M-Learning - Tertiary Education

==M-Learning – Tertiary Education==

===History===

Between 1995 and 2000, E-learning was thought to be the final solution for state of the art use of technology in tertiary education (Keegan, 2002). However, with the convergence of mobile technology (wireless technology) such as wireless telephones and computers came the birth of m-learning. It provided learning on wireless and mobile devices, and freed the learner.

Eduardo Carillo and Harold Fricker are two West Midlands University lecturers who have enabled teaching to students via mobile phones (M-Learning). The idea came when Carillo bought a new phone and did not know how to use it. He said: “One of my students started to explain how to use it and I realised that I needed to learn the language of students and find out how they prefer to learn�? (icCoventry, 2005).

===Current Trends===

M-Learning has turned Mobile Phones into an educational tool. Students are able to view lectures, receive just-in-time updates of information and updates from lecturers, access course material, and grades, all using their Mobile Phones. It provides instant access to the students’ course. Not only this, but it has also increased the students’ motivation and personal commitment to learn. M-Learning promotes more mobile, flexible and exciting education in universities (Ideasfactory, 2005).

===Learning Environments===

Students who are equipped with mobile and wireless devices are reshaping the classroom environment. Educational spaces have furthered their boundaries beyond the class, to “anywhere, anytime’, which makes the world their campus.

M-Learning has enabled a shift of educational gravity from teachers to students (Alexander, 2003), changing traditional teaching and learning on campus. Michael Thomas (2003) suggests some ways that make M-Learning a more attractive learning environment than traditional and E-Learning environments.

• Ubiquity. Students have 24-hour access to course information wherever they are on campus.
  
• Students have access to the same hardware and software as faculty staff.
  
• Overcoming equipment problems allows more time and resource to be devoted to pedagogy.
  
• Mobile equipment is cheaper than that of hardwired networks.
  
• Mobile Wireless Networks maximise access and minimise need for technical support.
  

===Further Information===

====See Also====

More Resources on M-Learning
Swarms
M-Learning - Higher Education
E-Learning - The Virtual Classroom

====References====

Keegan, D. 2002. The future of learning: from e-learning to m-Learning. http://learning.ericsson.net/mlearning2/project_one/book.html. (Accessed 3 October 2005).

Ideasfacotry Westmidlands, 2005. http://westmidlands.ideasfactory.com/new_media/features/feature51.htm. (Accessed 7 October 2005).

Students taught by mobile phone. 2005. Coventry Evening Telegraph. May 16 2005. http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=15522030&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=students-taught-by-mobile-phone-name_page.html. (Accessed 3 October 2005).

Alexander, B. 2003. Teaching in the Wireless Cloud. http://www.thefeaturearchives.com/topic/Culture/Teaching_in_the_Wireless_Cloud.html. (Accessed 3 October 2005).

Thomas, M. 2005. E-Learning on the Move. 'Education Guardian.co.uk'. http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/comment/0,,1490476,00.html. (Accessed 7 October 2005).

====Contributors to this entry====
Nadine chambers 10:18, 4 Oct 2005 (EST)

---