Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Learning

Pros:

 Portability: Smartphones are small and lightweight when compared to laptops and
tablet computers. They can easily be carried by anyone, anytime and anywhere.
Mobile learning is now convenient and flexible because of the smartphone’s
portability.
 Low Cost: Because fewer materials were used for smartphones, they are less
expensive than desktop computers.
 Energy-Saver: Smartphones run on smaller amounts of power than desktop and
laptop computers.
 Connection: Along with their portability, smartphones also have Bluetooth and/or
Internet connectivity. Internet connectivity enhances student performance because
students have easy and fast access to information, making smartphones supportive
tools.
 Personal Feel: Smartphones are the closest gadgets that anyone can have. They are
more personal. Teachers or students might share a laptop or desktop computer with
their whole family and with their friends, but they will find it hard to share their
phone.
 Engagement: A lot of people find smartphones delightful, because of their
touchscreen. They’re very engaging, so learning can last for a long time. Moreover,
students have different ways of learning. With hundreds of educational apps
available in the app libraries, students can personalize their smartphones and will be
encouraged to study.
 Good Use of Time: Most students do not know what to do during “dead time” like
when travelling or just waiting for a bus. With smartphones, they can now learn
even when they are just sitting on a bus waiting for the next stop.

Cons:

 Cost: Although smartphones are cheaper than desktop, laptop and tablet computers,
they still cost a lot. They can cost anywhere from $100 to $500. Besides, technology
changes very fast so a user has to upgrade smartphones frequently. Moreover,
mobile providers charge monthly data use depending on the size of the files
downloaded, so large files may cause the cost to skyrocket.
 Size of Device: Despite the fact that small smartphones are good for portability, their
size adds to the possibility of getting stolen or lost. Moreover, their screen is so
small; some users might find texts hard to read.
  Battery Life: Most smartphones can last only about two to four hours. Once the
power runs out, it has to be recharged, making it immobile.
 Usability: The keypad is too small on some smartphones making it hard for some
users to type. Yes, detachable keyboards are available, but that will just add to the
cost.

For scholarly studies about the advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Learning, visit
theses links:

 Mobile learning in the 21st century: benefit for learners – Proposes fundamental
learning advantages that are gained more easily, or to a greater degree, through the
use of Mobile Learning
 Defining Mobile Learning in the Higher Education Landscape - Clarifies the meaning
of mobile learning by applying its key concepts to learning experiences in post-
school education
 Mobile Learning Approaches for U.S. Army Training – Discusses how U.S. Army used
Mobile learning in their trainings
 Implications of Mobile Learning in Distance Education for Operational Activities –
Discusses how distance learners benefits from mobile learning program

Smartphones as Learning Tools

Will it really do good to have smartphones in the classroom? Can they be valid learning tools
or will they just add to the number of distractions to students? Although schools will
disagree on the educational value of smartphones, they have to accept the fact that, slowly,
smartphones are becoming commonplace as educational tools.

We all know that the problem with smartphones in the classroom is that they are a
floodway for distractions. This is the main reason why many teachers are anxious about
allowing smartphones in class. Smartphones might lure the students away from the lesson,
instead of pushing them toward learning.

Teachers should really reconsider allowing smartphones in class. Although smartphones

might look like toys at first, they can be very efficient, especially now that many app
developers are creating educational apps. Most of these apps are even free! It is just a
matter of exploring the App Store or Play Store.
Portability is another reason why administrators and teachers should reconsider allowing
smartphones in class. Bringing laptops to class is a bit of a hassle for students because they
are heavy. Why not use a gadget that can level with laptops? No, a student cannot type a
long essay using a smartphone, but they can still do a lot on it like reviewing, finding articles,
taking notes or even reading.

Smartphones are not completely alternative tools. They are just a supplement for classroom
engagement. Besides, it is not a good idea to require smartphones when many students still
use standard phones. This is just to show that smartphones are not completely or
necessarily evil. This generation’s kids are a lot harder to encourage to study because of the
technology that surrounds them. So why not use that technology to help them study?

 Should Students use their Smartphones as Learning Tools? – States the reasons why
smartphones must be used in the classrooms
 Using Smartphones as Essential Tools for Learning – Discusses how a mobile device is
being used as an essential tool for learning in an elementary school
 Informal learning with PDAs and smartphones – Narrates how adults make use of
their own mobile devices to support informal learning
 Smartphones as Learning Tools - Gives several tips on the best practices for
smartphones in the class

Smartphones as Teaching Tools

Smartphones can be powerful teaching tools. As mentioned earlier, app developers are
developing more and more educational apps. Users can now find reference books,
flashcards, calculators, and much more on a smartphone.

So how can teachers use smartphones in teaching?

Teachers can use smartphones for file sharing, especially if they have the Dropbox app. This
app is great for distributing information. Teachers can tell their students to make Dropbox
accounts and create class-shared folders so that students can just submit their essays and
projects from their computers or smartphones. Dropbox can save teachers time and paper.
Evernote is also a great app for teachers to use. It has a file-sharing feature, but it is mainly
for taking notes. Teachers can now share their lessons wirelessly to let students review their
notes after class.

A smartphone’s camera is also useful in several ways. Students can just take pictures of
what the teacher writes on the board instead of copying the information in their notebooks.
Students can then pay more attention to what the teacher is saying. Students can also
record the discussion, so that they can re-listen to the lecture later.

Useful Smartphone Apps for Teachers

What teachers need are the right apps. Here are some smartphone apps that teachers can
use inside and outside of the classroom.

1. Margins - This app helps teachers prepare for class faster and easier. It lets teachers
take notes about what they read. This is very helpful when relating news and media
to the class.
2. A Personal Assistant - What if a teacher can’t find a student assistant? If they have a
smartphone, they can download A Personal Assistant. This can help organize
thoughts, make a to-do list, and prepare a lesson plan.
3. Attendance Countdown - If teachers want to track students’ attendance, they can
just download Attendance Countdown. It offers a countdown board and a calendar.
This smartphone app also helps teachers keep on track with their curriculum.
4. Teacher Aide Pro Lite - Just like A Personal Assistant app, this app can help teachers
in many ways in class. It provides all the organizational help a teacher needs.
5. TeacherKit - This app turns a teacher’s smartphone into a full-fledged personal
digital assistant. It can record the grades of students, rank the students according to
their grades, keep track of their attendance, and anything else a teacher needs.
TeacherKit is quite useful!
6. Flashcards Deluxe & Flash Card Maker Pro - Although there are many educational
apps out there that can help with flashcards, these two for iOS and Android are the
best. Teachers or students can download about four million flashcard sets to help
with teaching. They even have text-to-speech features, making the class lecture
multisensory, instead of just a visual presentation.
 7. WolframAlpha - This app is a search engine, but it is not the same as Chrome or
Opera Mini. WolframAlpha lets teachers search for questions and offers direct
answers, charts and graphs for many topics like mathematics, sociology, finance,
history and geography.

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