Mobile Learning Beyond the Classroom

At the private college where I taught, SmartBoards were introduced into the classroom shortly after we moved to a newer and bigger building. Although at first, I was resistant to using the new technology as I was quite comfortable with the time-tested reliability of the whiteboard, I began to look for ways to create more engaging classroom experiences for my students. I presented lessons through videos, slides and music. While the SmartBoard enhanced the accessibility of different forms of media, its use was limited in part due to my own inexperience with the new technology. I approached the school to ask for a tutorial on using the SmartBoard and was given a cursory lesson on how to use the different colored smart markers - it became apparent that I would need to seek out other sources to gain a better understanding of how to fully utilize the new technology.

Mobile Learning in the Classroom

While many people associate mobile learning with the use of mobile devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets, mobile learning can be defined more broadly as “learning through exploration and conversation across multiple contexts amongst people and interactive technologies” (Sharples, 2017). Mobile learning allows students to take their learning beyond the brick-and-mortar classroom to their immediate environments, whether in their communities or their home environment.

There are a number of benefits to implementing mobile technology in the classroom. According to S. Jhoanna Robled’s Guide to Mobile Learning for Edutopia, mobile devices engage students more fully and encourages students to take a more active role in their own learning. Teachers report that students contribute more to problem-solving and are more involved as peer teachers to their classmates as they learn to work collaboratively through the use of social media. I believe that it is important for teachers to learn to effectively use mobile technology in the classroom to provide greater access to learning to all students and to equip students with problem-solving and collaboration skills essential for future success.  

Applications of Mobile Learning

Lessons where mobile devices and technology can be used are varied and numerous as mobile technology is highly versatile and adaptable to students of different levels and different subjects. The following are some ways to implement the use of mobile devices in the classroom.

Classroom Blog

Students can showcase their projects and work on their classroom blogs. This is a space where they can reflect on the process and outcome of their assignments and provide feedback to their classmates. Students can participate in discussion forums and brainstorm ideas for class assignments and projects on their blog. They can also post questions and get answers from their classmates allowing for peer learning and collaboration outside of the classroom.

Using Cell Phones to Keep the Classroom Connected

Cell phone apps such as Remind101 help to remind students of when their next assignments. Teachers can create tests and quizzes online on sites such as polleverywhere.com to help students assess what they have learned and prepare them for in-class tests. Students can take the tests wherever they are and send in their answers for immediate feedback. As an added bonus, teachers are able to see what areas students need reinforcement in from the graphs and data compiled by the test app.

References

“What is Mobile Learning?” (2015) Accessed on 2, April 2017 at https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/mobile-learning/what-is-mobile-learning

Robledo, S. J. Mobile Devices for Learning. (2012) Accessed on 2, April 2017 at

http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/guides/edutopia-mobile-learning-guide.pdf

Wainwright, A. 7 Fun Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom to Enrich Learning. (2017) Accessed on 2, April 2017 at

http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/7-Fun-Ways-to-Use-Technology-in-the-classroom-to-enrich-learning