Mobile Technologies and Mobile Learning
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Carol Campbell
Carol Campbell<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Durham College of Applied Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Digital technologies are increasingly personal, mobile, and connected. While many students use them in their daily lives, and want to use digital technologies for learning, educators often ban or limit their use for safety reasons, or because teachers view them as learning distractions (Van’t Hooft, 2008). Evidently, a digital divide exists between teachers and students which needs to be examined. This chapter seeks to identify the critical issues concerning the integration of mobile technologies into mobile learning environments and to assist educators in addressing barriers to adopting mobile learning applications. It also seeks to examine the primary issues, limitations and challenges concerning mobile learning technologies.
Keywords: mobile learning, m-learning, mobile technologies, pedagogical affordances, technological attributes, ubiquitous learning
Introduction
Mobile information technologies can free students from the confines of the traditional classroom and allow them to learn on the go. Students can explore information, collaborate with peers, record their learning and receive feedback from teachers at any time and in any place (Ramnath & Kuriakose, 2015). Recent innovations in program applications and social software using Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and wikis or social networking sites, have made mobile devices more dynamic and pervasive and also promise more educational potential. (Park, 2011).
For students today, mobile devices are embedded in their personal lives and most expect mobile technologies to be an integral part of their learning. The affordances of mobile technologies should be assessed for their impact on education, which may provide valuable insight on the implications for 21st century student learning. As posited by Yu, Lee and Ewing (2014), instructional designers need to adopt new ways of facilitating learning, using multiple pedagogical strategies, to give students access to ubiquitous learning.
Background Information: What is Mobile Learning?
Mobile learning refers to the use of mobile or wireless devices for the purpose of learning while on the move (Park, 2011). Mobile learning devices include mobile phones, smart phones, laptops and computer tablets.
According to Sharples (2000), mobile learning devices “allow learners to learn wherever they are located and in their personal context so that the learning is meaningful.” The increased availability and usability of mobile devices has led to their emergent use in the mobile learning environment.
Ubiquitous Learning
Mobile learning is described as ubiquitous learning– anytime, anywhere learning. Ubiquitous learning involves learning in an environment where “all students have access to a variety of digital devices and services, including computers connected to the Internet and mobile computing devices, whenever and wherev