This week was a busy week for me to go through it. There was a lot of assignment bothering me from the other subjects as well. Apart from that, i was trying my level best to accommodate myself with ICT skills which will be helpful throughout this semester for Computer in Education.
According to the assignment specification, we are required to choose a topic and work out on it. Related to it, my partner Josman Ghani and myself decided to work out on Mobile Learning. My partner and me was such an awesome partner as we always help and compliment each other throughout this chore. Mobile Learning was quite a familiar topic for us and so we decided to explore more into it and become the main source for our classmates for this topic. So, what is Mobile Learning??
In this modern century, we can see that our ways of learning had evolved from time to time. One of the most common learning methods that we can see nowadays is mobile learning. Mobile learning is a method of learning which uses small and portable devices such as laptop, netbook, smartphones and etc. Adding to that, with the technology that we are having nowadays, we can learn at anywhere and anytime we want without any boundaries. Mobile learning is the most convenient method in which many of our students of higher education institute is using nowadays.
Mobile learning started during the 1970’s, when Alan Kay an American computer scientist proposes the idea of using Dynabooks for the purpose of learning and education. He and his colleague created a concept in which the children will learn through the book-sized computers that is portable in which they can carry it to anywhere that they like. This device had never quite created but it had led to the creation of laptops that we are having nowadays. Right now we can see that laptop is becoming a common device that almost every university students have in order for them to do their assignments. Thus, it had revolutionized our educational sector by incorporating mobile learning in our society.
One definition of mobile learning is ‘any educational provision where the sole or dominant technologies are handheld or palmtop devices’. Mobile learning is becoming a trend nowadays because the learner is not restricted to learn in a classroom. The students prefer to be flexible in which they can manage their own time and balance studying with their social life. Mobile learning had contributed a lot to many learners who wish to have the convenience of learning in their own time and places because some of the learners are working adults and sometimes they are too busy to attend classes which may be located in a far place.
Learner’s satisfaction is also an important factor to look about when it comes to mobile learning, learning particularly. Learning itself is not easy to measure since there are contradictions associated with teacher’s assigning grades and measuring process can’t be directly observable. For that basis, learners satisfaction on learning often used as an indicator in learning approach. Learners’ level of learning satisfaction would be important to the designer of a particular learning program. Information on the predictors’ satisfaction could be used to inform the designers and learners support systems in Mobile learning systems.
In the field of information system known as IS, the concept of user satisfaction is often used to represent the degree to which users believe the IS they are using conforms to their requirements (Cyert & March, 1963). Bailey and Pearson (1983) said that satisfaction is a collective of a person’s feelings or attitude towards the factors that affect us. Learner characteristics, motivation and instructional alternatives are more important than media does were their conclusion. Mobile learning is a division of distance learning and also E-learning, thus these variables have to be taken into consideration.
Mobile learning is becoming more popular through the development of new and unique mobile devices. Blackberrys, iPhones, iPads and other devices have made learning-on-the-go much easier for the average person.
Today’s mobile devices can handle a bulk of tasks that teachers require and students expect from personal computers (PCs). However, there are many distinct disadvantages that are unique to mobile devices.
Benefits of mobile devices include that they are portable. They are small and lighter in weight and can be easily carried by anyone to everywhere, anywhere. Comparably, mobile devices are less expensive than PCs. Thirdly, mobile devices require less power to run than PCs.
Besides that, most mobile devices come with Bluetooth or wi-fi as part of their standard configuration. Moreover, mobile phones os personal. No other technology creates such a unique, 1-to-1 feeling with the use than a mobile device. As a result, many teachers have seen greater student engagement with mobile devices for learning. Mobile devices are so delightful that you can touch the screen, manipulate objects, pinch and zoom. You can hold a device in all different directions and even shake it. You can use it on a desk; play with it on the floor, in bed, on the couch or in the car. Lastly, apps can handle special needs in a variety of manners: language, audio, video, colours which are so essential for the users.
On the other hand, just because it is easier does not mean it is necessarily better. There are disadvantages to mobile learning that you should be aware of before joining. Firstly, to participate in mobile learning you must have a mobile device. Also, technology changes and advances very quickly. To take advantage of all that technology has to offer, you need to upgrade your mobile device frequently. Additionally, there are typically monthly data charges with your mobile provider so if you need to download large files that take a long time, your monthly charges could be quite high. Secondly, The size of the device is a disadvantage for two reasons.
First, because they are small these devices are easily lost or stolen. Second, the screen size is quite small and can result in eye-strain for people using them for long periods of time. Also, the amount of information that can be displayed on the screen at one time is quite small. Besides that, The battery life for mobile devices ranges from about two to four hours of use. Once the battery runs out, you must plug it in to recharge and you are no longer mobile. Lastly, The buttons on the keypad or stylus pens are small and can be tricky for some people to manipulate. There are attachable keyboards available for some devices but these are also small, can be difficult to use and cost money.
As a conclusion, mobile learning had been becoming a popular way of learning in this era. Mobile learning is a new approach in delivering the additional learning supports to the school and also for the leaner itself.
Thank You @ IK
GOD is GREAT! ~
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