Mobile technology has played an increasingly vital role in the lives of students, both in school and at home. In fact, mobile learning has changed the way students find and interact with all kinds of information.
If we were to go back a generation or two, you would find students studying text books, or in the library looking for a book to gain knowledge about a specific topic. Today, however, that is not the case. Students use technology to take notes, create documents or presentations, and access information about an infinite number of topics using the internet. But most importantly, is that students can do this anywhere, anytime, from a variety of different devices.
Mobile learning or m-learning refers to education solutions delivered through mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones, and e-readers, which utilize mobile connectivity to provide access to educational content. Educational organizations use these learning solutions as an advanced method of teaching. The main advantage of adopting m-education is a reduction in paper use (a plus for the environment, too).
M-learning is improving access to education in two ways:
- It offers wider geographical reach as mobile networks today cover a vast portion of the global population. It also increases the availability of education in developing countries.
- It provides real-time access to students and faculty, while allowing users to access educational solutions whenever required as compared to the constraints experienced with traditional classrooms timings.
The market for m-learning services is growing at a rapid rate as the majority of nations spend between five and six percent of their GDP in the Education sector. The growing number of distance learning programs in emerging countries further contributes to this market’s growth. These are all big reasons why the Global M-Education Market is expected to post an impressive CAGR of 20.58 percent for the 2013-2018 period.
TechNavio analysts have pinpointed 3 m-learning trends expected to further evolve the market and change the way students learn:
Emergence of Smart Classrooms
Advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) have resulted in the emergence of smart classrooms. Imparting education through virtual classrooms is a new concept that is becoming popular not only in traditional educational institutions but also in training centers with vocational courses.
The virtual classroom model of e-learning remains the most familiar analog for building m-learning programs. It has ensured access to learning from qualified staff members, transcending geographical boundaries.
The new integrated ICT infrastructure adopted by educational institutions enables enrichment of the learning process through real-time exchange of information and sharing of best practice in imparting education across the globe. With the emergence of applications such as WizIQ Virtual Classroom Application for Android operating systems, the Global E-Learning Market is expected to witness sustained growth during the forecast period.
Introduction of Teacher-generated Content
In the past, students gained their knowledge from textbooks and classroom teaching. Students did not have the option of changing the content or deleting anything that may not be useful to them. However, schools are now allowing both students and teachers to identify, create, and customize learning materials that would be most effective in the classroom.
There are a number of online texts and applications available that allow teachers to edit and add their own content so that students can be provided with tailor-made learning material that meets their needs. These resources are considered as a substitute for textbooks and are expected to replace textbooks as a learning material for students.
Increasing Transition to E-books
Over the past few years, the transition to e-books has increased. E-reader devices, although not an entirely appropriate substitute for textbooks, are rapidly being adopted by consumers and becoming an integrated part of life.
Also, the iPad has been the basis of new approaches to converting the content of textbooks. iPad textbooks are starting to be developed as part of initiatives such as the State of Virginia Digital Curriculum, which provides schools with access to an interactive learning platform.
Publishing firms have also started to adapt to this transition. Recently, Apple announced an alliance with Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to roll out K-12 e-books. Hence, with the increasing adoption of e-books, m-learning is expected to become increasingly popular in the years to come.
