Monday 24 November 2014

The value of mobile technology in teaching and learning

You don’t have to look too far before you find some sort of mobile technology. Most people have a smart phone or tablet and we all are becoming increasingly reliant on them in our everyday lives.  It was estimated last year by a cisco report that the number of mobile internet devices would outnumber the amount of people by the end of 2013, showing just how important technology is in this day and age. We therefore need to use technology to our advantage, especially in teaching and learning.

Technology does not discriminate and can be beneficial to all who use it correctly. It can also be adapted and made relevant to all learners making technology such a valuable resource to both teachers and learners. Most leaners will have some knowledge on mobile technology coming into the classroom and so using this to enhance their learning experience can only be beneficial to both. 
Within a classroom situation mobile technology is useful as it can be used in a variety of ways to get a class learning and interacting with each other. The lesson plan and learning objectives can be made interactive and fun for the learners by using a tablet. The interactive element of the lesson will engage the learners and therefore they will be gaining knowledge in their subject area but also on that piece of technology which can be taken and used in all other areas of life. Petty (2009) goes on further to say that there is not a job or a hobby where you do not need to know how to use a computer and that if leaners are not being taught how to use these tools then we are not preparing them for working life. There are many applications that are available now that can help with learning disabilities. Activities can be designed for specific areas such as motor skills or concentration levels. This would be invaluable to people with learning disabilities of all ages as it would enhance the learning process and make learning that little less daunting. Within a school setting mobile technology obviously saves space and if a class needs computers then there is no need to get everyone to relocate with all their belongings to a computer room to carry out a lesson.

All these benefits show the value of technology to teaching and learning. However for it to be valuable then the resources have to be there to be utilised which puts a lot of pressure on schools to invest in new equipment. The issue is that each school has different priorities and different budgets. Not all schools can put the money required into providing the right technology for all the learners so it is almost a postcode lottery that depends on the type of mobile technology you as a learner will have access too. The fact that mobile technology updates and changes frequently is a risk to the schools as if they invest heavily on equipment that will be out of date in a matter of months not years it is not a solid investment for that particular school. Yet not investing in technology that is essential to our future is not an option either.  
If the money can be invested into mobile technology to aid teaching and learning then surely it is a must for the century that we live in. The benefits of mobile technology outweigh any negatives and if used correctly can effectively enhance the way we teach and learn.

References
Petty, G.(2009). Teaching Today: A practical guide, 4th Edition. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes

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