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What are the Benefits?
There are many benefits for students to use mobile learning in education. Educational technologies allow students to collaborate with and through the global community, to problem solve, to analyse information, and apply what they have learned to real world situations.
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- Communication between students and the world can provide endless learning opportunities. Students can communicate their learning using a variety of different platforms. (twitter, blackboard, goggle apps)
- Collaboration with others allows learners to access and evaluate information, share ideas, build on ideas, and create knowledge with the global community. In the Horizon Report, it claims that mobile devices encourage students to troubleshoot learning obstacles as they collaborate with each other (Johnson, Adams, Cummins, Estrada, Freeman, &
Ludgate, 2013).
- Student Engagement with mobile devices provides students with many different opportunities for engagement. When students are engaged with content real learning can happen. An example is an app called The Element. It is a visual exploration of the elements on a periodic table. If a student taps on any of the element on the table a 3D image of the element will appear. Not only can students see the image and read the information but students can interact with it (Educause, 2011).
- Authentic learning allows students to go beyond knowledge based content by developing critical thinking skills. Students can use their knowledge and apply it to real world problems allowing them to find solutions to these problems. Mobile devices can also provide students with opportunities to show their creativity and unique abilities.
- Assistive technologies can provide students who face cognitive, physical, cultural, or language difficulties tools for learning. For example, Audio Reader can provide support for students who are visually impaired and closed-captions for students who have difficulty hearing (Educause, 2011).
- Portable mobile devices allow the learner to leave the traditional setting of the classroom and learn anywhere and anytime.
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What are the Challenges?
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What are the Challenges?
- Professional Developed is needed for educators who require assistance with implementation of technologies in the classroom. With the variety of merging technologies teachers will need on-going professional development (Johnson et al., 2013).
- Teacher's attitude toward technology can limit the application of these devices in class. Some teachers will be resistance towards using these tools if they do not feel comfortable with them (Johnson et al., 2013).
- New models of education such as open universities, MOOCs, online distance education are challenging the traditional models of schooling (Johnson et al., 2013).
- Formal and Informal learning must be blended together in order fro students to get a quality education. Experiences outside the classroom and informal class activities are engaging to students and challenge their thinking."Flipped classrooms" use the internet for content prior to a formal class. Students research the information and come to class for discussion (Johnson et al., 2013).
- Provide choice for learners and make learning personal. Technologies do not yet support learning styles (Johnson et al., 2013).
- Assessment practices need to be adjusted to address the curricula outcomes to the new technology skills (Johnson et al., 2013).
- Digital Divide is a challenge as the unequal access to mobile technology can inhibit learning and participation in educational and commerce activities that utilize mobile devices (Henderson, 2012; Jenkins et al., 2006).
- Digital Citizenship is another major challenge of mobile learning include teaching mobile learners about Students and teachers need to be aware of the norms and responsible, appropriate behaviour when online. Therefore, Ribble (2012) contends that all individuals need to have the common language of the nine elements of digital citizenship. Ribble's (2012) nine elements are:
- Digital Access: Full electronic participation in society. Working toward equal digital rights and supporting electronic access is the starting point of Digital Citizenship. Digital exclusion makes it difficult to grow as a society increasingly using these technology tools.
- Digital Commerce: Electronic buying and selling of goods Technology users must understand that goods and services are being exchanged electronically. Both the buyer and seller needs to be aware of the issues associated with it.
- Digital Communication: Electronic exchange of information With the expanding digital communication options, users need to be taught how to make appropriate decisions when faced with various digital communication options.
- Digital Literacy: Process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology. Students need to be taught how technology should be used. With the rapidly changing and advancing technologies, learners must be taught how to learn in a digital society.
- Digital Etiquette: Electronic standards of conduct or procedure.Students need to learn digital etiquette or appropriate conduct when using technology. Everyone needs to be taught to become responsible digital citizens in this online world.
- Digital Law: Electronic responsibility for actions and deeds Digital law deals with the ethics of technology us in society. Students need to understand that stealing or causing damage to other people’s work, identity, or property online is a crime. This includes downloading illegal music, plagiarizing, creating viruses or stealing anyone’s identify or property.
- Digital Rights & Responsibilities: Freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world. Students must be taught that digital citizens have the right to privacy and free speech. Students must know to use technology in an appropriate manner.
- Digital Health& Wellness: Physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world. Students need to be taught physical and psychological issues that are becoming prevalent with internet use. Students need to understand the dangers of technology and how to protect themselves.
- Digital Security (self-protection): Electronic precautions to guarantee safety. Students need to be aware of how to protect their technology. Students should understand virus protection, backups, and surge control.
Students do not always understand the lasting consequences of their online behavior. Therefore, by teaching the students these skills, we empower them to access information, collaborate, create relationships, and experience healthy and productive online relationships.
References
EDUCAUSE. (2011). 7 things you should know about mobile apps for learning. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-ipad-apps-learning
Henderson, R. (2012). Classroom pedagogies, digital literacies and the home-school digital divide. International Journal of Pedagogies & Learning, 6(2), 152-161. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1022283005?accountid=9838
Jenkins, H., Clinton, K., Purushotma, R., Robison, A.J. & Weigel, M. (2006). Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education For the 21st Century. Chicago: The MacArthur Foundation.
Johnson, L., Adams, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A., & Ludgate, H. (2013). The NMC horizon report K-12 edition. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium. Retrieved from http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2013-horizon-report-k12.pdf
Ribble, M. (2012). Digital Citizenship for Educational Change. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 48(4),
148-151. doi:10.1080/00228958.2012.734015