Coventry University to develop smartphone learning system for students

Online learning could be done directly through smartphones in line with a recent development by researchers at Coventry University.

In collaboration with mobile phone manufacturer Ericsson, online system developers at the academic institution have made it their aim to bring e-learning to the mobile age through smartphones whereby students can listen to their lecturers and communicate with them when they are online.

Tim Luft, director of the Serious Games Institute at the university, said: "We wanted to work with Ericsson to transform our current range of mobile applications into an interactive experience.

"Many people who now take short courses on their mobiles have been limited to static images and recorded audio or video."

He added that the institute was set up to conduct research into technological developments that could provide usable solutions for the learning sector.

"We hope that the expertise provided by Coventry University and Ericsson will help to improve the experience of our learners by allowing them to interact in a number ways," the developer added.

Mr Luft also explained that the smartphone platform could help students listen to a live keynote speech at a distance or even share course notes with tutors or fellow learners.

According to the experts at the college, Coventry University has established itself as an institution that is on the cutting edge of learning and is constantly trying to find new ways to expand the nature of education into the modern world.

Magnus Furustam, head of core and independent media services at Business Unit Networks at Ericsson, commented that the company will work with Coventry University to combine its hardware and software technology with learning to provide for an audience who are adapted to using modern technology.

Grainne Conole, director of the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester, recently suggested that the advancement of e-learning is heavily dependent on new and upcoming mobile technologies.