The Institute of Horticultural Development Knoxfield is a private provider that works with vegetable growers to improve their skills. Most growers use mobile phones, so we conducted a Learnscope Project to evaluate the use of WAP and SMS technologies to deliver learning to directly to individuals.

What did we do?

• Investigated the potential of the various services available using consultants from Telstra.
• Debriefed each other on what we had learned and evaluated how the different services could be used
• Chose two services that were within our capabilities and the time allowed
• Developed a pilot program which would compare the usability of SMS with WAP email in the delivery of information for a marketing competency
• Designed learning material to be used in the program
• Developed a simulation activity to engage the learners
• Inducted the learners into the technology and the activity
• Conducted the simulation and supported the learners during the time
• Sent information to groups of learners with mobiles using a computer
• Debriefed the learners and evaluated what we had learned from the trial

Some of the hiccups along the way were:

• The difficulties of the technology. At our second meeting with Telstra our IT people confirmed the difficulties of working through the Institute firewall. This would have been essential if we were to use WAP browsing
• Institute policy. There is a policy on IT and related matters. The policy applies across the whole of the DNRE. Trying to change this policy from below would take a long time and a lot of effort. It was envisaged that eventually the policy would change as the technology became more commonplace
• Inflexibility within the Telstra services. Telstra would only allow us to put learning material on their own Telsra.com site. They were not set up to allow us to use our own WAP browsing site
• Availability of other technology. Telstra consultants suggested that the use of SMS messaging and WAP email were easier systems to work with than WAP browsing
• Difficulty of working with outside groups during the development phase of a project. We had considered trialing the process on a group of growers. But the experimental nature of the system led us to recognise that as an organisation we should trial it internally first.
• The need to ensure participation by the people we trialed the system with. We reasoned that getting busy people to participate would need more than just presenting them with information and expecting a reply. So we changed our delivery content to a simulation activity, with winners, losers and a prize at the end. It worked!

What did we learn?

• The advantages and limitations of the technology - as a group we understand what can be done easily now and what can't. We developed a long list of advantages and disadvantages for the technology.
• We learnt that the use of computers to communicate with groups of people on mobiles phones was relatively easy once the systems were set up and the learners inducted
• A summary of the technology was developed to help us understand how it all came together. (see attached) This still does not fully illustrate the complexity of it all
• The way in which people use technology - that they need to be inducted, coached and cajoled. Many of our trial group had initial difficulties, which were eventually overcome.
• That every project needs a trial phase, and not just one trial. We briefed our trial group then launched into it and found the group really hadn't grasped the technology - or the simulation for that matter.
• That technology can be learned - you learn by starting to use it.
• That once you've started investigating something you want to learn more about it. Many of the group now want to see what else can be done.
• All agreed that the use of SMS, sent from a computer, was far easier and more valuable than the use of WAP email or WAP browsing
• We learnt that most of the difficulties in using the mobile services related to replying to messages, not in receiving them.
• Overall the group see SMS, sent from a computer to a mobile to be a most valuable tool in the dissemination of small chunks of information to learners spread over a wide area.. SMS is a short and sweet form of communication that does not involve sender or receiver in lengthy conversations. Yet it is stored in the users phone and can be retrieved at any time for revision.

How do I start using this?

• Go to Telstra.com.au and click on Email and Messaging, then select Webnotes.
• Just follow the instructions!
• Make sure you have a mobile account to charge your computer SMS calls to.
• Good luck!