Best Advantages and Negatives of mobile Learning
Mobile learning has become a well-known method of learning for students worldwide. It's a great way for course creators to reach new audiences and connect with students wherever they're spending their time on mobile technology.
The average Canadian checks their phone 144 times each day, while the average American checks their phone an insane 344 times per day.
With the increasing integration of technology into their lives and lives, it's no wonder that they're turning to phones or tablets as well as laptops to learn. Mobile learning offers students freedom that they've never experienced in their quest to learn new skills, hobbies, trades, and careers.
Let's look at mobile learning's advantages and disadvantages and consider how m-learning could benefit your students.
Skip ahead:
- What exactly is Mobile Learning (M-learning)?
- What's mobile learning advantages?
- Which are some negatives to mobile learning?
- Discover the balance on mobile-based learning
What exactly is the definition of mobile learning (M-learning)?
What are the most benefits of mobile learning?
There are many advantages for mobile learning, however we've compiled 6. They are accessibility, flexibility in content, motivation as well as engagement and cost. Let's look at each one in more detail below:
Accessibility
One of the significant advantages of mobile learning is its the accessibility. The courses that are online can be accessed and students are able to access their classes from any part of the world. This makes mobile learning extremely adaptable and helps creators reach a much wider market.
Flexibility
Like accessibility, but with a different, mobile learning gives students the freedom that traditional or in-person training courses don't. Students are able to complete their course at whatever time is most convenient for them and their schedule, regardless of whether they want to be working from 12 noon or midnight.
In addition, if the program lets students learn at their own pace. This gives them more flexibility as they can take the course in as little as a couple of hours, or as long as a several months.
Motivation
Both eLearning and mobile learning utilize technologically advanced methods of teaching and evaluation. Interactive quizzes, for instance, and tests can be gamified to encourage learners to improve their performance, engage with the material and remember important information.
A motivated and engaged student will be more likely to retain what they've learned and leave satisfied.
The Current Content
Because mobile learning courses live online, they have the unique benefit of revision. Authors aren't able to alter physical textbooks, online coursesor webinars once they've been released. Online courses can.
Online course creators could benefit from this and regularly update courses as needed. This helps them to keep their the courses current and relevant for students.
Engagement
Duolingo has grown to become the most frequently used app for learning new languages through innovative methods such as microlearning. Students can take small-sized classes which can be completed every day.
Affordability
The majority of mobile learning courses don't require instructor-in-person instruction or synchronous learning They aim to teach one ability or produce one result. The size of a mobile learning course could be much less expensive than classes that demand additional staff or maintenance, schedules, and research.
What are the drawbacks from mobile education?
As with anything it is true that there are drawbacks to mobile learning to be considered in addition. Learning via mobile can leave students open to distraction, lack interpersonal interaction, use technology to much, not provide the ability to personalize, and even exclude students who do not have access to high-quality technologies. We'll explore the reasons in the following sections:
Distractions
One of the advantages of using mobile technology in education is that it requires students to connect to the content via the use of a smartphone. This also means learners are more likely to get distracted.
Students will likely get emails, text messages as well as social media updates throughout their classes. This can lead to a lack of engagement and completion to drop.
Lack of social interaction
The use of M-learning is a way to inspire students to create meaningful connections on the internet, but it doesn't provide to have meaningful interaction in person.
Some students can prefer a more private and focused environment, other students could rely on their social connections to keep them motivated. This can become even more evident when students are enrolled in an academic program that demands long-term engagement.
Reliance on technology
Similar to e-learning, M-learning, is entirely reliant on the technology. Designers should think about compatibility with operating systems and the best way to optimize for mobile devices or else risk making unwieldy or difficult to use courses.
Reliance on tech can also exclude skills that rely on experience. As an example, for instance, artists or mechanics might have difficulty developing real-world skills, without direct feedback and in-person instruction.
Personalization is poor
The most personalized feedback is usually provided by an individual mentor, class instructoror a cohort leader. In spite of engaging assessments such as exams and interactive tests but students are unable to miss out on individual feedback when they're in online learning classes, making it difficult for them to understand and improve their skills.
Poor technology
Though the majority of students have access modern technology and reliable internetaccess, not everyone does. Some students may be learning with older tech or have poor internet and electricity access.
The mobile learning model can provide access to education for many, but it can be a barrier to access for students who do not have the devices for online learning. You'll have to consider the audience you want to reach and be sure to create a course which is easily accessible for them.
Find the right balance on mobile-based learning
What is an advantage to some might be a disadvantage for other students. In particular, the extreme flexibility of a self-paced course might be demotivating for some viewers. Ultimately, it's the responsibility of you to discover the right balance for the target audience and then design your course in line with that.
Regardless, creators can outweigh limitations of mobile learning, and design the most accessible, top-quality, and inclusive courses than ever previously. If you have the appropriate content, you can utilize mobile technology to expand your reach, engage students, and create a sense of community.
If you're thinking of making an online course, take a test for free! You'll get the course creation along with the selling, marketing, and creation equipment you require to transform your course into a mobile business of learning.