How to Play MP3s and or MP4s on a Mobile Device for mLearning: Part 3 - mLearning Playback from a CD

In Part 2, we reviewed how to transfer and play audio files and videos on MP3/MP4 players and smartphones. With updates of the Android platform, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Zune out, that was pretty relevant and timely material. For Part 3 however, “relative” is the key word…

During a recent needs assessment I was conducting in a discovery of learner profiles and required mLearning media types, I was surprised to identify a need for a transfer and route-to-play on of all things, a compact disk. We assumed we would be focused on the latest and greatest - playing mLearning on BlackBerries, iPods, iPhones, off the cloud…, but I discovered that some, and some in very high places (including an EVP of Sales who reported to the CEO), wanted to be able to take a CD with them so they could play it in their car stereo, laptop, or other CD-capable player. My first impulse was “wow, we need to upgrade some technology around here and train folks on how to use it,” but the reality is, that is what those learners needed and quite frankly, a little bit of training or job-aide assistance makes those baby-boomer execs equally capable of accessing the same mLearning media the typical millennial would access through more modern means. Bottom line, know who your learners are, know how they learn best, and know their work environments and the tools they use to do their jobs so that the solution you provide is relevant to the learner. The only way you can know these things and save time, effort, and pain is through a needs assessment. I love instructional systems design!…

That all being said, if a CD player is all you have handy and that is your preferred mode of learning, this tutorial is for you.

Part 3: Play mLearning on a CD Player

Play MP3 > Play on CD

The instructions that follow assume you have a CD or DVD burner and Windows Media Player installed as the default media application for audio. The instructions are similar for iTunes, or other CD burning software. See the instructions specific to your software or preferred application if you are not using Windows Media Player.

1. First, you want to save the MP3 or MP4 files to your laptop or workstation. Save as you would any file, but if you are accessing from a web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided (assuming you trust the source).
2. If prompted to display non-secure items, click Yes.
3. Click on the title-link you want to save.
4. Select Save Target As…
5. Navigate to the directory of your choosing from the Save As window.
6. Open My Computer.
7. Click and drag the MP3/MP4 file(s) from the directory to the CD/DVD drive in My Computer.
8. Right click on the CD/DVD drive.
9. Select Write these files to CD. The CD Writing Wizard opens.
10. Name the CD (optional).
11. Click Next.
12. Select Make an audio CD.
13. Click Next. Windows Media Player opens.
14. Click Start Burn (at the lower right).
15. Once the disk has completed burning, you can play it in any disk player that supports MP3 and or MP4 files for audio and video codecs.

In Part 4, we’ll review routes- to-play mLearning on the BlackBerry.

How to Play MP3s and or MP4s on a Mobile Device for mLearning: Part 2 - mLearning Playback on an MP3/MP4 Player or Smartphone

In the last entry, we discussed how to play mLearning media such as MP3 audio files and MP4 video files from a laptop; whether direct from an enclosed link in a browser and email, or if saved locally to the hard drive. Rudimentary stuff for some of you, but it's good to start simple. What's great about knowing how this is done from a laptop is that very similar methods and applications are used when playing from an MP3 player such as an iPod Nano, an MP3/MP4 player such as an iPod Touch or Zune, or a smartphone such as a Droid or iPhone. Most such devices have a local web browser or at least synchronize through one on your laptop, and each has local storage capacity in the form of a hard drive. Thusly, the tutorials we discuss moving forward are very similar in that we will access media directly from a browser on each device, or save locally and play later – just like music.

Part 2: Play mLearning on an MP3 or MP3/MP4 Player or SmartPhone

Play MP3 > Play on an MP3/MP4 Device or SmartPhone > Play Direct from Browser

These instructions assume your device has the ability to browse the Web and store downloaded file data, such as with an iPod Touch or Droid.

1. From the appropriate web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided to you for the MP3 or MP4 files.
2. If prompted to display non-secure items, click Yes (assuming you trust the source).
   
3. Click on the title-link you want to listen to.
4. The MP3/MP4 you selected should open and play in the device’s default audio player. Note that depending on your connection strength and file size, the file may need to load before it starts to play

Play MP3 > Play on MP3/MP4 Player or Smartphone > Save to Device and Play

These instructions assume your device has the ability to browse the Web through WiFi (a wireless internet connection) or mobile network and store downloaded file data, such as with a Droid, Palm Pre or a iPhone.

1. From the appropriate web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided to you for the MP3 or MP4 files.
2. Click on the title-link you want to listen to.
3. If prompted to Play or Save, select Save.
4. Navigate to the new MP3 or MP4 file on your device.
5. Press the Play button. The MP3/MP4 should play from the device.

Play MP3 > Play on MP3/MP4 Device or Smartphone > Save to Media Player and Play

First off, if you use media player software such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, or Winamp, (which is my personal favorite), save your mLearning audio and video files to your respective music and video libraries. These folders are referenced by the application so it automatically knows to add new files to the device. You may want to add a sub-directory entitled “mLearning” so it's all easier to find. These instructions assume your MP3/MP4 player has the ability to store file data when synched with a media player application on your computer workstation or laptop.

