Argument for M-learning
What Constitutes “Good” M-Learning?
How can educators use the new technology
of mobile learning to create learning activities for their students? This question is one that teachers can easily
learn by studying the functionalities of their own smartphones. Educators can learn to embrace what mobile
learning apps can do to enhance learning in their classrooms. Many educators today frown upon mobile usage
in their classrooms as distractors that disrupt the flow of instruction. If educators learn the capacity, utility, and
integrative goodies that mobile learning can produce that does not necessarily
need be the case. According to a Pew
Research study, “Six in ten Americans go online wirelessly using a laptop or
cell phone; African-Americans and 18-29 year olds lead the way in the use of
cell phone data applications, but older adults are gaining ground” (Smith,
2010).
Even with
increasing numbers of investigative studies, there are still significant gaps
in the literature (Litchfield et al., 2007). Little is understood about when
m-technology is most useful and what constitutes good m-learning.
(Anderson
& Stead as cited in Koszalka and Ntloedibe-Kuswani, 2010) posit, “Using
m-technologies in instructionally sound ways offers two advantages…M-technologies
can effectively bring community instructional resources and activities from the
outside into the classroom, bringing similar benefits to those that were seen
when computer technologies were first integrated into classroom settings” (pp.
140 – 141).
(Facer et
al., 2004; Sprake & Rogers, 2006; Williams, Jones, Fleuri ot, & Wood,
2005 as cited in Koszalka & Ntloedibe-Kuswani, 2010) report, M-technologies
such as Smartphone are portable and connective by their very nature; thus, they
can easily provide learners with resources and new types of instructional
activities ‘out’ of the classroom and into the community.
I concur; for
example, a science teacher could easily integrate into a lab lesson into the
curriculum that takes advantage of the portability and connectedness capability
of Smartphones by having students research, identify, and categorizing and listing
photographs they take, let us say, of dry rot in trees in their
neighborhoods. Another use I can think
about for using Smartphone technology is to download apps such as “Popplet” that
is a tool for the iPad and web to visually capture and organize your
ideas. It is used in the classroom, at
home, or in the office. It is an
excellent tool to teach literacy-writing skills.
As you can see M-learning is the new dimension of technology learning tools inside and especially outside the classroom. M-learning devices such as Smartphones and some cameras such as my Samsung Galaxy NX300 have the capacity to create and connect learning whereby learners become less consumers of information and more collaborators, researchers, and publishers on-the-go (Stead, 2006 as cited in Smith, 2010).
Always
Ready to Share Your Memories
According to
Samsung NX300 website, users can connect to their world—and to their smart
devices. A dedicated Direct Link hot key lets the user quickly and wirelessly
send images to a mobile phone, tablet, PC or Smart HDTV—directly from this camera.
It is perfect for sharing moments with friends, family, and your favorite
social networks. The Samsung NX300 also includes Dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
support so you can connect faster and with more stability to wireless networks
around you.
References
Best Buy.
(n.d.). Samsung NX300 Digital Compact
Camera. Retrieved from http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-nx300-20-3-megapixel-digital-compact-system-camera-with-20-50mm-lens-white/8660103.p?id=1218884672857&skuId=8660103#tab=specifications.
Edudemic.com.
(2013, January 29). Using Cell Phones in
Class: A primer for teachers. Retrieved from http://www.scoop.it/t/mlearning-learning-on-the-go?page=2.
Koszalka,
Tiffany A. & Ntloedibe-Kuswani, G. S. (2010). Literature on the safe and
disruptive learning potential of mobile technologies. Distance Education,
31(2), p. 139-157.
Smith, A.
(2011). Pew Internet & American Life Project: Smartphones. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP_Smartphones.pdf
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