Brandy+Antonio

Are Mobile Technologies the Future of Education? Brandy Antonio Missouri Baptist University EDET 553 SU13(1)

**Are Mobile ****Technologies the Future of Learning? ** Are mobile technologies the future of learning? I would say mobile technologies are the future… period. The numbers are staggering! In 2012, approximately 81% of the population, 256 million people, in the United States had 3G/4G subscriptions for mobile devices (mobiThinking, 2013). And, the Magid Mobile Content Study found that 72% of teens use mobile content regularly (Rosengard Hill & Dykstra, 2009). With the continual increases in access to and usage of mobile technology, mobile learning and education are inevitable.

Mobile technology does not have to be shared, can be taken anywhere and everywhere, and has a multitude of functions. And, with these devices come some of the greatest educational resources available through apps, with some of the biggest and fastest growing apps specifically in education. According to statista.com, education apps are the second most available app at the Apple store. With the increased availability of personal mobile devices and free educational resources, educational institutions will need to continue shaping their learning model with the resources of society.

Educators need to use mobile technology and education apps to stay current not only with trends of adolescents, but with the ongoing need for differentiation in the classroom. Apps provide endless opportunities for personalized instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners. Resources like NearPod allow teachers and students to interact synchronously, with immediate feedback for both educators and learners. From instructional, to organizational, to creative, to fun, mobile technology has apps for every educator and learner, and many of them are free! Mobile technology allows classes to navigate the world beyond the brick and mortar. Apps such as MyCongress, World Book, and Star Walk, give students opportunities to interact with their world, while NearPod, Evernote, and Explain Everything help students and teachers stay organized and improve productivity (Dunn, 2013).

So, with rising availability and educational resources, how does mobile technology affect students? According to a study conducted by Priya Nihalani, M.A. and Michael Mayrath, Ph.D., there is evidence of increased learning and motivation from using mobile technology and educational apps. Mobile apps increase motivation to study because they allow for freedom of choice in study space, and give a sense of control and personalization in learning (p. 6).

With increased availability, resources, personalization, and motivation, the only direction we can go as educators is towards mobile technology. Mobile technology not only provides endless opportunities to differentiation with students, but educators and students now have access to global information to satisfy the needs and goals of our 21st Century learners. Giving our students a richer education through mobile technology should be the goal for every school district, and every educator.

//-Brandy Antonio is an educator with Wentzville School District, with 5 years experience in math and language arts instruction. She plans to complete her Master’s in Educational Technology in the Summer of 2013 and looks forward to lifelong educating, tutoring, mentoring, and learning with differentiated and technology rich strategies //.

References  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dunn, Jeff. (2013). The Best Education Apps (iOS). [web article]. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">mobiThinking. (2013). Global Mobile Statistics 2013 Home: All the Latest Stats on Mobile <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Web, Apps, Marketing, Advertising, Subscribers, and Trends… [web article] Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nihalani, Pria & Mayrath, Michael. (2010). Mobile Learning: Evidence of Increased Learning <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">and Motivation from using an iPhone App. [pdf document]. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rosengard Hill, Jill & Dykstra, Kristin. (2009). What Makes Teens Tick. [web article]. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Statista. (2013). Most Popular Apple App Store Categories in January 2013. [web article]. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Retrieved from []