Mobile Learning

I would like to share something I did with our Co-Op teachers last week. Co-op students are students that go to school and part of their school week is spent in a job setting. Some of our co-op students have learning difficulties and are asked to use machines and remember large sequences of activities and tasks. Two such tasks are using a sterilizer in a dental office and using an industrial dishwasher in a hotel. I asked for the model numbers of the two machines and I went to the internet and downloaded the PDF user manuals for both. I then opened the manuals in the PDF equalizer (This is a program within Premier's Literacy Productivity Pack) and showed them how the students can use the PDF equalizer to read the manual. I also showed them how to convert the text into a MP3 format so that the students are able to convert the instructions into audio files and use these files to support them at work.
The students are able to create separate an audio file for:
- how to load the sterilizer,
- how to turn it on,
- how to unload it,
- how to clean it.
This will provide them with a quick reference instead of them having to flip through a manual. We put a lot of emphasis on safety in the workplace because we have had a few young people killed during work placements because of a lack of knowledge on the safe use of certain tools. Having the information they need readily available on their MP3 players may reduce injury and more importantly allow the students to perform their jobs with confidence and dignity.