Value of Mobile Technology in Teaching and Learning

Mobile technology does not necessarily mean that the technology is in motion. It may or may not be in motion, but what it essentially implies is that the technology is portable (NIBI; 2016). Some examples are:

Figure 1: Showing  a range of the mobile technology.

• Laptop
• Tablets
• Netbook Computers
• Mobile phones and 'smart phones'
• Global Positioning System (GPS) devices
• etc.

The teaching is what is delivered by a teacher and learning is what happens at the end of students. The teaching-learning relationship between a teacher and students has not always existed in typical classroom settings where desks and chairs are arranged in a tidy order. It has also existed outside the classroom. The advent of the technology has not impacted only classroom teaching-learning but equally the outside as well. This fact itself is a great value of mobile technology for it has and can further change the relationship in both settings within and without the classroom.

At this point in time and age, it can still be said that mobile teaching (i.e. m-teaching) and mobile learning (m-learning) are relatively new phenomena and the theoretical basis is currently under development. Even though, the mobile technology has already considerably changed the teaching and learning environment, there is still a lot of further development to come and are coming more or less every year (Kearney et al, 2012; Liu et al, 2003).

Mobile technologies are increasingly being employed in teaching and learning in both developing as well as developed countries (Shohel and Power, 2010). Below is a list of aspects which further explains value of the mobile technology in teaching and learning, I have personally employed them all in my own teaching and learning. However, details of my personal experiences are specifically addressed in the post on appropriate applications for my teaching and learning:

In comparison to the past, the proportions between class contact hours of teachers with students and administrative duties have substantially changed. Administrative duties take a considerable amount of time of teachers / lecturers. The uptake of mobile technology can also help with administrative duties, thereby, enable to work not ‘harder’ but ‘smarter’.

No generation is as good with the mobile technology as the current young generation which can be referred as ‘digital generation’. They have grown up with computers and laptop in their hands from the childhood time. Thus, this can be used to advantage of their learning, by employing mobile technologies in teaching and learning environment.

 
1.      Social media like Facebook, which generally may be seen as a distraction, can be used to motivate students to communicate specially in their group projects while they are physically apart.
 
2.      Skype is used a lot more often to have meetings between lectures of different universities especially when abroad or in different countries.
 
3.      Communication between students and lecturers can be facilitated when students are away to e.g. their home towns or countries. Email is a typical example.
 
4.      Online learning is becoming a lot more common practice.
 
5.      Distance learning now can be referred to as e-learning. Virtual learning environments are becoming common practice.
 
6.      Mobile technologies are being employed not only in teaching but also academic research projects such as dissertations at bachelors and masters levels as well as PhD / Doctorate i.e. Level 8.

Note: For more details on this post, see the post entitled “Influence of the Technology on Learning Ways”.

References

Kearneya, Matthew; Schucka, Sandra; Burdenb, Kevin; and Aubussona, Peter. 2012, Viewing mobile learning from a pedagogical perspective, Research in Learning Technology, Vol. 20, pp. 1 – 17.

Liu, T.C.; Wang, H.Y.; Liang, J.K.; Chan, T.W.; Ko, H.W. and Yang, J.C. 2003, Wireless and mobile technologies to enhance teaching and learning, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol. 19, pp. 371 – 382.

NIBI (Northern Ireland Business Information), 2016, Mobile Technology, Practical advice for Northern Ireland Business, ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office), Available at: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/advantages-and-disadvantages-mobile-technology, Accessed: 16 January 2016.

Shohel, M. Mahruf C. and Power, Tom. 2010, Introducing mobile technology for enhancing teaching and learning in Bangladesh: teacher perspectives, The Journal of Open and Distance Learning, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 201 – 215.