In today's day and age the world of technology is growing faster and larger, one particular area of ICT that is becoming more popular is Mobile Learning. Learning through devices that have mobility gives the option of learning personal information such as a contact number or gaining broader knowledge such as definitions of particular words. Today's children and students are part of the Z generation, they have grown up with the Internet and connected devices. Mobile learning is apart of their 'native' environment, from learning how to use the technology to using it to extend their own knowledge on purpose (Handal, 2011).
Mobile devices or specific smartphones can support learning through video and audio recordings, emails, calculators, surveys and quizzes. Smartphones are given the chance to broaden the users knowledge as well as its basic features of phone calls and SMS. Before mobile learning, educational technology was mainly restricted to computers, cameras and overhead projectors, the most popular being computers. Computers allow most of same technology that is found in smartphones, but the main factor that puts computers behind smartphones is the mobility of the device. Wherever you are at home, on the bus or walking on the street your mobile device is ready to help you learn, to gain information, personal or impersonal it can be done.
To me, 'mobile' means to be able to be transportable wherever I am, unlike a house phone or desktop computer or even a laptop a mobile device is a small convenient option to assist with daily problems. A mobile appeals to me through its easy access and reliability for wherever I go. If i leave the house without my mobile I feel apart of me is back at home, over the years it have become a security blanket for myself and many other people who fall under the Z or even Y generation. As i have smartphone i have been in many situations where I use it for learning purposes, other than gain personal information about contacts I have used it to quickly calculate mathematic problems, look up the spelling of different words and general internet purposes that I would use on my laptop. The difference about doing these things on my mobile to doing it on my laptop is that I can do this when I'm travelling or at university. It's easy to access out of my bag or my pocket rather than pulling out a heavy laptop and is generally quicker as I can skip the whole turning it on, waiting it to load, connect to the internet, as my mobile has already gone through this process.
To me, 'mobile' means to be able to be transportable wherever I am, unlike a house phone or desktop computer or even a laptop a mobile device is a small convenient option to assist with daily problems. A mobile appeals to me through its easy access and reliability for wherever I go. If i leave the house without my mobile I feel apart of me is back at home, over the years it have become a security blanket for myself and many other people who fall under the Z or even Y generation. As i have smartphone i have been in many situations where I use it for learning purposes, other than gain personal information about contacts I have used it to quickly calculate mathematic problems, look up the spelling of different words and general internet purposes that I would use on my laptop. The difference about doing these things on my mobile to doing it on my laptop is that I can do this when I'm travelling or at university. It's easy to access out of my bag or my pocket rather than pulling out a heavy laptop and is generally quicker as I can skip the whole turning it on, waiting it to load, connect to the internet, as my mobile has already gone through this process.
Mobile learning is an educational technology that allows students to connect their personal life with their school life, instead of discouraging mobiles in the classroom, students are given tasks to complete on a device that fit perfectly in the palm of their hands. I wouldn't particularly encourage this in primary schools or the early years of high school as students at this age are not recommended to use mobile phones. However, using mobile learning in the senior years of high school could be beneficial for students to take interest in their learning. The problem that may arise is not all students will have smartphones so tasks need to be altered if this is the case, but in the coming years this will all change and most phone used will be considered 'smartphones'. Although we need to consider the school rules that are in place for mobile phones and make sure that these are still followed and altered with the help of the Principal if necessary.
The mobile apps available on such smartphones as iPhones, would benefit high school students, to be able to learn in their own time. Sitting on the bus to and from school, relaxing in their rooms and on the weekend, students can get educational value out of a device which was once thought to be just an object to call one another.
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| What a Mobile Device Can Offer |
Pictures or graphics are suitable for visual learners, these students are able to manipulate and remember important areas of the picture displayed. In this case the text that is included will be most memorable for the students. Students can use their cognitive skills the gather information that is presented in the text, they can find out the meaning of the picture from a audience or authors perspective. In doing so, they are also using their creative skills as they have to come up with ideas or find a deeper meaning than what the picture conveys at first glance. Students learn to use techniques that are found in previous pictures to create their own 'story' from theirs or other's pictures.
References
Handal, B. (2011). Mobile Learning in Schools. PowerPoint presented at The University of Notre Dame Sydney ED4134 lecture.
Brown, S. (Producer), Cooper, D. (Cinematographer, Editor and Director). (2009). A 21st Century Education: Educating the Mobile Generation [Internet Recording]. Pearson Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.newlearninginstitute.org/21stcenturyeducation/21st-century-learning/educating-the-mobile-generation.html
References
Handal, B. (2011). Mobile Learning in Schools. PowerPoint presented at The University of Notre Dame Sydney ED4134 lecture.
Brown, S. (Producer), Cooper, D. (Cinematographer, Editor and Director). (2009). A 21st Century Education: Educating the Mobile Generation [Internet Recording]. Pearson Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.newlearninginstitute.org/21stcenturyeducation/21st-century-learning/educating-the-mobile-generation.html
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