Accord LMS Goes Mobile
Mobile device usage expected to eclipse traditional desktop usage by 2015. The Accord LMS provides several ways to personalize the user interface to site visitors on all types of devices. We do this in four ways:
- Device Detection
- Redirection Rules
- Skin Optimization
- Learning Event Templates
Device detection is made possible by a Device Description Repository (DDR) which is basically a database of all known devices that provide connectivity to the Internet. The Accord LMS utilizes DDR services from 51Degrees.mobi which has over 25 years management expertise in developing and managing mobile web services. This is handled automatically and does not need any setup or configuration.
If a mobile device is detected, Redirection Rules will be executed if applicable. Each Redirection Rule has the following three parameters: Redirecting From: Redirecting To; and the User Device Type. A Redirection Rule must be setup for each page on your site that you want to provide redirection from. In general this will only be your home page or the page where you provide the Learner access to their training. If there is a matching rule for the consuming device and for the requested page, redirection to the resulting Url is performed.
For example, let’s say a) your main site is optimized for PC b) the home page is called “Getting Started” and c) you have created a second site (portal) that is optimized for Mobile devices. From the Site Administration > Site Redirection Management UI you can setup such a Redirection Rule as shown below. Alternatively, you could setup just a single page on your existing site to provide personalized mobile device access to the Learner’s Training.
There are a number of skins available at the
DNN store for mobile devices. Most of skins support both mobile and PC. The skins have built in intelligence that queries the available browser width and reformats the image sizes, containers and menu appropriately. You can see the reformatting action by visiting an online
mobile skin demo from DNN Ideas. Narrow the width of your browser to see how the layout and menu changes. On mobile devices the skin is also touch sensitive.
The Accord LMS utilizes templates for displaying the Learner’s Training. This gives you complete control over the layout. Please refer to our blog article on
Learner Catalog Templates for more information.
If you decide to use mobile Redirection Rules to present two different Learner access points to their Training, you can customize one Learner Catalog template for PC and another for Mobile devices.
If you can maintain a basic site layout and use an appropriate Accord LMS template then the same Learner Training page and site can support both PC and mobile. No need for Redirection Rules or to duplicate presentations. You can see an example of this at the
Accord LMS mobile demo.
Additional options are available to hide specific content or modules depending on device type - so the same page could present some content for PC only and some content for Mobile only.
Whether you setup Redirection Rules to a mobile optimized site or carefully organize a single site to support both PC and mobile, you will want to utilize an HTML 5 authoring tool for you Learning Event content and quiz creation. Flash does not work for iPads or iPhones. We created our mobile demo example content using Rapid Intake but found some limitations. Our initial testing of Claro from
DominKnow has been very positive.
Articulate will be introducing Storyline later this year. We have a
product review online if you would like to read more.
The number of iPads now being sold outnumber all HP computer sales. Clearly the eLearning industry needs to adopt HTML 5 standards to service the growing number of mobile devices. The Accord LMS provides everything required from the Learning Management side, you just need to find an authoring tool that fits your needs.