DIGITAL SKILLS FOR INSTRUCTION (MOBILE LEARNING)
MOBILE LEARNING DIGITAL SKILLS FOR INSTRUCTION
According to Crompton, H (2013) Mobile Learning is "learning across multiple contexts, through social and content interactions, using personal electronic devices”. It is education or training conducted by means of portable computing devices such as smartphones or tablet computers. Mobile learning provides a way for educational institutions to deliver knowledge and educational content to students on any platform, anyplace and at the time of need. Students use mobile apps and tools to complete and upload assignments to teachers, download course instruction and work in online social groups to complete tasks, Vangie Beal said. Mobile learning (m-learning) according to Vangie Beal is “Education through the Internet or network using personal mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones to obtain learning materials through mobile apps, social interactions and online educational hubs. It is flexible, allowing students access to education anywhere, anytime”.
Why should a teacher be prepared to allow or require students
to use mobile device to achieve learning objectives?
The learning model allows teachers to be engaged in personal networks that they could use to support student’s learning. Mobile learning is a type of learning that helps to connect between teachers, students and parents, it offers learning in a described form having that even outside the classroom, students can access the learning, it offers a 24/7 learning strategy. This strategy has numerous benefits on achieving learning objectives, teachers are connected to resources and expertise that improve their own instructional practices, continually add to their competencies and expertise, and guide them in becoming facilitators and collaborators in their students and it increases self-directed learning. Mobile learning enhances connection of teachers, they are fully involved with 24/7 access data or information about students learning and other analytic tools that will help to act on the insight of the information. They are connected to their students and to professional content, resources, and systems that empower them to create, manage, assess, and engage in relevant learning experiences for students both in and out of school. To me the reason for allowing teachers and students to use mobile learning boils down to the importance and relevance of the strategy and they are;
Some prospective effects of Mobile Learning:
Constant learning: This is a learning that allows for focusing or concentrate on mobility of students as they access portable and obtainable technologies, it offers a 24 hours service and allows the students to learn both in school and at home or anywhere at any time it allows for flexibility. Flipped class is one key point, flipped classroom involves mobile learning whereby shorts video are used to make lesson or assignments better and more understandable. Students watch the videos at home and then discuss and practice exercises in the class. Using mobile tools for creating learning aids and materials becomes an important part of learning.
Engagement: Students are fully engaged while learning through mobile format and this helps to improve students’ performance in learning.
Interaction: Mobile learning allows for collaborative work, students and teachers can get and share information or ideas, there is adequate interaction and feedback.
Information: Using this system of learning provided opportunity for research and information, M-Learning is a platform to check up for information
Collaborations: using mobile learning is a great way to foster collaboration and give students the opportunity to share learning experience and ideas and be part of the learning process.
It allows for better performance: Mobile learning is rendered at convenience thereby allowing students to have access to the program at their own time in which they are fully and actively prepared for thereby giving in their best performance.
It allows for learning on multiple devices, so teachers can have access to difference device, they are not bound to one, it also provides opportunity for students to try out things new on different platforms
Mobile learning does not stop at apps it extends to any material or instrument you can carry around and you can use it to learn like calculator, camera, videos, is a learning with flexibility in that it can be used anywhere at anytime
Guiding principle or best practices on mobile learning:
When designing or creating M-learning I would;
• Test use the apps when preparing for activity on at least a couple of one if not all types of devices?
• Make sure it can be accessible by students
• Check connection speeds: mobile data network speeds are considerably slower. As a result, content will potentially take longer to download, unless the mobile device is using a Wi-Fi connection.
• What if something changes or goes wrong, what provisions are made.
• Consider other mobile learning that does not require any app.
Some Mobile activities I could create in my class includes:
• Use of audio record: As a teacher, I will use audio record to pass information to student, knowing that students need personal or quality feedback on work they are doing, the audio record is a good activity for me, because students can always listen to them, use them as reference and get feedback.
• Video activity: Sometimes instead of asking students to write long lines or pages of work, I would allow them to create a video of their work, when students research a work they can make short video to show understanding of the information and with this they wouldn't have to copy other people's work.
• Online forum for Discussion: This activity will help students to always drop their comment in the chat room or forum, and they can share ideas, and I ask a teacher will be able to follow the discussion and suggest ideas too. This allows for interaction as students can chat with or without the teacher and discussion various topics and get better understanding of the topics or problem.
• Use of video for learning: Have students watch videos that are educational or about a topic and then discuss it with them in the classroom, this is just a typical example of flipped classroom. Also, videos can be watched in the class and paused at some point to allow students to discuss, thereby getting more understanding of the topic
• Creating a game based learning that allow students to use calculators
References
Crompton, H. (2013). "A historical overview of mobile learning: Toward learner-centered education". In Z. L. Berge & L. Y. Muilenburg (Eds.), Handbook of mobile learning (pp. 3–14). Florence, KY: Routledge.
Some definitions of mobile learning from Wikipedia
Vangie Beal. “Mobile Learning (m-learning)
Image on Mobile Learning 1
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