Mobile Learning: Better Than Conventional?
Posted by
Kevin Park on Mon, Aug 01, 2011 @ 10:17 AM
A recent report out by NPR looks at how “disenfranchised” students perform in math class when using mobile technology. The results may be somewhat surprising to most of us.
By the end of a semester program that incorporated smart phones into the curriculum, some significant changes took place. Students reported greater confidence in math, were much more willing to endorse the statement “Math is easy”, and were more motivated to learn math skills. What’s more, these mobile learners were better at math than when they started. We all learn better when we are motivated and when we feel like we are capable of doing well.
Smart phones were used in this study to engage the students by collaborating through blogs, email and instant messaging. Videos and photos were posted to demonstrate problem solving strategies, and shared for peer review. Quite a clever idea. Sounds like another blow for making learning fun, and making learning fun is a good thing. Some critics may voice their opinion, that it makes learning too easy to be real learning. But on the other hand, research has shown that motivation drives learning.
It’s definitely supportive of distance education with the internet as a venue. Sound like online college, anyone?