Innovative Learning: Implementation Of Mobile Learning At School

Mobile learning holds great potential for engaging and motivating learners. Mobile learning is any sort of learning that takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies. The challenge is that we are not taking this wonderful opportunity being offered by mobile learning. There is a need to re-conceptualize learning for the mobile age, to recognize the essential role of mobility and communication in the process of learning. Mobile devices are easy to use and understand, hence even children can operate them.

Every teacher in our school owns a smartphone. This can be a solution to teaching and learning and improving our results.

Clark Quinn, professor, author, and expert in computer-based education, he predicted that mobile learning would one day provide learning that was truly independent of time and place and facilitated by portable computers capable of providing rich interactivity, total connectivity, and powerful processing. In May 2005, Ellen Wagner, senior director of Global Education Solutions at Macromedia, proclaimed that the mobile revolution had finally arrived.

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This is evidence that mobile learning is here to stay and as a school, we must take this opportunity with two hands. The budget of the programme will be half compared with present budget. WIFI will cost the school R 24 000 per year. Software and application installation will cost R30000. eBooks and mobile devices will cost the school R40000 and projector cost R6000. The school will save half the money of the current budget and use it to the needy children.

Introduction

Cheaper mobile devices coupled with the boom in educational app development means that many learners in developing countries can now access quality educational media outside of the classroom.

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An increase in mobile access (especially in Nigerian and South African markets) has enabled educational technology businesses and non-profits to broaden education, taking learning to students’ daily commutes and homes. Mobile learning is here to stay, according to business-tech 59% of the South African population now own smartphones. It will be a good idea that our school takes this opportunity with two hands. We introduce mobile learning at our school. In May 2005, Ellen Wagner, senior director of Global Education Solutions at Macromedia, proclaimed that the mobile revolution had finally. We will increase the literacy proficiency and increase numeracy level if we introduce mobile learning in our school. The country is experiencing a boom in internet access, with online users projected to reach 22. 5 million by the end of 2017, according to the Internet Access in South Africa 2017 study by World Wide Worx. This shows teachers and learners will need less training in the use of mobile phones. New educational software’s such as quizzing and trivia programmes, along with grade and assignment tracking tools, shows great benefits for students and teachers.

Problem statement

This proposal responds to the single question: Can mobile learning enhance teaching and learning and improve literacy and numeracy? To answer this question, we must look at evidence of mobile learning successes. Look at the objectives of mobile learning. Implement mobile learning at our school. Statement of the problem/ opportunityThe problem in our school is overcrowding in the classroom, the parents of our learners are not educated to help their children with homework. The mobile learning technology will be a solution in these wicked problems. Learners can ask questions about their homework at home. Parents can communicate with parents about their learner’s work without them visiting the school. As with reference to the above research (according to business-tech 59% of the South African population now own smartphones).

Minor training will be required to train teachers and learners on how to use smartphones. M learning has the support of many organizations promoting the integration of mobile technology throughout the world. Numerous projects have been launched at all levels of learning.

In 2011 UNESCO launched mobile learning week, a one week of the symposium, while USAID was the driving force behind an alliance, the mobile for education alliance, bringing together various international organizations, foundations, NGO's and development agencies. The aim of this initiative is to create a space of discussions and dialogue about the role of quality, low-cost mobile technology in literacy and gender equality in order to improve the quality of the educational system at all levels, especially in developing countries. Access to mobile technologies on the African continent opens opportunities to make changes to traditional teaching tools, as they provide a continuum between learning that happens in and out of the classroom.

