An ear for learning

In some ways the responsibilities of the instructional designer have been changed by mobile-learning (m-learning) but in some instances the old responsibilities still apply. They are, however, likely to be away from their usual place of learning: at home, in a cafe, on the train, or their car, or van. They have the same responsibilities as before to engage and motivate the learner and to ensure that the learning targets the organization's real needs. M-learning has to be much more self-contained than other forms of learning content because there may be no external support available to the mobile learner. A scenario-based approach fits the through-the-ear medium very well. You can think of it as interactive radio. The audio soundtrack can be as realistic as you need, with conversations, noises off and anything else that keeps the learner engaged and connected.