The first workshop of mobile learning has taken place in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2002 and the 6th International Mobile Learning Conference just concluded in Melbourne in Australia. In five years, very short, we went to "play" with toys in the planning of the future or our infrastructure to allow mobile service in all its forms …

I have been involved in mobile learning since 2003 and it is interesting to reflect on how he grew up and was taken on what is really ashortly. As someone who has worked hard to introduce mobile learning, I am very aware that the reaction of my efforts went from "what are you talking about?" to "please come and help us get it going!".

For those who are wondering, mobile learning is the delivery of teaching and learning through mobile devices, handheld or laptop as part of the overall mix of how teachers and students interact. But like all new concepts there is a streamdevelopments and reflecting on each conference mobile learning, I have mapped as follows:

2003 – mLearn London:

The theme was "New opportunities and we watched on mobile phones and some personal digital assistants (PDAs). We discussed issues such as navigation on these small devices and texting and some games that already existed on mobile phones. We also started talking about knowledge management and learning styles that may apply.

The state ofmobile learning is best summed up at the time by John Traxler is currently at the University of Wolverhampton in Great Britain:

"Mobile learning is at a small work projects for extablish aspects of feasibility techninal in specific educational contexts"

2004 – mLearn in Rome:

Holding a conference on technology in a 12th century castle in Rome was an interesting experience!

The theme this time, "The potential is significant and webegan to discuss changes in pedagogy, the impact of the use of portable devices and usability of digital learning materials that were being developed. We began to see the latest smart phones and wireless began to appear in some places that would immediately expand the concept of mobility.

We were talking with PDAs and mobile phones for the supply of materials in a manner appropriate to different learning styles, their context and to overcome some of the earlierbarriers.

2005 – mLearn in Cape Town:

"Learning is your hands" was particularly appropriate in a country where Internet coverage is minimal, but the mobile phone coverage is almost complete!

At this conference we started hearing about convergence and management of mobile content. We examined practical examples of how people were running on mobile learning in large groups and organizations, and we started to talk about strategies for teacher training andsupport to students through learning and for these technologies. Wireless is available now and expected.

We were then really see how mobile technology has the potential to break the barriers of location and time.

2006 – mLearn in Banff:

OK, so we managed to spend a great location to another but we are supposed to be mobile and learning – right?

The theme in Canada was "Across cultures and generations" and in the context of the time limited but growing socialrevolution picked up this theme of how communications technology was breaking all barriers for those who wanted to stay in touch.

We heard about the laptop at $ 100 and the desire to see every child with a laptop. We talked about digital libraries, where each book has been converted to digital and therefore accessible anywhere on any device. We talked more seriously about the audio in the mixing of materials for teaching and exploring ways in which the increase EvryDelivery may take place and the growing variety of mobile devices available.

We began to understand the "Net generation" who have the spirit and hypertext approach to learning a completely different way from those who have left school an hour earlier!

This conference has opened our eyes to how mobility narrows to explore the world and makes access to education a reality for anyone anywhere.

2007 – mLearn in Melbourne:

The theme we chose forThe conference was "Making the Connections" and connectivity was certainly a taste of the conference!

Even before the first keynote speaker had finished his remarks and the reaction to these comments was blogged, squealing, ninged, wikied and also posted in cyberspace! The speakers were relayed to questions by attending delegates from all parts of the world.

We explored the infrastructure issues and we discussed at length on pedagogy incorporating technologyand how the devices themselves are now valued less for their "wow" factor for ease of use in combination with education. We talked about integration and inclusion and how social computing can be used on mobile devices, and the fact that mobile devices now includes laptops with wireless connections.

And we closed the conference with impatience for 10 years now and speculate what we might do to ensure that we continue to delivery quality education by means of the newand emerging technologies.

So where are we: Mobility is simply a reality and we expect to be connected at all times on all devices. Technology, no matter how wonderful it is, will not fix bad pedagogy, but it will give massive impact of good teaching practice.

At the end of the conference, we officially launched the International Association for Mobile Learning. Learn more by following the links on my site.

The region continues to grow and develop, and I am busier andbusier work with those who want to go this way – contact me via my website http://www.caryloliver.com

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