M-learning recent practice, opening fresh possibilities in the educational field

Given the shortage of textbooks in many poor South African schools, the digital tablet is a makeup solution to missing textbooks. One digital textbook cost one third to half the price less than a paper textbook with zero marginal cost. The American NGO WorldRead with the financial support of USAID distributed readers design by Amazon to 600000 learners in sub-Sahara Africa. The NGO found that children using this system spend 50% more time in reading and read up to 90 books per year. A report published by USAID following iRead impact study in Ghana of 337 learners in six different schools in 2010- 2011 shows the positive aspects of the use of readers. The pupils using kindles proved to be more enthusiastic about reading, which allowed them to improve their technical skills and achieve better scores in the standardized test. Old and traditional computer hardware is outdated, and the cost of maintenance is high compared to mobile phones and tablets. Training is shorter than a traditional computer. Consume little energy and lack of electricity is no obstacle as efficient solar charging is an option.

M- learning develops learners computer skills and also developing cognitive skills with general ICT functionality. While 13% of the African population has access to reliable internet, 63% has access to mobile phones most being young people. The number of mobile phones outstripped the number of people, the demand of out of classroom learning is high. The application is more educational and cheaper than the traditional computer software. The application can be applied according to the learners' level. The M- Ubuntu programme offers learners in partner schools a tutorial service in reading and writing, conducted by the specialist resident in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy. BOYD (bring your own device) model opens an opportunity for learners to come to school with their own device to be used in class with their teacher. This and more are the opportunities that can be brought by mobile learning in our school and I think the benefits are more than the risks.

The benefits of mobile learning are enormous they include the following:

Cheaper mobile devices coupled with the boom in educational app development means that many learners in developing countries can now access quality educational media outside of the classroom. An increase in mobile access (especially in Nigerian and South African markets) has enabled educational technology businesses and non-profits to broaden education, taking learning to students’ daily commutes and homes.

Learners can access lessons and learning feedback anywhere using their devices: During commutes, for example, and at home. Learners can receive instant feedback such as grading of questions without being dependant on teachers.

Personalized learning: Mobile lessons can be tailored to individuals’ academic strengths and weaknesses, providing educational supplementation that helps to fill any crucial gaps in learning.

Examples of where mobile learning programmes were used are: ReKindle Learning, founded by ed-tech entrepreneur Rapelang Rabana, works to improve education in Africa using mobile technology. One tool ReKindle has developed is KnowledgeFox which ReKindle describes as an ‘adaptive learning tool that ensures personalized reinforcement of learning in a wide range of academic and organizational learning areas. ' Adaptive learning makes use of data generated by the learner when using the platform. This versatile framework has been developed not only for providing assistance in academic subjects but also for process and systems training and professional skills development.

Another effective mobile learning venture is Rethink Education. The ed-tech business uses mobile platforms to improve access to education with the mission of giving learners equal access to education, anywhere. Mobile learning tools by Rethink include an app providing maths and science support for Grade 8 to 12 learners. Learners are able to work through the full high school maths and science curriculum using Rethink’s app, and educators can also customize existing app frameworks to serve their educational institutions’ needs.

Justification

As a teacher with experience of more than 13 years and teaching in rural areas, I think I am more than qualified to head the launch of mobile learning in our school. Furthermore, I have been teaching in this school for more than ten years and I have started teaching here while there was no electricity. I know most people living in this area and they trust me. I am also enrolled in Med ICT with the University of Johannesburg. Sadly, not every student has access to a computer and the Internet. And given the costs of hardware, it is not affordable for school districts to provide a personal computer to every student. However, most young people have phones, and this provides a real opportunity to transform instruction.

Objectives

Mobile learning will improve learner’s literacy rate. The WorldRead, the NGO found that children using this system spend 50% more time in reading and read up to 90 books per year. Mobile learning will improve the performance of our learners. A report published by USAID following iRead impact study in Ghana of 337 learners in six different schools in 2010- 2011 shows the positive aspects of the use of readers. The pupils using kindles proved to be more enthusiastic about reading, which allowed them to improve their technical skills and achieve better scores in the standardized test. More than 59% of people in South Africa are using mobile phones. eBooks are cheaper than the paper textbooks. Savings in storage space of textbooks as we have overcrowded classrooms. To help learners with parents who are uneducated with homework. Mobile phones need less energy, and this will help the school save on electricity bills. Mobile phones need little training than traditional computers. Educational applications are cheaper than traditional software. Mobile learning benefits are great more especially in rural areas of South Africa. In many South African rural areas, landline ownership is minimal and learners do not have access to broadband internet. Mobile devices, however, provide connectivity and the possibility of online and social learning (as well as text-service learning for learners whose households do not own a smartphone).

