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Kyra Vanderharst
CUIN 3313 - 20438
Mobile Learning

First, what is mobile learning? Mobile Learning, or M-Learning, is exactly what is

sounds like, learning on the go. It utilizes the mobility and wireless connectivity of smart

phones, tablets, and laptops, to allow the user to learn and train even when they are not in the

office or classroom. Mobile Learning has become more prevalent in both the education system

and workplace, as technology grows more advanced. Additionally, the older generations, who

did not grow up with access to this new technology, are now, or soon will be, leaving the

workforce. While those with a greater understanding of technology are taking the lead,

according to Joe Peters, in his article 4 Challenges of Mobile Learning in Corporate Training

(2016), By 2020, Millennials will form 50% of the global workforce and they have grown up

with technology at their fingertips and in their hands. Many people today have access to some

form of mobile device, and in a study conducted by Baiyun Chen, Ryan Seilhamer, and Luke

Bennett, titled Students' Mobile Learning Practices in Higher Education: A Multi-Year Study

(2015), they stated that of those they surveyed in 2014, 77% used a smartphone for learning,

79% used a tablet, and 59% used an eBook Reader. They observed that mobile device

ownership will continue to grow, and increasingly more people will use their mobile device for

learning. However, many people have yet to realize the potential for Mobile Learning in the

workplace, for training, and in the education system.

According to Terry Heick, in his article The Definition of Mobile Learning (2017),

Mobile Learning is not like traditional education as it is a type of learning that has a one on one

ratio, meaning one student to one teacher, rather than one teacher trying to teach many students.
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Heick (2017) also states that Mobile teaching doesnt center the technology, but rather rethinks

curriculum, planning, teaching, and learning in a way that aligns most evenly with the

technology most accessible to you, all in service for extraordinary and inherently personalized

learning experiences for students. Mobile Learning is also convenient for the learner, because

they are able to learn anywhere at any time, according to Sam Maniar (2017), in his article 8

Glories Of Mobile Learning Changing The Industry Of eLearning.

People have realized that since so much of our time is being spent on a mobile device,

why not use it to teach them something? Incorporating Mobile Learning into a companys

training program is not as difficult as one may think, in his article 4 Challenges of Mobile

Learning in Corporate Training (2016), Joe Peters states As the number of employees who use

their mobile devices in the workplace grows, the opportunity for empowering them by providing

them with mobile learning opportunities emerges. Since many people are dependent upon their

mobile devices, mobile training is becoming more effective, as it allows the user to learn both on

and off the job and they can learn on their own time so that it will not conflict with their

schedules. Mobile training curriculum generally consists of short learning sessions through a

mobile device, and as they finish a learning module they can take a test and apply what they have

learned to their work. According to Maniar (2017), because the learning sessions are shorter, it

allows for the learner to retain the information more easily than if the sessions were longer.

The greatest pedagogical value Mobile Learning offers, is that it engages its users to learn

the material being presented. Darrell West stated in his article, Mobile Learning: Transforming

Education, Engaging Students, and Improving Outcomes (2016), that Mobile Learning enables,

empowers, and engages learning in ways that transform the learning environment for students

inside and outside of school. The reason it helps learners stay engaged, is because many people
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in todays society are dependent upon their mobile device, they are constantly checking social

media, and texting other people. According to Peters (2016), four out of five workers access

their corporate documents on the move using their mobile devices, and people now expect to

instantly have the answers to all their questions at tap of the screen. All people have to do is

search their question in their mobile device, and they will have a variety of sources and answers

for them to look at. People will stay engaged if they are being taught through a mobile device,

because that is what they were looking at to begin with, except now they are learning something.

There are a few downfalls of Mobile Learning, however, such as, security and budget

issues (Peters, 2016). One of the biggest reasons why Mobile Learning is not growing as quickly

as it should, is because of security reasons. As employees use their mobile devices, the

companys security is at risk, and if Mobile Learning grows, so does the risk of the company

being breached (Peters, 2016). Another downfall, is that what is being taught will need to be

converted into a mobile friendly way of learning, and to do that costs a considerable amount of

time and funds. However, the good that will come out of Mobile Learning will far outweigh

these downfalls, overall.

Mobile Learning is slowly being implemented into todays workforce and education

curriculum, and as the millennials begin to take over the workforce, so will mobile technology.

It is a great method of teaching and training that keeps the learner engaged, and allows them to

retain more of the information being presented, than if they were being taught in a traditional

setting. It is also a convenient way for people to learn, as it is completely mobile, and it is more

personalized to the learners educational needs as it is a one on one learning experience. If

Mobile Learning is more heavily applied now, then the practice could soon be perfected, and

training and learning will become more efficient and effective.

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Resources

Chen, B., Seilhamer, R., & Bennett, L. (2015, June 22). Students' Mobile Learning Practices in

Higher Education: A Multi-Year Study. Retrieved November 30, 2017, from

https://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/6/students-mobile-learning-practices-in-higher-

education-a-multiyear-study

Heick, T. (2017, September 12). The Definition Of Mobile Learning. Retrieved December 01,

2017, from https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/a-definition-for-mobile-

learning/

Maniar, S. (2017, November 22). 8 Glories Of Mobile Learning Changing The Industry Of

eLearning. Retrieved December 01, 2017, from https://elearningindustry.com/mobile-

learning-changing-the-industry-of-elearning-8-glories

Peters, J. (2017, November 15). 4 Challenges Of Mobile Learning In Corporate Training.

Retrieved November 30, 2017, from https://elearningindustry.com/challenges-of-mobile-

learning-corporate-training

West, D. M. (2016, July 28). Mobile Learning: Transforming Education, Engaging Students, and

Improving Outcomes. Retrieved December 01, 2017, from

https://www.brookings.edu/research/mobile-learning-transforming-education-engaging-

students-and-improving-outcomes/