As I reflect on the current question on technologies shaping the current teaching and learning within my profession of education, I cannot help by marvel at the rise of interest in mobile learning to deliver quality educational content. Mobile learning definition, although broad in spectrum, for purposes of this present discussion, is restricted to the educational content delivered via smartphones: Android, Google, and Blackberry OS Systems. Functional uses include download of audio and visual, play movies, accesses email (I have four accounts), edit and display text documents, web access, and mass storage capabilities.
The expansion of delivery of educational content via a tool that has become a part of our everyday lives promises to provide another avenue for learner engagement: or so one would think. The study of Pan, Shen, Novack, & Pan (2009) study findings support the benefit of incorporating smartphones within a blended classroom delivery system. Learning engagement increased significantly; a surprising indication given the rigid system delivery methodology. Smartphones support collaboration and engagement: interactive learning.
Yet, with the perceived benefits this method of delivery may be overshadowed by the challenges faced in incorporating smartphone educational content delivery within their respective institutions. Corbeil and Corbeil, in an article published in Educase Quarterly 2007, premises while mobile phones are readily available for everyday usage does not necessarily indicate that we are ready to experience this tool within our educational halls. The cons indicated by the authors’ are the small screens, virtual/small keyboards are inefficient for instructional usage, and the potential high costs.
It will be interesting to see how the academic community addresses the drawbacks of smartphone design as it seeks more avenues with which to engage their learning constitutes.
Corbeil, J.R & Valdes-Corbeil, M.E. (2007). Are you ready for mobile learning? Educase Quarterly, 30(2). http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/AreYouReadyforMobileLearning/157455
Wang M. , Shen R., Novak D,. & Pan, X. (2009) The impact of mobile learning on students’
Learning behaviours and performance: Report from a large blended classroom. The British Journal of Educational Technology. Vol.40 (4). P. 673-695.
