Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning

A teacher should be prepared to allow students to use mobile devices to achieve learning objectives because mobile devices are valuable 21st century tools that can significantly help students master learning targets.  As educators in the 21st century, we have to keep our learner at the core when choosing instructional tools that enhance their learning.  We have to shift away from doing things the old way if the old way is no longer effective.  

Some guiding principles or best practices for having mobile learning in the classroom could be:

Teachers and should should be guiding by the following principles or best practices as it relates to mobile learning:

The tool will help students to learn 21st century skills

The tool will engage all students in learning

The tool will help students achieve the learning objective

The tool will help students enjoy the learning experience

The students have been taught how to use the tool

The teacher has been adequately trained in using the tool

The teacher has contingency plans in case of technology failure

I am a believer in flipping the classroom.  In fact, I have tried it myself! The argument for flipping a classroom is simple.  Students get to watch videos with simplified explanation of difficult concepts.  They watch at their own pace.  They have the ability to pause and replay the videos to capture the learning concept.  When they come to school the following day, the material is familiar to them.  They engage in activities to practice the concepts that they learned about with the support of the teacher.   Flipped classroom is worthwhile and good because it helps students to learn and master concepts.  

Mobile devices, such as a camera on a phone or another mobile device, can be very helpful educational tools.  Students can be cameras on  educational trip to capture sceneries and images.  These  images can be used as resources for further discussions or used to create digital projects such as informational videos.  Mobile devices provide a very personal, hands-on approach to engaging with content.  This technique puts students at the center of learning.  It is the student who gets to capture the learning moment and experience learning for himself or herself.