The Vitality of Mobile Learning and
Social Media Influence
What is Mobile Learning?
Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs have come to be part of our everyday world. It is amazing how these devices have become the norm in our daily lives to the point that many aspects of the modern world cannot function without them. This is especially true in education where schools and institutions depend on devices to manage and instruct their students. The abundant availability of devices has created a climate for what is now known as mobile learning. This is where using portable computing devices with wireless networks enables mobility and mobile learning, allowing teaching and learning to extend to spaces beyond the traditional classroom (Pappas, 2021). Mobile learning is no longer solely tied to computers, it has transformed into so much more than that. People can learn from any electronic device that has wireless connection capabilities. Mobile learning gives the learner multimodal options from which to self-learn a vast array of information such as utilizing videos, blogs, podcasts, webinars, and much more. Learning has outgrown the sole knowledge of the teacher into having the world at your fingertips. It is time for schools to implement a culture of change and innovation to utilize mobile learning effectively to create meaningful learning for our students.
Using Social Media Influence
Students of today are growing up in a rapidly evolving technological world. While being exposed to many different kinds of devices they are using various apps, programs, and platforms as part of their everyday life. In 2016, students reported extensive use of various mobile apps in their personal lives; the most frequently used were music apps, such as Pandora and Spotify; social networking apps, such as Facebook and Twitter; social media apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat; and entertainment apps, such as Netflix and Hulu (Educase, 2018). These kinds of apps have only continued to make further advancements and innovations that users must adapt to. It seems that social media is one of the most highly utilized platforms used by school-aged children. They communicate, play, and interact within digital networks daily and it has become second nature to them. When considering the prominent role social media has in the lives of students, it can be an untapped learning resource for them within a school setting. And thanks to our heavy interaction on social media platforms, new opportunities and avenues have been created for learning professionals to leverage, for furthering the goals of formal learning (Arshavskiy, 2018). I think that perhaps most children see social media as only for fun, but if schools and educators can find a way to tap into their interests and use their own platforms for education, then that is where engaging learning can take place.
Conclusion
In order to integrate innovative change within schools that utilize mobile learning and social media, there must first be a change among educators and schools. There must be a shift of mindset from we must use the devices, to HOW are the STUDENTS using the devices for meaningful 21st century LEARNING. Teachers can not teach what they are not taught themselves, so I feel it is imperative for teachers to be given the proper training, exposure, and development opportunities to grow professionally. Once schools and teachers acquire sufficient knowledge and build an effective plan to utilize mobile learning and social media, they are ready to efficiently integrate it into all classrooms. This will create an engaging culture of creation, collaboration, and innovation. Within the classroom, mobile learning gives instructors and learners increased flexibility and new opportunities for interaction (Pappas, 2021). These interactions will create future-ready learners who are equipped to be successful in this ever-evolving 21st-century world.
Food for thought...
Arshavskiy, M (April 5, 2018). Social Media and Elearning: How to improve formal learning with social media. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/improve-formal-learning-with-social-media-social-media-elearning
Changing Mobile Learning Practices: A Multiyear Study 2012–2016. (2018). EDUCAUSE Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2018/4/changing-mobile-learning-practices-a-multiyear-study-2012-2016
Pappas, C. (2021, May 12). 7 Tips To Create Responsive Design For Mobile Learning. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/7-tips-create-responsive-design-mobile-learning
Comments
Post a Comment