Ciencias de la educación

Artículo de investigación  

                                                                                 

 

Effects of Mobile Learning in the EFL Classroom. Management, Benefits and Limitations

Efectos del aprendizaje móvil en el aula de EFL. gestión, beneficios y limitaciones

Efeitos da aprendizagem móvel na sala de aula EFL. Gestão, Benefícios e Limitações

 

 

Vicente Javier Coello-Vásquez ^I

coello88@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

Correspondencia: coello88@hotmail.com

 

 

 

          ^I.            Magister en Telecomunicaciones, Ingeniero en Telecomunicaciones con Mención en Gestión Empresarial en Telecomunicaciones, Docente de la Universidad Técnica de Babahoyo, Los Ríos, Ecuador.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract

In Teaching and learning communication skills, we have a lot to choose from the world of technology: TV, CD Rom, Computers, C.A.L.L., the Internet, Electronic Dictionary, Email, Blogs and Audio Cassettes, Power Point, Videos, DVD’s or VCD’s. The last two decades have witnessed a revolution due to onset of technology, and has changed the dynamics of educational institutes, and has also influenced the educational system and the way people interact and work in the society. This rapid rising and development of information technology has offered a better pattern to explore the new teaching model. Using multimedia to create a context to teach communication skill has its unique advantages. As a result, technology plays a very important role in teaching communication skill. The present paper tries to analyze the necessity of multimedia technology to communication skill teaching and also brings out the problems faced by using these technologies. It also aims to make English teachers aware of the strategies to use it in an effective manner.

Keys words: communication skill teaching; multimedia technology; advantages; disadvantages; optimization; strategies.

Resumen

En el área de enseñanza y aprendizaje de las habilidades comunicativas, tenemos mucho para elegir del mundo de la tecnología: TV, CD Rom, Computadoras, C.A.L.L., Internet, Diccionario electrónico, Correo electrónico, Blogs y casetes de audio, Power Point, Videos, DVD o VCD. Las últimas dos décadas han sido testigos de una revolución debida al inicio de la tecnología, han cambiado la dinámica de los institutos educativos y también han influido en el sistema educativo y en la forma en que las personas interactúan y trabajan en la sociedad. Este rápido crecimiento y desarrollo de la tecnología de la información ha ofrecido un mejor patrón para explorar el nuevo modelo de enseñanza. El uso de multimedia para crear un contexto para enseñar habilidades de comunicación tiene sus ventajas únicas. Como resultado, la tecnología juega un papel muy importante en la enseñanza de habilidades de comunicación. El presente documento trata de analizar la necesidad de la tecnología multimedia para la enseñanza de habilidades de comunicación y también resalta los problemas que enfrentan al usar estas tecnologías. También pretende hacer que los profesores de inglés tomen conciencia de las estrategias para usarlo de manera efectiva.

Palabras claves: Enseñanza de habilidades comunicativas; tecnología multimedia; ventajas; desventajas; optimización; estrategias.

Resumo

Em Ensinar e aprender habilidades de comunicação, temos muito a escolher no mundo da tecnologia: TV, CD Rom, Computadores, Internet, Dicionário Eletrônico, E-mail, Blogs e Cassetes de Áudio, Power Point, Vídeos, DVDs ou VCDs. As últimas duas décadas testemunharam uma revolução devido ao surgimento da tecnologia, e mudaram a dinâmica das instituições de ensino, e também influenciaram o sistema educacional e a forma como as pessoas interagem e trabalham na sociedade. Esse rápido crescimento e desenvolvimento da tecnologia da informação ofereceu um padrão melhor para explorar o novo modelo de ensino. Usando multimídia para criar um contexto para ensinar habilidade de comunicação tem suas vantagens únicas. Como resultado, a tecnologia desempenha um papel muito importante no ensino de habilidades de comunicação. O presente trabalho procura analisar a necessidade de tecnologia multimídia para o ensino de habilidades de comunicação e também traz à tona os problemas enfrentados pelo uso dessas tecnologias. Também visa tornar os professores de inglês conscientes das estratégias para usá-lo de forma eficaz.

Palavras chaves: Ensino de habilidades de comunicação; tecnologia multimídia; vantagens; desvantagens; otimização; estratégias.

