In one of the more interesting articles I’ve read this week, a discussion is raised about whether mobile devices can be used as learning tools in the classroom. Many peoples’ initial reactions would I am sure be “that’s outrageous!”, but actually, there are some good arguments for it…
Eric Klopfer, MIT professor and director of MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program, has recently authored a new book about mobile learning to argue for their use in education.
There are certain strengths that mobile devices have over other platforms, and Klopfer groups these assertions in to a concept called “m-learning” (not the most original phrase, but stick with it – ed). He says that mobile learning games would be beneficial, as they could be participatory, involving interaction with other players, or augmented reality, meaning set in a virtual world. He also believes they could be produced at a lower cost than PC or console games.
However, what is possibly most important, according to Klopfer, is that the games help teach “21st century skills” like the ability to “tackle complex problems and acquire information in just-in-time fashion.” In other words, start training the kids young for their future hyper-connected, multi-tasking, digital lives.
So I can kind of see the argument – much like one of the strong assertions for Mobile Advertising, the same is true for m-learning – that is that the cell phone is unique in that it’s the only device carried round pretty much 24/7 by people, and as such is personal to them in a way other delivery channels for content (learning in this case) are not. Therefore it makes a great platform for delivering targeted, personalised, and effective learning.
However, there are issues (problems), and lots of them….
- Perhaps (young) kids shouldn’t be carrying mobile devices
- Usage costs – calls, data, etc
- The “haves” vs “have-nots” – like a digital version of “who has the best trainers”
Also, I think they’ve missed a biggie here – crime. If you introduce an m-learning scheme at a school, then to and from school each day, the children suddenly become qualified, vulnerable targets – since each is very likely to have a mobile device on them. I wonder if this single issue on it’s could kill the idea altogether – certainly from a UK perspective, there are often stories about kids/teenagers being mugged (and sometimes worse) for their mobiles…
Anyhow, what say you, faithful IntoMobile readership?
[Via: ReadWriteWeb]