Saturday, May 23, 2015

Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning

            Mobile learning is the ability to obtain or provide educational content on personal pocket devices such as smart phones and mobiles. Educational terms refer to digital learning assets which include any form of content or media made available on a personal device. Mobile learning using handheld computers is in its infancy in terms of both technologies and pedagogies. Due to this there is still some problem among the industry advocates in how mobile learning should be defined: in terms of devices and technologies; in terms of the mobility of learners and the mobility of learning. Most researchers and educators probably view mobile learning as the immediate descendant of e-learning.

How is that different from e-learning?
E-learning has come to define any dissemination of educational knowledge over the Internet. This creates e-learning a subset of technology-based preparation. It also includes a number of learning activities conducted on the Internet, mobile learning is one in it. Many authors view mobile learning simply as the natural evolution of e-learning, such as the wireless feature is often described as occupying a sub-space within the e-learning space in which digital learning is a sub part.
Objectives
 1. Encourage ‘anywhere, anytime’ learning- Mobile devices allow students to collect, execute, and process info outside the classroom.
2. Reach underserved children - Because of their relatively low cost, handheld devices can help advance digital equity, reaching and inspiring populations ‘at the edges’ – children from economically disadvantaged communities and those from developing countries.
3. Improve twenty-first century social interactions - Mobile technologies have the power to promote and foster collaboration and communication.
4. Fit with learning environments - Mobile devices can help overcome many of the challenges associated with larger technologies. Enable customize learning experience Not all children are alike; instruction should be adaptable to individual and diverse learners.

Challenges
1.      Cultural norms and attitudes- Though many experts believe that mobile devices have significant potential to transform learning of children, parents as well as teachers apparently are not yet convinced.
2.      No mobile theory of learning - Currently, no widely accepted learning theory for mobile technologies has been accepted, hampering the effective assessment, and making of new apps for learning.

3.      Limiting physical attributes - Poorly designed mobile technologies adversely affect usability and can distract children from learning goals. Physical aspects of mobile technologies like text entry restrictions, screen sixe that may prevent an optimal learning.

References:
  1. http://www.mobl21.com/Basics_Of_Mobile_Learning.pdf
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-learning

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