of the course. Students at Makerere University, Mweka College of African Wildlife Management, University of the Western Cape, and Stanford University use the phones to access the course website, send text messages, and post media to mobile blogs.
IOP director Reinhold Steinbeck says, "The collaboration is well matched with the IOP's goal of promoting multidisciplinary curricula that address global challenges, introduce innovative learning and teaching approaches, and take advantage of cutting-edge information and communication technologies."
The project not only seeks to increase environmental awareness and action, but also to better understand the challenges and opportunities in harnessing mobile technology for learning. Steinbeck plans to run a full version of the course this academic year.
The Stanford University International Outreach Program (IOP) facilitates the extension and adaptation of educational activities and teaching programs for collaborative partnerships with universities in Africa, Asia, and South America. IOP activities focus on key interdisciplinary programs in international peace and security, economic development, global health and human well-being, environment and sustainability, and education.
Innovative teaching and learning approaches, multidisciplinary curriculums, appropriate uses of Information and Communications Technologies, in conjunction with building teaching capacity among partners provide the framework for directing IOP’s program activities. IOP is anchored within Stanford’s International Initiative and housed at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI).