UNICON Study: Mobile Learning Offers Growing Opportunities for Executive Education Programs Around the Globe


Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 12, 2012

New research from UNICON (International University Consortium for Executive Education) reveals that many business schools across the globe have untapped opportunities to provide innovative executive education learning programs facilitated by mobile technology. The UNICON report, ?Going mobile in executive education,? is based on research conducted by UNICON member Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom. It analyzes the potential impact of mobile technologies on the executive education learning landscape around the world. The report looks at mobile learning, and how portable technologies — smartphones , PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), handheld computers and personal media players — can support and extend the reach of teaching and learning.

The report finds that some learning providers are embracing mobile learning and developing new approaches to learning. Included in the report are detailed case studies of: Abilene Christian University (USA), The Open University (UK), Ashridge Business School (UK), Harvard Business School (USA), Seton Hill University (USA), IMD (Switzerland), EPIC, (UK), and Skill Pill, University of Cape Town (South Africa).

While the research highlights examples of innovative applications of mobile learning in business schools, universities and the private sector around the globe, it concludes that many more executive education providers today could be maximizing the vast potential of mobile devices for learning.

?The future of executive education is about choice and personalisation. Our survey makes clear that providers should not wait for the industry to settle,? said UNICON Chairman Bill Shedden, who also serves as Director of the Centre for Customised Executive Education at the Cranfield School of Management in Bedford, England. ?Our recent State of the Industry survey also found that while many executive education providers are moving cautiously, they have begun experimenting with technology and ? in many cases ? are taking more technology initiative than clients expect or demand. In other words, executive education clients look to university-based providers to help them understand what new technology is important.

?The global nature of businesses and the growing capabilities of powerful mobile devices mean that adopting new technologies in learning is essential to continuing to attract clients in the competitive executive education market,? Shedden continued. ?UNICON is dedicated to helping its members learn more about how to effectively adopt new technologies and to remain industry leaders in university-based executive education programs around the globe.?

Mobile technology can help provide executives with pre- and post-course support, and the latest mobile learning applications can extend their access to a multimedia-rich education. It also provides a means for participants to stay connected with one another as professional resources after a program ends. Other benefits of mobile learning identified by the report include:

?????Just enough? learning ? highly applied, easily digestible learning for busy executives.
?????Just-in-time? learning ? convenient, flexible and relevant learning at the exact moment learning is required.
?????Just-for-me? learning ? learning can be accessed via mobile devices in many different ways, which means that there are opportunities for it to appeal to many different learning styles.
????Mobile devices can facilitate collaboration. SMS texting reminders, knowledge sharing forums and ?ask a question? forums enable and enhance interaction between participants and instructors.

Research Fellow at Ashridge Business School and UNICON report co-author Dr Carina Paine Schofield noted, ?Advances in mobile technologies and high levels of mobile phone penetration are changing the way that learning is being adopted and used in educational contexts, and it has evolved into more than e-learning with a phone. Mobile learning offers easier access to learning materials so students can be more productive with their time. It empowers executive education providers to serve up learning in multiple formats ? audio, visual or text ? to suit individual learning styles.?

Ashridge Business School was one of the first executive education providers to establish an online learning resource. Its online learning platform, Virtual Ashridge, lets students home in on certain interests and choose a style of learning that fits their personality without information overload: some may want to listen to an audio file or read text, while others may want to take part in an online discussion.

Director of Learning Services at Ashridge Business School Tony Sheehan said: ?Mobile learning offers a powerful opportunity to introduce learning on demand. It allows individuals to connect to executive education at a time that suits them and in a way that can support current business challenges. Learners are no longer dependent on the classroom, as mobile devices allow learners to connect in times of reflection ? a long train journey, a daily commute ? where the mind is alert and open to new insights.

?During these times of austerity, mobile and e-learning tutorials also provide a cost- and time-efficient way of educating staff that avoids the travel and accommodation costs of off-site courses,? Sheehan added.

About UNICON

Founded in 1972 as an association of executive education program directors, UNICON has evolved from an informal common-interest group into an incorporated non-profit consortium committed to advancing the field of university- and business school-sponsored executive education. Membership is composed of nearly 100 educational institutions from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.

UNICON is committed to the principle that academically based executive education provides a combination of thought-leadership at the highest levels of rigor, masterful learning environments and practical application that cannot be replicated by non-academic providers.

The organization sponsors and conducts research studies that bring to the forefront this unique value of business-school-based executive education. It also provides industry/operational knowledge and networking opportunities for members through conferences, workshops, research, benchmarking, website, newsletters, job postings, discussion boards and forums and other activities.

The UNICON report, Going mobile in executive education: how mobile technologies are changing the executive learning landscape, was written by Dr. Carina Paine Schofield, Trudi West and Emily Taylor of Ashridge Business School.

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Cloud 9 Games Offers Golden Opportunities for Families with Upcoming Release of Heavenly Harmony Gold and JAMpak for Guitars and Drums



Austin, Texas (PRWEB) July 25, 2008

Singers of all ages tested their vocal skills at the International Christian Retail Show last week in Orlando, Florida, where Cloud 9 Games revealed its upcoming products. Heavenly Harmony Gold will be released in stores this September. It will include several key features of the original karaoke game, Heavenly Harmony, such as pitch recognition and immediate performance feedback, unlocking clothing and venue options, and mini games to help improve vocal skills. However, the Gold edition will add 30 new songs from top artists including Chris Tomlin, Sanctus Real, Newsboys, Avalon, Rebecca St. James and many more. The game also features lead and background vocals/harmony for selected songs, and recording capabilities as well. In addition, each copy of Heavenly Harmony Gold will include a USB mic, which will enable the game to support up to four singers at a time with the purchase of additional microphones.

“It is exciting times for family entertainment products. Heavenly Harmony Gold is unlike any other game ever developed. Now an entire family of four can sing and record their very own hits,” explained Curtis Ratica, president of Cloud 9 Games.

Adding to the anticipation, Cloud 9 Games will be offering a free, downloadable expansion pack this winter called JAMpak, which will enable people to play the guitar or drums through the karaoke game by using their existing USB guitars or drum sets originally made for their Xbox and PlayStation systems. With these new features in Heavenly Harmony Gold, there can potentially be up to six players at a time, such as 2 singing lead, 2 singing harmony, one playing the guitar, and one playing drums. Over the last few years, many people have asked the game company to produce something with musical elements such as these, and now kids and families will have a more positive alternative other than the hard-core singing and instrumental games that are currently available in the mainstream market.

Cloud 9 Games continues to grow, expand, and lead the way for providing family-friendly entertainment with games that are educational and fun for people of all ages. Earlier this year, Cloud 9 Games signed a distribution agreement with EMI Christian Music Group (CMG) Distribution, and the game company’s current and upcoming products will be in Christian retail stores across the country in plenty of time for Christmas.

About Cloud 9 Games, Inc. (www.cloud9games.com):

Cloud 9 Games, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is an independent developer and publisher of Christian entertainment software. Founded by a veteran of the video game industry, Cloud 9 Games is a leading developer and publisher of quality Christian entertainment.

For additional information, contact

Jennifer Ratica, Cloud 9 Games

512-436-9107 or

info@cloud9games.com

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