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The document discusses the rise of mLearning and how it differs from eLearning. mLearning refers to learning delivered on mobile devices like smartphones and allows for "just-in-time" learning anywhere. While mLearning has benefits over eLearning like increased access, it also faces challenges around retaining knowledge from brief sessions and ensuring compatibility across devices. The future of mLearning could see an "mLearning 2.0" that addresses these issues through open standards like HTML5.

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72 views2 pages

Blog

The document discusses the rise of mLearning and how it differs from eLearning. mLearning refers to learning delivered on mobile devices like smartphones and allows for "just-in-time" learning anywhere. While mLearning has benefits over eLearning like increased access, it also faces challenges around retaining knowledge from brief sessions and ensuring compatibility across devices. The future of mLearning could see an "mLearning 2.0" that addresses these issues through open standards like HTML5.

Uploaded by

prakritin
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Out with the E and in with the M

First came the d (distance), then came the e (electronic) and now it is time for the m (mobile). Why is
mLearning so important? Well, how about this? In the total U.S. population of 308 million, there are 285
million cell phone users and at the global level 41% of 6.3 billion use mobile phones! Though the “Why”
of mLearning is clear, the “What” isn’t as lucid. Most definitions of mLearning seem to indicate that it is
“any training delivered on wireless devices like PDAs, palmtops and mobile devices”. Such
amalgamation of various ideas into a single term, as described by Dr. Michael Grant, “fails to recognize
the inherent pedagogical stances that individuals are implementing”.

Image courtesy of Ownipics at Flickr

But the fuzzy nature of the definition begs the question, how does mLearning differ from eLearning?
eLearning refers to a slightly more formal and structured format while mLearning has an informal, “on-
the-fly” semblance to it. Another aspect of mLearning that distinguishes it from eLearning is that it is
“wireless” allowing learning to be delivered “just-in-time”. But that doesn’t make them very different,
does it? mLearning seems to be eLearning independent of location in time or space. Hence mLearning
appears to have the potential for even greater impact than eLearning.

Oh yes, mLearning is here to stay! It has found strong foothold not just in the higher ed sector but also
others like NGOs. But there seem to be some issues with this technology like its predecessors. The
personalized and “just-in-time” nature of the learning puts forth an important question-Can the learner
retain the knowledge just obtained? The challenges that instructional designers may face, at this nascent
stage of mLearning, are developing instruction 1) using plug-ins or applets that work seamlessly across
different versions of browsers and platforms and 2) delivery of instruction across devices. Dr. Clark
Quinn proposes that an open solution (à la HTML5) will be developed to address these issues.

What is your take on mLearning and the possibilities it holds for instruction delivery? Do you think we
can expect a mLearning 2.0?

Take a look at Tom Kuhlmann’s (of the Rapid elearning blog) presentation on mLearning:
http://www.articulate.com/community/blogdemo/Mobile-Learning/player.html

Prashanthi Selvanarayanan is a graduate student in the Department of Instructional Design and


Technology at the University of Memphis. She assists faculty in the Department of Higher and Adult
education with online course design and development. Her research interests include technology
integration and mobile learning. She aspires to be an instructional developer in the corporate sector.

Tags: mobile, mLearning, wireless

http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/17/the-practice-of-mobile-learning/

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