MOBILE LEARNING
‘Three hundred years ago we were all mobile learners – we learned in the spaces where the skills needed to be practiced... With mobile devices we will go back to blended learning... In three years' time, everyone will be a mobile learner. By 2013 every person on the planet will have a mobile phone. These are not just phones, these are computers in your pocket... They are more inclusive than any other electronic product. If education is not on your handset, you are missing out.’
Dr Mike Short, vice president for group research and development, Telefonica O2 Europe
Retrieved from: http://www.americanri.com/services/mobile.php
Continual research, pages and pages of note-taking, SWOT analysis tests, weighing up the pros and cons...... and finally I've discovered mobile learning. When I first took a look at the DeBono's hats wiki activity a few weeks ago, I never would have thought I would be where I am right now. I have broadened my horizons on M-Learning. Although I initially always believed M-Learning would result in positive outcomes for classroom, I never knew actually how much interaction, involvement these mobile devices could have within a classroom.
Firstly though let me start off with... WHAT IS M-LEARNING?
Image retrieved from: http://grial.usal.es/agora/riusal4/2012/04/15/2°-caso-diseno-de-solucion-mlearning-para-curso-de-coaching/
Image retrieved from: http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/14/creating-successful-mobile-learning-strategy-mlearncon-part-ii/
Image retrieved from: http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/23/how-to-create-successful-m-learning-strategy-mlearncon-part-i/
For different global communities, mobile learning has many different meanings (Wikipedia, 2013). Generally speaking, it involves a focus of learning across contexts through the use of mobile devices. They include devices such as mp3 players, notebooks, iPads, tablets and mobile phones to just name a few. M-Learning is accessible from virtually anywhere and at anytime. Therefore in other words can learn via M-Learning at anywhere and at anytime.
So why should the use of these devices be irrelevant in classrooms?
In my opinion they are definitely not irrelevant! I do believe we are living in a very much so 'digital world' with upcoming digital generation kids. So why not take advantage of the fact this is our students forte.
Use in classrooms:
Where should I start? I could continually rave on forever with my crazy note-taking and research on several of the amazing apps, educational games, classroom ideas/activities and other ways of accessing knowledge through M-Learning. However I do not necessarily want you to be here reading my blog for years!!!!
Just to name a few there are:
- Educational games for learning how to read and write.
- Educational games based around building upon literacy and maths content.
- Science based apps (where students can see the scientific element chart in a different way).
- Flashcard apps (providing a skill/drill approach for memorising content for tests/exams etc).
- E-books (for reading articles or having the most up-to-date version of your textbook all on a device).
- Podcasting apps
- Phone blogging
- Slingnote (A mindmapping tool where you can organise/collaborate your ideas)
There is literally apps for everything you could possibly think of in terms of classroom activities. Whether or not you are focusing on an individualised or collaborated task, assessment style, exam, researching topics...LITERALLY ANYTHING!
In my classroom:
For my nominated teaching context of dance, M-Learning could become a very useful tool amongst my classroom. The practical side of dance involves several types of choreographic intent. By using mobile learning I would allow my students to use apps such as popplet to organise and build their own idea of what they want their choreographic piece to include/look like. I know for myself as a dancer, when choreographing, sometimes ideas will pop into your head at the most random times. So being able to use a mobile device to quickly add your idea becomes a great tool (that way there will no longer be the problem of 'gee I had a great idea when I was lying in bed the other night for my dance piece but have completely forgotten to write it down').
Even now most mobile devices have the video option would be awesome to let my student use in class when they are choreographing, so they take a quick snippet of what they have done so far and know exactly where to pick-up from, next lesson.
For the more theoretical side of dance, video analysis could be another exceptional M-Learning use. Getting my students to research and find a video of their own choice (or perhaps be given a particular video url) on their mobile devices, would make analysing a piece brilliant as they can access this anytime and anywhere. It would save precious classroom time and allow for them to get another look at the piece to clarify their decisions.
Even for my second nominated teaching context of HPE, I believe there are also just as many useful mobile device applications or opportunities where M-Learning becomes greatly applicable. There is generally a timer app on devices where my students could use when participating in timed activities. Calendar options where the students can record reminders for next session or whether or not they need swimmers one day or the next. Even reminding them of upcoming exam/tests in class. One I know I would use is the study boost app - a great option for when students need to review/revise work we have completed in class or important information that will help them in their future exams/assessment pieces.
Learning is no longer about how much knowledge you can store in ones head, it's more so about having the ability to know where one can access it from at any given point in time.
M-Learning has a drive that targets this notion. It has expanded students learning by placing a personalised learning experience allowing for greater creativity and more intellectual curiosity.
M-Learning has transformed how students use, acquire, transmit, access and interact with knowledge. I know for myself I definitely look at educational practice different now, especially in terms of learning through use of mobile learning.
Reference list
Wikipedia (2013) Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-learning
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