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Implications for teaching and learning:
We are in the age of mobilism (Norris & Soloway, 2012). The implications for teaching and learning are enormous and growing at a quick pace, therefore, it is imperative that all of the stakeholders(teachers, students, administrators, governments (municipal, provincial and federal) and parents) involved in m-learning offer careful planning based on student's needs and learner outcomes.
Implications for K-12:
- Due to the easy use of touch screen capabilities mobile devices add and element of fun.
- App capabilities provide entertaining qualities allowing students to use their imaginations for learning.
- Collaboration is encouraged through common platforms.
- The same way that it is happening in the corporate world: workers (students) are bringing in devices that they have purchased and are using them for their jobs (learning), forcing their company’s IT staff to either accommodate—or ban those devices (Norris & Soloway, 2010).
- When schools use mobile technology to support disruptive curricula and pedagogies, only then will we see significant gains in student achievement (Norris & Soloway, 2010).
Implications for Higher Education:
- Merchant (2012) also contends that implementation and policy within educational settings should be informed by everyday mobile practices. A critical approach to use and ownership needs to be adopted as mobile devices are popular items.
- Merchant (2012) argues, "That there is a need to move beyond debates about prohibiting or encouraging the use of mobiles to look at more specific examples of their advantages
(and disadvantages)" (p. 771). - Lesson with mobile devices allow students to gather information from a variety of interdisciplinary sources in diverse formats (EDUCAUSE, 2010).
- With affordability mobile learning has increased the infrastructure of Distance Education to rural areas (EDUCAUSE, 2010).
- Possibility of students taking pictures of exams or papers.
Implications for Cooperate:
- Allows for cash wires and payment files (Quittner, 2011)
- Easy access to account information (Quittner, 2011)
- Cloud computing allows access to network analysis
- Creates more efficient, collaborative and organized work environments. (ex. instant messaging, schedules, calendars)
Implications for Students with Special Needs:
- Provides students with the opportunity of communication.
- Inclusive education is a goal mandate by Alberta Ed.-mobile devices help achieve this goal(Alberta Education, 2008).
References
Alberta Education (2008). About an Inclusive Education System. Government of Alberta. Retrieved from http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/inclusion/about.aspx
EDUCAUSE. (2010). 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
Merchant, G. (2012). Mobile practices in everyday life: Popular digital technologies and
schooling revisited. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43 (4), 770–782.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8535.2012.01352.x
Norris, C.A., & Soloway, E. (2011). Learning and schooling in the age of mobilism. Educational Technology, 51(6), 3-10. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/968114535?accountid9838
Quittner, J. (2011) Citi Starts Mobile for Biz Customers. American
Banker, 176(F340), 8-10. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA269599190&v=2.1&u=ucalgary&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w