1. From the appropriate web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided to you for the MP3 or MP4 files.
2. If prompted to display non-secure items, click Yes.
3. Click on the title-link you want to save (assuming you trust the source).
4. Select Save Target As… (or Save link As... depending on your browser)
5. Navigate to the default directory for the audio or video files referenced by your media player from the Save As window. Follow your media player’s instructions for exact location for synchronization. In most cases, this is typically the MyMusic or /Music folder, however you may want to create a sub-folder, name it mLearning or MyPodcasts, and store your MP3/MP4s there. For Windows Media Player, this is a folder monitored by the Library as accessed from the Library tab. For iTunes, this is the iTunes Music folder location indicated on the Advanced tab under Preferences.
6. Click Save.
   
7. Follow the specific instructions for synchronizing audio files from your media player to your MP3/MP4 player. If you are using an Android based phone, you will need to "Mount" it first. This may involve simply clicking the file(s) and dragging to your device or clicking check-boxes and or setting up play-lists for synchronization after connecting your device to the computer.
8. Once the files are saved to your MP3/MP4 device, disconnect based on its instructions.
9. Navigate to the new MP3 or MP4 file on your device.
10. Press the Play button. The MP3/MP4 should play from the device.
    

In the next part (Part 3), we'll review how to create an audio CD for those who prefer to listen in car or some other type of disc player. Then we'll discuss BlackBerries in Part 4 because they are a different animal.

How to Play MP3s and or MP4s on a Mobile Device for mLearning: Part 1 - mLearning Playback on Your Laptop

Most folks who own a mobile device such as a laptop, an MP3/MP4 player , or a smart-phone , are tech-savvy people who know the ins and outs of their device's working s and can easily transfer media to it. For others, mLearning is a new delivery mode for training, the device and media type are new, or the thought of this technology just plain scares them. If so, this tutorial is for you...

Some assumptions before we begin:

• Mobile learning or mLearning as we refer to it, is a great medium for quickly delivering brief chunks of important information out to your workforce or students. Some instructional design should be going into when and how it is used. mLearning is not meant for teaching arduous HOWTOs or the type of things people would better learn hands-on. At the same time, it is best suited for the “learner on-the-go.” You know the types, the sales people, the students, or the field-techs who need a quick byte of info on the way to their next customer, meeting, or class. mLearning in the form of audio and video files is for knowledge-transfer only.

• I will cover how to play MP3 audio files and MP4 video files for mLearning purposes. I will cover how to create them in another article. The procedures that follow can be applied to most file types, but I reference MP3s and MP4s because they are the most device agnostic formats – meaning they are fairly neutral file types that can be easily created and played on most mobile devices. Podcasts are commonly distributed as MP3s while vid-casts are commonly distributed as MP4s.
  

• The tutorials are instructions or routes-to-play an MP3 audio file or an MP4 video file on a type of mobile device only. Because the number of device brands and models are myriad, the instructions are generic except where the specified route-to-play indicates otherwise. Likewise any software and application instructions are also generic.

• I will cover playing MP3s and MP4s for mLearning in four parts, starting with the most easily accessible device classes:

1. mLearning Playback on Your Laptop
2. mLearning Playback from a CD
3. mLearning Playback on an MP3/MP4 Player or Smartphones such as iPhone and Android
   
4. mLearning Playback on a Smartphone
   

• Laptops and include any type of laptop or netbook. MP3 and MP4 players include any type of iPod, iRiver, Touch, Zune, etc. Smart-phones refer to ultra-capable handhelds based on the Android platform, iPhone, Android, Palm Pre, or BlackBerry.

Part 1: Play mLearning on a Laptop

Most folks who can access mLearning have a laptop. We will get to doing this with MP3/MP4 players and Smartphones later. The instructions for play on a laptop assume that you are running Internet Explorer or Firefox. I will warn you now, the instructions that follow are basic and simple. They involve saving the audio or video file locally to your device and clicking to play them.

Play MP3 or MP4 > Play on Laptop > Play Direct from Browser or Email

These instructions assume you have a live connection to the Internet and that you are accessing content sent to you through hyperlink enclosed in an email send to you or from a web page in your web browser.

1. From the appropriate web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided for the MP3 or MP4 files.
2. If prompted to display non-secure items, click Yes (assuming you trust the source).
3. If a library or wrapper for several MP3 or MP4 titles is displayed, click on the one link you want to listen to.
4. The MP3 you selected should open and play in your default audio/video player (typically Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or iTunes).
   

Play MP3 or MP4 > Play on Laptop > Save to Laptop and Play

These instructions assume you temporarily have a live connection to the Internet so you can save MP3 and MP4 files, but then need to play them later while disconnected from the Internet, such as when at an airport, on a plane, or on a train.

1. From the appropriate web page or email, click on the hyperlink provided for the MP3 or MP4 files.
2. If prompted to display non-secure items, click Yes (assuming you trust the source).
3. Click on the MP3 or MP4 title-link you want to save.
4. Select Save Target As… (or Save link As... depending on your browser). You may want to change the directory where this is saved or save to a new directory you name “mLearning.”
5. Navigate to the directory of your choosing from the Save As window.
6. Click Save.
7. Once you a ready to play, navigate to where you saved the file and click on the MP3/MP4 title-link you want to listen to.
8. The MP3/MP4 you selected should open and play in your default audio/video player (Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or iTunes). If you want to switch to a different player, close out, right click on the file you want to play, select Open with... and select the player you want to use.
   

Say tuned... we will review how to Play mLearning on an MP3 or MP4 Player in Part 2.