Mobile learning

Mobile learning

In recent years the ICT solutions have shifted from laptops to newer mobile technologies, like tablet computers and mobile phones. The past decade has seen a surge in the number and types of devices that can support digital learning. Today technology that fits comfortably in a person’s pocket opened a plethora of educational opportunities with technology. Small devices are hardly limited in terms of power. A well programmed smart phone has the same computing power and many of the same multimedia functionalities of a desktop computer. In the past two years many countries have begun exploring the possibility of provisioning tablet devices directly to students in lieu of textbooks. Apart from being easy to update, digital textbooks carry a potential to facilitate self directed and customizable learning by offering rich content, tools and resources that can be tailored to learners’ abilities and interests. As mobile hardware and the networks that support them become more powerful, more dynamic and more affordable, the mobility of ICT offers new options for teaching and learning. Today, learners are likely to have ICT with them constantly: at home, at school, on public transportation, at work and even in bed. UNESCO (2012) has explored this question in depth and recently articulated some of the unique ways mobile technology can benefit education. The benefits identified by the Organization include:

• Expanding the reach and equity of education

• Facilitating personalized learning

• Powering anywhere, anytime learning

• Providing immediate feedback and assessment

• Ensuring the productive use of time spent in classrooms

• Building new communities of learners

• Supporting situated learning

• Enhancing seamless learning

• Bridging formal and informal learning

• Minimizing educational disruption in conflict and disaster areas

• Assisting learners with disabilities

• Improving communication and administration

• Maximizing cost efficiency

Mobile learning involves the use of mobile technology, either alone or in combination with other information and communication technology (ICT), to enable learning anytime and anywhere. Learning can unfold in a variety of ways: people can use mobile devices to access educational resources, connect with others, or create content, both inside and outside classrooms. Mobile learning also encompasses efforts to support broad educational goals such as the effective administration of school systems and improved communication between schools and families.    Mobile learning, or "m-learning", offers modern ways to support learning process through mobile devices, such as handheld and tablet computers, MP3 players, smart phones and mobile phones. It presents unique attributes compared to conventional e-learning: personal, portable, collaborative, interactive, contextual and situated, it emphasizes "just-in-time-learning" as instruction can be delivered anywhere and at anytime through it. Moreover, it is an aid to formal and informal learning and thus holds enormous potential to transform the delivery of education and training.

   Mobile learning is: Any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies. In other words mobile learning decreases limitation of learning location with the mobility of general portable devices. M-learning focuses on the mobility of the learner, interacting with portable technologies, and learning that reflects a focus on how society and its institutions can accommodate and support an increasingly mobile population.

     Mobile learning, or "m-learning", offers modern ways to support learning process through mobile devices, such as handheld and tablet computers, MP3 players, smart phones and mobile phones. According to Keegan (2002), studies conducted in various countries across the globe showed that increasing mobile penetration has a positive impact on the growth of the economy. It presents unique attributes compared to conventional e-learning: personal, portable, collaborative, interactive, contextual and situated, it emphasizes "just-in-time-learning" as instruction can be delivered anywhere and at anytime through it. Moreover, it is an aid to formal and informal learning and thus holds enormous potential to transform the delivery of education and training. Mobile learning tools are expected to make a significant impact on education and learning and to provide interactive content in previously unreachable and remote locations. Amongst others, literature has shown that mobile phones have also been used as the subject of teaching Mobile learning is emerging as one of the solutions to the challenges faced by education.