Introduction

With the spread and development of English around the world, English is used as a second language in a country like India and for some people the 1st language. It enjoys a high prestige in the country. At present the role and status of English in India is higher than ever as evidenced by its position as a key subject of medium of instruction, curriculum. As the number of English learners is increasing different teaching methods have been implemented to test the effectiveness of the teaching process. Use of authentic materials in the form of films, radio, TV has been there for a long time. It is true that these technologies have proved successful in replacing the traditional teaching. The new era assign snew challenges and duties on the modern teacher. The tradition of English teaching has been drastically changed with the remarkable entry of technology. Technology provides so many options as making teaching interesting and also making teaching more productive in terms of improvements. At present the role and status of English is that it is the language of social context, political, socio cultural, business, education, industries, media, library, communication across borders, and key subject in curriculum and language of imparting education. It is also a crucial determinant for university entrance and processing well paid jobs in the commercial sector. Since there are more and more English learners in India, different teaching methods have been implemented to test the effectiveness of the teaching process.

multimedia in ELT in order to create English contexts. This helps students to get involved and learn according to their interests, It has been tested effectively and is widely accepted for teaching English in modern world. Technology is utilized for the upliftment of modern styles; it satisfies both visual and auditory senses of the students. With the spread and development of English around the world, English has been learned and used by more and more speakers.

Research question

How do mobile devices in the classroom impact student learning?

Definitions

What is the Definition of Mobile Learning?

Mobile learning, also known as m-learning, is an educational system. Mobile learning supports, with the help of mobile devices, a continuous access to the learning process. It can be on appliances like your phone, laptop or tablet. You can learn wherever and whenever you want. With the advent of mobile learning, educational systems are changing. Now you know the meaning of M-learning, let's take a look at mobile learning in education.

Mobile learning in education

More and more schools are using laptops or tablets. Children consider it to be a fun. There are increasingly more educational apps available for teachers.

Examples of mobile learning in education:

Offering mobile learning material

This is the easiest way of mobile learning. You can offer texts, videos or audios. It’s possible to do this whenever you want. Participants are able to prepare homework by watching a video that the teacher has put online. This way of mobile learning is relatively less interactive. It’s more about individual consuming. There is no interaction with teachers or other students, which makes it an asynchronous way of learning.

Interaction during lessons

If you do want to have some more interaction, you can use mobile devices during your lessons. An example of this is asking questions during your instruction. Teachers ask questions and the pupils will answer them on their mobile devices. Teachers are able to get immediate feedback. This is especially easy for teaching large groups.

Mobile Learning Benefits

The main mobile learning benefits are:

1. Learning Flexibility.

Online learning created flexibility by eliminating the need for learning to happen at a set time and a set place. Now mobile takes learning flexibility even further by making instructional content such as videos, podcasts, and other multimedia formats available on smartphones and tablets. What’s more, learners have the added flexibility of being able to access this content on their mobile devices whenever and wherever they want.

2. Improved Completion and Retention Rates.

Learning only happens when instructional content is completed and key points are retained. Mobile learning is designed to create engagement, which leads to course completion. And being that mobile learning is also tailored to fit the device usage habits and learning patterns of today’s learners, the result is higher rates of retention.

3. Online Learning Communities.

Today’s younger employees enjoy collaborating with others in the workplace. And mobile devices are important tools for engaging learners towards the establishment of online learning communities where more effective learning can take place.

 

 

4. Learning Οn Multiple Devices.

Employee training needs to be convenient. And technology makes it possible for the same eLearning courses to be available on all devices an employee might interact with on a daily basis, from PCs and laptops to tablets and smartphones.

5. Better Performance.

Employees prefer learning methods that don’t disrupt their daily routines. Information must be made easy to access while at work. The result is the creation of an employee learning habit that supports a higher quality of workplace performance.

6. A Clear Path to Learning.

Many of today’s mobile learning platforms for organizations are integrated with phone-based learning reminders and organizers. This allows learners to receive ongoing alerts and updates on their courses, which they can check on their smartphones while on the go, anywhere and at any time. Learners can also easily pick up coursework right where they left off, without losing the content they previously studied. This makes for a more personalized learning path than can be achieved in a non-mobile learning platform.

Mobile learning benefits are revolutionizing the eLearning process. As the rapid proliferation of mobile devices continues, more organizations will recognize the competitive advantages that come from leveraging modern technological advancements to create powerful tech-centric learning experiences for their mobile empowered employees.

