The value of mobile technology in teaching and learning

It can be said that the adoption rate of mobile devices has increased dramatically in recent years and that this has been driven by technological improvements and lower costs. These devices provide an array of applications that impact almost every facet of our lives. They have become a basic necessity for many people and for students they represents a way to address a number of educational problems. Devices such as smart phones and tablets enable innovation and help students and teachers gain access to digital content, personal and academic. E mails, Facebook and also such things as journals, google scholar etc. can be instantly accessed for dissertation and essay research through such devices and this mobile research and information retrieval can happen anywhere , in the classroom or outside it. Mobile learning offers modern ways to support learning process through mobile devices, such as handheld tablets I pads and smart phones. It is not surprising, therefore, that lecturers, distance education providers and teaching institutions at all levels are increasingly using these devices as a medium to connect, communicate and relay information.
Sadly, not every student has access to a computer, however, most young people have phones with internet access.
According to  Naismith,Lonsdale Vavoula and Sharples, (2006), research on informal and lifelong learning recognises that learning happens all of the time and is influenced both by our environment and situations we are faced with. Such a broad view of learning takes learning outside the classroom and therefore embeds learning in everyday life. Here  the value of mobile technologies in supporting this learning is paramount and these technologies can have a great impact on learning. In higher education, mobile devices may provide course material to students this could include such things as due dates for assignments and information about timetable or any changes that may affect them. With the increase of mobile technologies being used for educational purposes learning will move more and more outside of the classroom and into the learner’s environments, thus becoming more personal, collaborative and lifelong.  The flip side in my opinion is that too many young people spend too much time on such devices and not enough time really communicating or exercising. The obesity levels especially in Wales has risen dramatically in recent years and many young people although connected, actually find that on many levels they have become more isolated.

www.futurelab.org.uk/research.
Literature Review in Mobile Technologies and Learning. Naismith, L, Lonsdale, P Vavoula,G and Sharples ,M. University of Birmingham 2006