DEFINITIONS
M-learning is “the intersection of mobile computing
and e-learning and includes anytime, anywhere resources; strong search
capabilities; rich interaction; powerful support for effective learning”
(Quinn, 2000, p.8)
Traxler’s
(2010) three-part definition specifies that mobile learning is (a) learning
delivered and supported by handheld, mobile computing devices; (b) comprised of
formal and informal components; and (c) authentic and situated in context for
the learner.
DISCUSSION
Mobile Learning has already had a huge impact on learning
and education. Research can be done on a phone, or a tablet, or books and
articles can be identified and accessed from anywhere. You no longer need to go
to the library – you can do your research on the beach, on top of a mountain,
or in a moving vehicle. In the Training world I remember when we had people
turn their phones and devices OFF and store them in bags. Now we just ask
people to keep them on vibrate and we frequently ask our participants to look
things up during a session, take a photo, or send a tweet or post to our social
media pages. I do wonder if there will come a time when we don’t ask people to
turn the sounds off and they become part of the learning experience too! My
favorite example of Mobile Learning is YouTube Videos. You can learn to repair
anything, build anything, become an “expert” on just about anything on YouTube,
and it can happen anywhere. My favorite examples of this are when my washing
machine stopped working and I diagnosed and repaired it using a YouTube video.
Or when my dishwasher was not working properly and I took the whole thing apart
by watching a YouTube video. Another example would be replacing a hard drive in
my Mac and adding more memory – all done while watching a YouTube video on my
phone, in the space where I needed to be to learn and complete the tasks. We
access maps to tell us where to go in our cars while driving. If we get hungry
we can find out what restaurants are around us that are good and which ones are
bad and will make us sick. Our culture is one of constant information streaming,
coming at us and being sought out by us all at the same time. Learning no
longer only occurs in the classroom – it is extended into all parts of our
lives, 24-7. Educators can leverage this by embracing the mobile technology and
asking students to use it to solve problems and answer questions. My last
comment on M-Learning has to do with something that is near and dear to my
heart. Accessibility. Here is a wonderful story about how in California, this
year, they got iPads for students and installed Wi-Fi on school busses so that
students can continue learning, and do their homework, on their way home. Wi-Fi
enabled school busses leaves no child offline: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/wi-fi-enabled-school-buses-leave-no-child-offline/
RESOURCES
Article:
In this article there is a great definition of mobile
learning “Mobile learning is the capability to seamlessly deliver a wide array
of knowledge and performance improvement resources to users—anyplace, on any
platform, on demand, and at the moment of need.”
There is also really good discussion
about mobile learning using multiple different mobile devices during
interrupted times.
Rosenberg, Marc. (2015, May 12). Marc My Words: What Exactly
is Mobile Learning? Retrieved from http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1691/marc-my-words-what-exactly-is-mobile-learning
Web URL:
The scholastic website has a great article on mobile learning that gives a LOT of examples of different types of mobile technology and how they can be applied in the classroom. It also talks about the changed demographic of our students and how education and classrooms have not kept up.
Wylie, Jonathan. Mobile Learning Technology for 21st
Century Classrooms
Video:
This interview with Traxler is full of good stuff. He talks
about implementing mobile learning in schools when the resources are not there
to support the programming. The solution to keeping mobile learning sustainable
in a resource starved education system is using the technology that the students
bring with them. However, this means loss of control of the devices – and what can be done with those devices –
because they belong to the students. Serious questions of regulations and
ethics here! He also discusses the importance of digital literacy and critical
thinking, identifying and distinguishing between the “good stuff” online and
the lunatics and nonsense. Check it out here:
John Traxler: The Future of Mobile Learning (2016)
ACTIVITY
Discover Campus Scavenger Hunt – New employees will be given
a scavenger hunt list and divided into teams and set loose on campus with a
time limit. To solve the scavenger hunt they can use any resources available to
them on their mobile devices (I will suggest the school website, www.uncc.edu) . When they find the answers to
the scavenger hunt questions on campus they will need to take a picture using
their phone/tablet cameras and save these. When the time is up they will email
their photo answers to the instructor. The team with the rightest answers will
win a prize but everyone who participates will learn about UNC Charlotte
history, campus layout, building and amenities locations, and how to get around
the campus in a limited amount of time! All teams will share when they are
reunited as a class and teach each other new things about UNC Charlotte.
CLOSING
In order for me to keep up with Mobile Learning trends I
think I need to keep an eye on Traxler (this was my first time learning about
him) as well as continue to research what is being done in classrooms. I can
push myself to utilize mobile learning in any lesson plans I create, engaging my
students by letting them decide how and what type of mobile device they will
use to complete assignments.
Using Voki was so much fun, it makes me want to pay to
upgrade! Check out my link to my Voki with my personal definition of mobile
learning: http://www.voki.com/site/pickup?scid=12832298&width=575&height=323&chsm=213c77661931104a49787c4c1bce81ab
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