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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Sharon Rees

Sharon Rees

mLearning: Anytime, anywhere learning transcending the boundaries of the educational bo... - 0 views

  • In the age of our mobile learning, an impending onus is placed on educational institutions to embrace this technological innovation that is widely accepted, used, and available globally. The clear societal value of mobile technology as a productivity tool for engagement, creation, and collaboration has generated a new need for education to revisit existing instructional paradigms constrained by physical walls and time. Mobile learning (mLearning) creates a venue to promote a culture of participation where learners and leaders alike can engage in combined efforts with multiplicative outcomes of greater success. This article explores the factors that national, state, and local educational organizations must understand in order to make steps toward successful integration of mLearning technology. Characteristics necessary for effective and efficient use of mLearning strategies for educators are also examined.
  • An annual report, by The New Media Consortium, reveals that mobile learning and cloud computing are poised to reach widespread adoption in schools in one year or less, with game-based learning and open educational content not far behind (Devaney 2011).
  • Options like eLearning, and home-based learning are attracting students away from traditional settings at every level of education. The at-your-own-pace, convenience of space, and often lower costs these alternative educational settings offer appeal to an increasingly growing learner base.
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  • Mobile Devices are defined by several criteria: Form, connectivity, and state.
  • The mLearning environment is at-you-own-pace, just in time, and on-demand, not limited by a hard line connection and with the equipment that is often cheaper than a desktop and/or laptop computer.
  • . Dissatisfaction with the status quo: may come from teachers who are not motivated to consider change in their teaching procedures.  2. Knowledge and Skills Exist: a teacher must possess the competencies to teach students the use of these tools  3. Resources are available: tools and relevant materials are accessible to assist learners to acquire learning objectives.  4. Time is available: Paid time. Teachers need time for in-service training; they need time to revise existing teaching plans; they need time to practice with new materials; they need time to try out and evaluate new teaching procedures.  5. Rewards or Incentives Exist for Participants: Why should anyone change? If current practice is going reasonably well, why risk new techniques? Whatever the reward, intrinsic or extrinsic, it should be there in some form.  6. Participation is Expected and Encouraged: Shared decision making, individuals should be involved in the decisions that will affect them. Participation may occur at many levels: during problem identification. During consideration of alternative solutions, and during decision making when new programs or approaches are adopted.  7. Commitment by Those who are involved: Administrators should provide clear and visible support that endorses implementation.  8. Leadership is Evident: Leaders should insure that the necessary training is given and the materials to do the job are easily available; they are available for consultation when discouragement or failure occur; and they continually communicate their enthusiasm for the work at hand.
  • Through a review of past empirical studies, Hew and Brush (2007) found a total of 123 barriers in providing technology integration barriers, the authors classified them into six main categories: (1) resources, (2) knowledge and skills, (3) institution, (4) attitudes and beliefs, (5) assessment, and (6) subject culture. The greatest attribute of successful diffusion of innovation, which transcends all other aspects, is value. The merit or worth (value) placed on an innovation by a community is directly related to its ability to inform educational practice. Through usage and personal adoption, the whole educational community (administrators, teachers, student, and parents) has placed high value on trending mobile technology.
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    In the age of our mobile learning, an impending onus is placed on educational institutions to embrace this technological innovation that is widely accepted, used, and available globally. The clear societal value of mobile technology as a productivity tool for engagement, creation, and collaboration has generated a new need for education to revisit existing instructional paradigms constrained by physical walls and time. Mobile learning (mLearning) creates a venue to promote a culture of participation where learners and leaders alike can engage in combined efforts with multiplicative outcomes of greater success. This article explores the factors that national, state, and local educational organizations must understand in order to make steps toward successful integration of mLearning technology. Characteristics necessary for effective and efficient use of mLearning strategies for educators are also examined.
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