3G Enhances M-learning

Mobile learning has been around for a while; it refers to the idea of lifelong learning under the guidance of the use of mobile communications devices such as mobile phones, PDA, MP4 and handheld e-book reader devices. With the acceleration of the 3G technology, mobile learning really enables learners to learn at anytime they want and anywhere they want. From Twitter to iPhone, mobile learning has taken a giant step forward. Today on the bus I saw a student checking the discussion board in her WebCT course and posted comments right away. She might have just earned 1% of participation mark for that class! Of course not every student could afford a $500 iphone and $80 monthly cell phone plans with 3G mobile internet access. But I truly believe the yet expensive data plans will soon be lowered just like how the voice plans have been dropped for cell phone users.

What’s happening around the world on mobile learning?

In Europe:

There are government funded research projects on using the portable mobile devices to provide information and learning content to enable learning for those whom are unable to participate in school. The learning content focuses on the interesting topics of the young generation such as soccer, music, etc., as well as to develop their language ability and mathematical knowledge.

In the United States:

Stanford University Learning Lab (SLL) believes that by helping us to stay connected with each the web, the mobile devices today are helping us to fill up the "debris" time. They have developed mobile based language learning modules that involves vocabulary memorization, self tests, repeating excises and much more. They also studies how are these mobile content helping the learners to achieve a better mark in schools.

In Asia:

Mobile devices are much more popular in some Asian countries than in North America. Their 3G network is also more advanced than other part of the world. Asian learners are already using their mobile devices to access rich media based learning contents such as video, audio and flash based learning tools.