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Technological innovations have digitally revolutionized the world. It has changed the way information is delivered across industries including the higher education space. The impact of mobile learning in higher education is such that today’s tech-savvy students have embraced digital learning and are comfortable with the concept of learning on the go; and institutions are trying to leverage mobile learning to deliver immersive learning experiences.
Emergence of Mobile Learning
Mobile learning or m-Learning has emerged as one of the key learning methods in this digital era. Mobile phones have completely taken over our lives, right from entertainment and communication, to the way we learn. The easy availability of smartphones and internet connectivity has boosted the popularity of mobile devices among students.
Mobile learning in higher education is transforming the learning experience for digital-first students. The impact of mobile learning can be understood by the fact that m-Learning is replacing the traditional learning techniques and has opened several new dimensions of interactive learning for students.
Why you should embrace mobile learning
According to a study, 86% of college students own a smart device, and almost half of them use their mobile devices for learning. A report from Ofcom highlighted that handheld devices, including smartphones and tablets, are the most preferred gadgets for accessing online information, accounting for over 50% of the global browsing activities. These numbers are remarkable!
Improvements in both the design, security, & affordability of mobile devices have further heightened the impact of mobile learning in higher education. Mobile learning has emerged as an excellent solution to provide higher education students with increased flexibility and a sense of ownership of their learning material.
Not only does it support visual learning (via audio, video, and images) but it also makes learning dynamic and fast-paced, thereby keeping students more engaged with the learning content. Below are some more benefits of adopting mobile learning.
Benefits of mobile learning in higher education
1. Facilitates flexible learning
Mobile learning offers flexibility by eliminating the need for time and place-bound learning. Students can carry their mobile devices anywhere and learn anytime they want.
Mobile learning also offers flexibility in terms of the content that can be included in the modules. The m-learning modules can include not only text but also audio, video and other multimedia assets to make learning more interactive.
2. Faster learning through bite-sized nuggets
Mobile learning has influenced the creation of bite-sized knowledge nuggets. The academic content is divided into smaller nuggets to simplify the learning process. The crisp and concise nature of bite-sized learning avoids any cognitive overload and allows students to learn better.
3. Enhances information retention and recall
As students are more likely to retain information presented in bite-sized nuggets, mobile learning helps improve their retention rates. It is easier to deliver content that students will find relevant and engaging through m-Learning.
Students can easily revisit the information nuggets to revise a particular topic. This eventually translates into better academic performance and impactful learning over a period of time.
4. Personalized learning to increase engagement
One of the most prominent impacts of mobile learning in higher education is the seamless delivery of highly personalized learning. You can create customized learning programs and courses to make learning more relatable for students. With the help of efficient learning paths and tailor-made courses, mobile learning can promote a higher rate of engagement and motivation for learners.
5. Better collaboration
Mobile learning makes it easier to establish a robust online learning community by allowing students to engage and collaborate with their peers and teachers. Students can raise queries and put their ideas out for discussion, promoting a problem-solving attitude in students.
6. Promotes structured learning
Creating defined learning paths makes it more convenient for learners to access learning materials in an organized manner. This helps students remain in sync with their learning objectives. Mobile learning helps educators and students plan their journey and eventually drive better academic performances through structured learning delivery.
7. Easy to search content
Students expect their online study material to be at their fingertips. Mobile learning delivers the convenience factor through the easy search feature. It allows students to look for any particular content in the learning module, providing just-in-time information.
In Conclusion
The impact of mobile learning in higher education can be clearly seen through the rising popularity of online learning and improving academic performances. Both teachers and students can use mobile learning for a better teaching and learning experience. The flexibility, cost benefits, and effectiveness of mobile learning further hold great potential for the future of digital learning.
The evolving technological landscape has set the stage for online learning that can harness the speed and ubiquity of digital capability. Mobile learning will help educators in delivering an immersive experience and personalized learning to students and help them unlock their true potential.
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