Exploring Technological Innovations With Mobile Learning
We all are in an era of personal and technical mobility, where mobile devices including iPads, smart phones and tablets are accessed everywhere. Over the decade, mobile learning has developed as a significant tool for implementing different projects in the education, corporate and other industry domains. Every project highlights how mobile technology offers innovative learning opportunities that extend within and beyond traditional instructor-led classrooms.
Mobile learning is not a panacea for all issues that plague the e-learning process at workplace. Just like personal desktops, mobile devices also have great potential to change the way people learn and gain more knowledge. The capability of tablets and mobile technologies to shake the current status quo of workplace learning environment and improve it is based on the pedagogy in which they are intertwined. It depends on trainers’ creativity and interest to integrate mobile learning in the course curriculum and drive towards continued innovation.
Need for E-Learning on Mobile Devices
New technologies are embraced for use without any understanding of their fullest potentials. It has become possible to design creative applications with the aid of powerful mobile devices. Training courses can be accessed anytime and from anywhere via mobile devices, providing an option for ubiquitous learning. M-learning is not a substitute for desktop-based learning, but acts as an added advantage to overall learning experience. Let us explore some of the popular benefits of mobile learning:
- Short usage
Mobile devices have small user interface and best suited for short content. Therefore, usage time is less in comparison to desktop-based services.
- Easier to use
Due to tiny interface, mobile device navigation design is kept simple, thus making it easy to use and handle.
- Access to precise content
Due to short usage time, it is essential to provide precise learning content. The execution of video tutorials or direct navigation to learning content via mobile devices is important.
- Media-support
Small screen size of mobiles is not suitable for lengthy training materials. Images with high graphics resolution cannot be recognized in detail. Audio seeks attention of more users, but from pedagogical perspective, learning from audio-only content is not as impactful as learning effect of audio-visual media.
While mobile learning does not require instructors to abandon the way they teach in a classroom, it might need few changes to how tailored apps are incorporated. It is essential for instructors to locate powerful tools and how to integrate them with training materials. Innovative mobile apps require a sense of balance to make them impactful and appropriate for digital learning.
The key to successful revolution of mobile learning is not simply digitizing current learning methods. The actual appeal is allowing audiences to choose their own learning paths, leverage their skills and recognize their business potential. Undoubtedly, integrating mobile technology with e-learning prepares both trainers as well as learners for reality. With the increasing use of mobile devices, organizations are making serious efforts to encompass m-learning as a platform for content delivery. While mobile learning solutions are merely extensions to conventional training methods, there is a huge scope to tailor that learning so it provides a truly mobile experience for modern learners.