Mobile learning is the concept of delivering knowledge or information through mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, or other handheld devices. Mobile phones are transforming into networking, entertainment and now education tools. Mobile technology isn’t the only thing changing; learning is no longer confined to brick and mortar classrooms. It is now easier than ever to learn while on the go with your mobile device.
At the current rate of technological change, many of the past truths about mobile devices seem more like myths today. These are a few common myths about mobile learning.
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- Mobile devices are a distraction. Mobile devices are becoming abundant and saturating the younger generation of learners, as well as, the corporate world. Of course these devices have the potential for distraction, given their many features. However, learners are likely to become distracted by the activities and content on their device, rather than the device itself. The same can be said for personal computers – the student could ignore the learning content and use the computer for other distractions as well.
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- Devices lack an appropriate screen and key size. Many people believe, compared to personal computers, mobile devices lack the large interface (keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.) that personal computers may provide. While this is still true, these mobile devices have grown substantially, in such a short period of time. Many of today’s devices have large usable screens, full QWERTY keyboards, and multi-touch support.
- Mobile content is expensive. Just as phones are now widely accessible and affordable to the majority of people, developing content is no longer an expensive, platform dependent exercise. It’s likely possible to develop mobile learning content that’s mobile friendly for less than the cost of conventional eLearning that runs on personal computer-based browsers. In addition, many learning platforms are mobile friendly and budget friendly.
Let’s face it; the learning environment is rapidly transitioning to a more flexible eLearning world. Although these are just 3 of the many myths of mobile learning, there are many advantages and disadvantages.