Studying with Mobile Devices: Workflow and Tools for Automatic Content Distribution

Recordings of lectures are a cost-efficient and easy-to-use way to produce elearning content. In a university context with tight financial constraints they can only be used if the production process is automated to a high degree and a manual intervention is not necessary. With the emergence of powerful mobile devices like PDAs, mobile phones or audio players with audio and video playback it is highly desirable to integrate these devices in the educational chain. This paper describes a highly automated workflow to support elearning content on different mobile devices. By adaptation of the enhanced podcasting technology in combination with lecture recordings and a flexible distribution system via internet as well as a Bluetooth-based distribution server, different types of mobile devices are supported for e-learning purposes.