Matthew+Selinger

Mobile Learning with Rules

 Mobile learning if done properly with sufficient guidelines for the courses should be allowed. We already allow students to opt out of brick and mortar with home schooling. Home schooling, if it is done correctly, works well and in some cases better than a regular school environment for some students. But homeschooling is not for everyone; neither is mobile learning. Mobile learning should not be forced on anyone.  Mobile learning is an ill-defined term. My position depends on the understanding that mobile learning does not mean that the student opts out 100% of F2F (face-to-face) schooling necessarily. For instance a student could go home at half-day and finish their classes online. Or a student could opt to take some classes in the summer to graduate early if desired. Mobile education would then act to augment formal education and provide a differentiated format for the student to tailor their education to fit their needs.  Socialization seems to be the biggest argument against mobile learning. Socialization will occur with a teenage student no matter where they go. Many already spend time online and still have real-time friends. Each situation has its own rules of engagement so mobile learning would actually offer a great depth of learning different points of view from across the globe. In addition, some studies have found that students feel less pressure online when answering question due to a,”lack of social cues” that are present in the regular classroom. (reference 2, pg 11)  Mobile learning presents opportunities for students that would otherwise not be available. Students in less populous areas would be able take classes not offered in their local school due to a lack of resources. For instance, many rural schools do not have a physics class with a qualified instructor. Or take the case of another shortage that is almost universal, a shortage of programming classes. Programmers are in short supply many are pulled from engineering backgrounds to fill the need. It is feasible to have a qualified instructor that also works as an actual professional, instructing one or two courses online in these critically short subjects areas. “Mobile learning is not something that people do; learning is what people do” (reference 1, pg 3). I do not advocate getting rid of brick and mortar education. Mobile learning would support student choice and support a mobile society (reference 1, pg 3). It would enable learners to construct understandings in a different context not available to them otherwise. Mobile learning would also provide for a way to tailor an education to fit the learner. The greatest challenge ahead is designing for mobile learning to meet the needs of these students.

//Matthew Selinger is a physics and mathematics teacher at Seckman senior high school for 14 years. He is a graduate of Missouri Institute of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri and is currently working on his Masters in Educational Technology through Missouri Baptist University. //

References:
 * 1) Sharples, M. (2006). Big issues in mobile learning.
 * 2) Papastergiou, M. (2009). Digital Game-Based Learning in high school Computer Science education: Impact on educational effectiveness and student motivation. //Computers & Education //, //52 //(1), 1-12.
 * 3) Song, L., Singleton, E. S., Hill, J. R., & Koh, M. H. (2004). Improving online learning: Student perceptions of useful and challenging characteristics. //The internet and higher education //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">, //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">7 //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">(1), 59-70.