What is good practice in m-Learning? This article outlines six benefits of m-Learning, three key functions mobile devices offer and a "logistics checklist" to reduce the headaches.
Good practice in accessible learning is not primarily about the technology, technical standards, or course design; nor even (necessarily) the learning resource. It is primarily about each learner’s ability to engage with the learning experience. A good learning experience is the result of many factors ranging from the nature of the resources to the quality of the pedagogy and even the personality of the teacher or lecturer. The best predictor of accessible learning is a skilled teacher coupled with quality resources, providing the means to enthuse learners and adapt to their needs. Such skill typically includes a willingness to innovate and a readiness to reflect.
Mobile devices offer many new opportunities for innovation. The JISC guide to Effective Practice with e-Learning identified 6 benefits of e-learning:
Mobile devices make the benefits of e-learning portable allowing users to exploit more learning opportunities in broader contexts. For learners with additional access needs, mobile devices can provide a substantial support mechanism either by providing an “any time, any place” assistive technology or by allowing learning to take place in ways more suited to the learner’s needs. Mobile devices are not a universal answer to accessibility issues and indeed some aspects of some devices will be inaccessible for some users but this is a rapidly evolving area where the willingness to experiment can have rich rewards and surprising benefits.
There is considerable debate over the term “mobile devices” but the essential ingredient is portability. Mobile devices may include Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, smartphones, MP3 players (eg iPods), digital cameras, voice recorders etc. For more detailed discussion on the range of devices see “Innovative Practice with e-Learning: A good practice guide to embedding mobile and wireless technologies into everyday practice”.
In many ways the only unique thing about mobile devices is their ability to bundle many of the benefits of e-learning in a portable package. The model below illustrates three key components of most m-learning – software functionality, hardware functionality and connectivity. Different devices offer different combinations of these three, creating a unique palette of tools for the tutor to exploit.
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