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.

Analysis and Planning: Technical and Media Specifications Analysis

A technical and media specifications analysis should identify the technical, graphical, and media-based requirements and constraints to assure eLearning delivery is compatible with the hardware and software requirements of the stakeholder’s learning base. Graphic look, feel, and specifications should be identified. Requirements should be mapped into courseware development. Summaries for technical and media specifications should be submitted. Data collected at this stage should:

• Identify infrastructure capabilities for courseware delivery
• Identify requirements for optimal delivery media
• Identify stakeholder standards for text, graphics, media, and branding

Risks if not conducted or conducted improperly:

• Graphics and media that do not meet the standards and satisfaction of the stakeholder
• Incorrect delivery formats
• Product failure due to incompatibility of delivery medium and/or components to the hardware and software requirements of the stakeholder and/or the stakeholder’s customers
• Missed deadlines and extended project plans that do not meet stakeholder expectations

In the end, all analysis data (organizational, task-KSA, learner, and technical/media specifications) should be used to design a learning solution that:

• Is based on the needs of the organization/department
• Addresses the gap between the required task-KSAs and what’s actually done by the learner on the job
• Is delivered using the appropriate mediums and technologies that map to learner profiles

Enough with Analysis. We move to the Design phase next.

Analysis and Planning

The first phase of ADDIE is the Analysis and Planning. This is the phase where we we gather information and identify requirements for a course or curriculum (a learning path to a set of courses based on roles). The Analysis phase is also known as Needs Analysis or Needs Assessment. The goal is to establish requirements for success by targeting outcomes and setting up the design for a training curriculum and subsequent courseware solution. This phase entails an examination of mission-critical needs; identification of required skill-sets mapped to respective performance criteria; an assessment of the learner’s actual competencies (Task-KSAs), performance measures, demands, role characteristics; and lastly, the training delivery media requirements.

The Analysis and Planning phase should include some level of the following sub-phases:

• Organizational Analysis
• Task-KSA Analysis
• Learner Analysis
• Technical and Media Specifications Analysis

We will break each sub-phase of analysis down in subsequent entries. Although Analysis is the most important phase, it is at times overlooked or not given the attention it deserves. This is most evidenced when training solutions and learning events appear ineffective or seem to "miss the mark." In my next entry, I will commence our breakdown of the Analysis Phase by examining Organizational Analysis.