Mobile communication in Africa enables teachers, parents, and learners to share knowledge and develop stronger educational frameworks. Mobile learning is strongly supported by TPAC learning design framework. The school will save nearly 50% of the budget which is currently being spent on textbooks. The library budget will also be reduced by 30% as learners will search for answers on their smartphones or tablet. Teachers will save time on marking learners work as there are quizzes which are marked instantly, and learners get feedback from anywhere at any time. Parents will benefit from their busy schedule because they can communicate with the school at any time from anywhere. As we have a problem with overcrowding, learners can specifically communicate with the teacher privately and at any time. Even learners who are shy can have their problems heard because they will ask in their private time and space.

Administration staff member will also benefit because the marks will be sent to her in a format that she will only capture the marks. This is the easiest way of mobile learning. You can offer texts, videos or audios. It’s possible to do this whenever you want. Participants can prepare homework by watching a video that the teacher has put online. This way of mobile learning is relatively less interactive. It’s more about individual consuming. There is no interaction with teachers or other students, which makes it an asynchronous way of learning.

Methods or Activities required

First, we must inform stakeholders. School Governing Body to articulate a code of conduct that will allow learners to bring mobile phones to school for educational purposes. The Principal will have to come on board as the member of SGB and administrative head of the school. Parents will have to allow learners to come with mobile phones to school and ask their permission to buy into the idea of mobile learning. Teachers who will be the one monitoring learners, making sure the devices are safe and learners are using them for educational purposes. Learners are taught how to use these devices for educational purposes and be familiar with the code of conduct of handling the devices. The district office will be required for support and if learners misuse mobile devices, for example, cyberbullying. Getting software and application developers to install educational software and applications. Teachers and learners get a small workshop with the help of district officials in the use of mobile phones inside the classroom. SGB raise funds for the green chalkboard. Methods of raising money could be fundraising, asking donations and sponsorships.

Resources needed

We will need the buy-in of the school governing body, principal, parents and teachers. We will need financial resources, computer software installers, educational software, eBooks, applications installers, green boards, WIFI, projector.

Schedule of implementation

This will happen over a period of a year. First three months is for us make stakeholders buy into an idea of mobile learning. The following three months is for fundraising and developing a code of conduct on how learners will handle mobile phones and making parents understand the type of punishment if a learner did not follow the rules. The following three months is for installing WIFI, green boards, software, applications, and eBooks. The last three months are for testing all the equipment. We do pilot testing with few learners if the system works. The selected learners will be given devices for a period of three months using them with the old traditional methods of teaching. These learners will use educational apps and be compared with learners without apps.

Evaluation measures

To determine that a code of conduct in the use of mobile phones is working we will look at learner’s behavior in six months' time. To evaluate that the slogan one learner, one mobile phone/ tablet is working we will look in three months’ time after a launch that all learners have mobile phones. The training of teachers we will see by the implementation of the programme and the results at the end of year one. Learners will be checked if they are happy with the programme every month and check the quarterly results. Parents will be checked by the involvement in their children school work. Increase in asking teachers about their learner's work. The school management team must monitor the behavior of learners and teachers' attitude in a weekly basis. The will be an instrument that will help in this regard. Ask application developers to train a few teachers and learners how to fix software errors. The mobile devices must be monitored as we monitor textbooks at school. Learners will be watched how they handle mobile phones.

Updated: Feb 02, 2024
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Innovative Learning: Implementation Of Mobile Learning At School. (2024, Feb 08). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/innovative-learning-implementation-of-mobile-learning-at-school-essay

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