Disadvantages of Mobile Learning

Multitasking May Not Be Best

Scrolling through social media, listening to music and doing homework all on one device may be second nature to today's students, but that doesn't mean this aspect of M-learning is necessarily beneficial. Multitasking may seem to save time, but it can keep the mind from retaining information, according to a 2012 article in Forbes magazine. For students participating in M-learning's on-the-go lifestyle, the distractions of daily life combined with the ongoing social and entertainment activities on mobile devices can be detrimental to their classroom performance and ability to focus solely on their assignments and classes.

Technology Presents Problems

Mobile learning may be fast and efficient, but a lack of device standardization can cause it to become more challenging than simply showing up at class. Because tablets and smartphones access a variety of hardware and operating systems, keeping all students on the same technological page may pose a challenge for M-learning educators. Many students may be unable to load coursework and participate in mobile messaging discussions because their devices are not compatible with the class's software and websites. Likewise, changing technology may quickly render some devices obsolete, making it harder for students to keep up with changing trends.

Small Screens Can Be Big Hazards

While students might be accustomed to reading text on the relatively small screens of their handheld devices, they could be endangering their eyesight in the process. At the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, every eighth patient that visits the office complains of eye strain and headaches related to cellphone use, states ophthalmologist Dr. Matt Gardiner. A 2013 study by David Allamby, founder of Focus Clinics in Great Britain, also revealed a 35 percent increase in cases of shortsightedness since 1997. Mobile students who spend long hours doing required reading from their devices could develop what Allamby calls "screen sightedness."

Connectivity May Be Limited

The phrase "dropped class" may take on new meaning for students who experience problems with their Internet connection during a mobile learning course. M-learning requires all students to have a mobile device and a consistent wireless connection, something that may be unavailable to students in isolated areas or with limited incomes. As a result, data plans for smartphones and tablets can quickly skyrocket, limiting affordable Internet access for some students. While M-learning may be convenient for students with reliable wireless Internet, it may become a hardship and inconvenience for others.

In other hands,

To Promote Students Communication Capacity

Traditional teaching has hampered students’ capacity to comprehend certain language and also understanding to structure, meaning and function of the language, and makes the students passive recipients of knowledge, So it is hard to achieve the target of communication. With teachers’ instructions leading students’ thought patterns and motivating students’ emotions, the multimedia technology seeks integration of teaching and learning and provides the students greater incentives, The PPT courseware activate students’ thinking; the visual and vivid courseware rand help them to transforms English communication into capacity cultivation. And such in-class activities as group discussion, subject discussion, and debates can also offer more opportunities for communication among students and between teachers and students. So multimedia technology teaching has uniquely inspired students’ positive thinking and communication skills in social practice.

To Improve Teaching Effect

Multimedia teachings enrich teaching content and make the best of class time and break the “teacher centered” teaching pattern and fundamentally improve class efficiency. Due to large classes it is difficult for the students to have speaking communication. The utilization of multimedia sound lab materializes the individualized and co-operative teaching. The traditional teaching model mainly emphasized on teachers’ instruction, and the information provided is limited due to traditional classes. On the contrary, multimedia technology goes beyond time and space, creates more vivid, visual, authentic environment for English learning, stimulates students’ initiatives and economizes class time meanwhile increases class information.

To Improve Interaction Between Teacher and Student

Multimedia teaching stresses the role of students, and enhances the importance of “interaction” between teachers and students. A major feature of multimedia teaching is to train and improve students’ ability to listen and speak, and to develop their communicative competence, during this process, the teacher’s role as facilitator is particularly prominent. Using multimedia in context creation creates a good platform for the exchange between teachers and students, while at the same time providing a language environment that improves on the traditional classroom teaching model. In this way, teachers in the classroom no longer blindly input information and force students to receive it in a passive way.

Conclusion

After having analyzed the effects of Mobile Learning, it was confirmed that Mobile learning is a hot new item that will continue to gain popularity based on convenience.  The fact is that convenience is everything in today’s busy society and will continue to be in generations to come.  Mobile learning opens so many doors to new technology and will continue to get more complex as the years go on.  So many more opportunities are being giving to get an education and to expand your knowledge.  This is a great way to help people learn better. 

In conclusion, the use of MLearning in an educational environment would have a very positive effect on the learning experience. It appears that future generations are extremely receptive to utilizing new technology and as a matter of fact, they appear to embrace it. With the emergence of social networking, blogging, and YouTube, students expect to be able to utilize mobile technology on the fly to connect anywhere and anytime of the day.

Bibliography  

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UNESCO. (2017). Retrieved June 22, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/themes/icts/m4ed/

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