In an age ruled by the internet and its vast ocean of opportunities, a new vista of resources has opened up in the educational market- Mobile learning. Also known as M-learning, it is a form of distance learning where one can access information right from where they’re sitting through various modalities of portable devices. While this generally refers to handheld electronic appliances like phones and tablets, the term can also be extended to laptops, computers, and notebooks.
The key focus of mobile learning is easy accessibility which provides the user with a wide range of educational content at any location and at any time of their convenience. This content is available in many forms such as teaching videos, apps, online classes, and even social media which can be used to share notes in document format.
Mobile learning provides easy access to information to those living in remote areas, thus increasing the reach of education worldwide. The concept of portability allows the user to learn anything on the go, even at odd times. In addition to providing a more flexible, versatile educational schedule that is more personalized to the user’s lifestyle, it allows one to revisit older topics at their convenience which helps strengthen core concepts. Online notes and videos can be easily shared on social media which further increases accessibility and significantly cuts down expenses in relation to the cost of offline classes and hard copy books. From another standpoint, the combined use of offline and distance learning helps provide the user with a more holistic, blended educational approach. Considering the increasing interest in social media and electronic devices, sharing lessons online may have a better appeal to the population and might spark an interest in learning.
Like any educational tool, mobile learning does come with its own set of flaws and cracks. While the concept of ‘knowledge at your fingertips’ does sound quite promising, solely relying on mobile learning might prove to be an obstacle in the absence of resources such as a decent internet connection. A single tablet can house a library of books, but the cost factor of such devices and the health consequences of long hours of usage. The user can also be easily distracted from learning considering that such devices also provide other entertaining content and the only factor that decides the outcome of this approach is the user’s self-discipline. A good tactic to combat these issues would be to follow a middle path, using both online and offline resources such that they complement each other, building up to a more optimal form of learning.
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