Cellular technology has radically transformed the way we experience the world. Now, it is re-
shaping the way we learn. M-learning is a new buzz word in the academic world with
educators contemplating how to harness smartphone technology as an educational tool to
engage learners.
There are numerous advantages of integrating smartphones as an educational tool. Audio and
video features of smartphones can add a fun flavour to classroom learning while catering to
both auditory and visual learners. Educational apps like Evernote make note-taking an
interesting tech-savvy task rather than a mundane activity. Additionally, apps like Zoom aid
distance learning. Furthermore, teachers can get creative with how they assess their students
by using interactive quizzes and games to encourage healthy playful competition among
students. Social media apps can help students share their learning with their parents, teachers
and peers. Using mobile phones as an educational tool gives real-world context to classroom
learning. Today’s students have grown up in a digital world with personal hand-held devices
therefore it is imperative to teach them how to productively use these gadgets for learning
purposes. In addition, sharing notes electronically is an eco-friendly sustainable practice.
On the downside, smartphones with a wide array of applications vying for the student’s
attention can easily distract students from their learning goals. Yet another downside of the
use of smartphones is cyberbullying which is often extra difficult to stumble on than bullying
inside college premises. Similarly, cybercrime poses an imminent risk if cell phones are used
as an educational tool. Although smartphones provide easy access to information the
credibility of the source is often difficult to decipher. Moreover, use of mobile devices for
learning can result in social isolation as students learn through screens rather than interacting
and debating topics with their classmates. Additionally, excess cell phone usage can result in
eye strain.
To summarize, M-learning offers an array of exciting opportunities to advance learning but
simultaneously poses some challenges for educators. In my opinion, the focus should shift
from whether to use cell phones as an educational tool to how best to use them while safeguarding against the risks involved
Cellular technology has
radically
transformed the way we experience the world.
Now
, it is re-
shaping the way we learn. M-learning is a new buzz word in the academic world
with
educators
contemplating how to harness smartphone technology as an
educational
tool
to
engage learners.
There are numerous advantages of integrating smartphones as an
educational
tool
. Audio and
video features of smartphones can
add
a fun
flavour
to classroom
learning
while catering to
both auditory and visual learners.
Educational
apps like Evernote
make
note-taking an
interesting tech-savvy task
rather
than a mundane activity.
Additionally
, apps like Zoom aid
distance
learning
.
Furthermore
, teachers can
get
creative with how they assess their students
by using interactive quizzes and games to encourage healthy playful competition among
students. Social media apps can
help
students
share their
learning
with their parents, teachers
and peers. Using mobile
phones
as an
educational
tool
gives real-world context to classroom
learning.
Today
’s
students
have grown up in a digital world with personal hand-held devices
therefore
it is imperative to teach them how to
productively
use
these gadgets for learning
purposes.
In addition
, sharing notes
electronically
is an eco-friendly sustainable practice.
On the downside, smartphones with a wide array of applications vying for the student’s
attention can
easily
distract
students
from their
learning
goals.
Yet
another downside of the
use
of smartphones is cyberbullying which is
often
extra difficult to stumble
on
than bullying
inside college premises.
Similarly
, cybercrime poses an imminent
risk
if cell
phones
are
used
as an
educational
tool
.
Although
smartphones provide easy access to information the
credibility of the source is
often
difficult to decipher.
Moreover
,
use
of mobile devices for
learning can result in social isolation as
students
learn through screens
rather
than interacting
and debating topics with their classmates.
Additionally
, excess cell
phone
usage can result in
eye strain.
To summarize
, M-learning offers an array of exciting opportunities to advance
learning
but
simultaneously
poses
some
challenges for educators. In my opinion, the focus should shift
from whether to
use
cell
phones
as an
educational
tool
to how best to
use
them while safeguarding against the
risks
involved