Mobile for Enhancing Learning Process

Mobile for Enhance Learning

Rahmi. Rosita Elianur, Ulfa Rahmi

What is Mobile Learning?

In relation to technologies, ‘mobile’ generally means portable and personal, such as mobile phone (Naismith et al. 2007), and based on an article published in Wikipedia, “the term M-Learning, or "mobile learning", has different meanings for different communities. Although related to e-learning and distance education, it is distinct in its focus on learning across contexts and learning with mobile devices. One definition of 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.”

Learning can be enhanced by mobile technology. Holzinger et al. (2010) in Lifelong-Learning Support by M-learning : Example Scenario stated that mobile learning is supported to create learning environment by independence of both location and time. Mobile learning has been an important instrument for assisting learning. Opportunity to communicate and interact with multimedia learning resources and simulated environments are offered by technology. As a consequence, technology can enhance motivation, which is a vital aspect of learning, deliver information when needed, and encourage solving problems and satisfying curiosity.  

Roschelle (2003) in Low said that mobile phone as one of the digital mobile devices has potentiality to achieve a vast scale impact on learning. This study has been well documented by a number of researchers. The available choices for staying connected while on the go are many — smart phones, tablets, laptops, and over the coming year, the iPad and Slate PC will herald a new class of devices that blend the functions of all of them.  

Why Mobiles Used in Learning?

For developing countries, mobiles are increasing the gateway not only for common tools and communications, but also for information of all kinds, training materials, income-generating work, and more. An ever more common pattern is for people in all parts of the world to look to mobile computing platforms as their device of choice, as they are often far cheaper than desktop or laptop computers. For this group, mobile computing devices are more affordable, more accessible, and easier to use than desktop computers, and provide more than enough functionality to serve as their primary computing device (Johnson, 2010).

How to Implement Mobile Devices in Learning?

A sampling of applications for mobiles across the curriculum includes the following:

• Geography.

At Clementi Town Secondary School in Singapore, mobiles support student field studies in geography. Upon arrival at the field site, instructions appear on the mobiles, and students work collaboratively to carry out experiments, take notes, analyze and synthesize data, and submit their results.

• English. Students can read their assignments and take notes on mobile devices. Notes can be uploaded to a computer by email or text message for use when writing papers.

• Math. Skills that require drill and practice lend themselves to mobile study. Students can get in a few minutes of practice wherever they are — and as many of these applications have a game-like feel, they may not even mind the drills.

Mobiles in Practice

The following links provide examples of how mobiles are being used in schools.

1. Essa Academy (Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK)

The Essa Academy is itself an evolving mobile computing learning environment. The campus has replaced desktop computers with laptops and issued iPod Touches to each student, encouraging flexible and collaborative learning practices facilitated by mobile technology (this article in MerlinJohnOnline gives additional details: http://bit.ly/aAxU0).

2. The Florida Virtual School: iPhone Apps http://www.flvs.net/areas/studentservices/Pages/iPhoneApps.aspx

The Florida Virtual School has developed two iPhone apps to assist students in reviewing study material. MeStudying: Algebra 1 is an in-depth review tool for algebra students, including sample problems, guided study aids, and practice tests; Revu4U is a testing and review app that currently also covers algebra but will soon include other subjects as well.

3. Handheld Learning Conference Awards 2009

These awards are given at the annual Handheld Learning Conference to Primary and Secondary schools who have done innovative projects involving mobile devices. The conference is international in scope and this link provides a list of the 2009 award winners.

4. International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL)

The mission of the ICDL Foundation is to support the world’s children in becoming effective members of the global community by making the best in children’s literature available online free of charge. They have two iPhone apps for reading and creating books which are available for free in the iTunes App Store.

5. Serious Games as Mobile Learning At School

http://www.futurelab.net/blogs/marketing-strategy-innovation/2009/10/serious_games_mobile_learning_.html

The Notre Dame High School in Sheffield, UK will soon allow all students to use cell phones at school in addition to other mobile computing devices as the line blurs between these technologies.

6. The Use of Mobiles to Analyze Music

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/innovators/gallery/entries/558/

This middle school project was recognized by PBS as an innovative effort to have children use cell phones to help analyze different musical styles and genres.

References

Holzinger, Andreas, Nischelwitzer, Alexander & Meisenberger, Matthias, 2010, Lifelong-Learning Support by M-learning : Example Scenario, viewed 15 May 2010, <http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=research&article=6-1 >

Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Stone, S. (2010). The 2010 Horizon Report.

Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.

Low, Leonard, 2006, Connections: Social and Mobile Tools for Enhancing Learning, viewed 15 May 2010, <http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-12-editorial-2/connections-social-and-mobile-tools-for-enhancing-learning-by-leonard-low>

Mobile Learning, 2010, viewed 15 May 2010, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLearning >

Naismith, Laura, Lonsdale, Peter, & Vavoula, Giasemi, 2007, viewed 15 May 2010,

<http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-reports-articles/literature-reviews/Literature-Review203/ >