How Mobile Learning can be an opportunity
to developing countries in the
21st century.
E.T. Chitambo: Computer Science
Table of Contents
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Introduction
Literature search
Problem Statement
Mobile Learning
Methods of Inquiry
Summary of Findings
Recommendations
Conclusion
Introduction
• Many students in South African universities come
from disadvantaged backgrounds and do not have
access to computers at home but almost all of them
have mobile phones.
• The relevance of mobile learning for Africa lies in the
fact that the majority of learners in Africa are
without infrastructure for access and computers.
• By examining the recommendations from developed
countries, mobile learning can be adopted by the
educational sector in developing countries.
Literature search
• Bruce Montes (Loyal University Chicago) – “With
Blackboard Mobile on our team, we are
positioned to achieve our overall IT goal:
access – anywhere, anytime.”
Problem Statement
• With the introduction and adoption of
technology in learning by many institutions
around the globe, not much has been done to
make use of mobile learning especially in
developing countries like South Africa.
Mobile Learning
• Mobile Learning enables students, teachers and
instructors to use their handheld devices such as
mobile phones, pocket PCs, MP3players, portable
game devices, tablets, and palmtops for self
learning.
• M-Learning aims at increasing productivity by
making learning available anywhere and anytime,
allowing learners to participate in educational
activities without the restrictions of time and
place.
Methods of Inquiry
• To determine if the students and faculty lectures
were ready for mobile learning, I conducted a
survey of readiness for mobile learning. The
Survey of Mobile Learning was available through
questionnaires which I gave out to various
students from different faculties and to lecturers
at Walter Sisulu University (NMD Campus).
Methods of Inquiry (continued)
The survey included some of the following questions:
• Which mobile device(s) do you own?
• How often do you have your mobile phone with you?
• Do you think mobile learning will play an important role
in the future of learning?
• Do you own a computer with an internet connection?
• Would you be willing/able to purchase a new mobile
device if you thought it would improve your performance
at school?
Summary of Findings
• Most of the students where between the age
of 18 to 25 and all of them owned at least one
of the mobile devices, with a greater
percentage owning mobile cellphones.
Summary of Findings
Mobile devices owned by students
120
Percantage of students
100
96
80
70
60
40
40
20
20
5
0
Mobile Phone
MP3 Player
USB Drive
Mobile devices
iPod
PDAs
Recommendations
• When considering the adoption of wireless
technologies in education, schools need to
ensure that learners, teachers and parents are
involved as much as possible in the planning
of mobile learning initiatives.
• As learning institutions in developing
countries we should make use of the available
resources to start implementing mobile
learning.
Conclusion
• The role of m-learning in the future of elearning in developing countries should not be
underestimated. M-learning is a great step
towards a better and brighter educational
future.
• It is not expected that mobile learning will
replace existing learning practices but should
be implemented into the blend of e-learning
applications to engage and support students.
Thank you.
Questions