Answering LinkedIn: Will it (mLearning) become a worthy alternative for ILT/CBT/eLearning?

There was an interesting question posted on LinkedIn recently.

mLearning is the talk of the day. Will it become a worthy alternative for ILT/CBT/eLearning?

This question does go to show that people still look at mLearning as a replacement for eLearning instead of a tool to be used in the learning function.

To properly look at mLearning, one needs to not think of the 'm' in mLearning as 'mobile' and instead replace it with the term 'my' (as in myLearning). This is because the key to mLearning's success thus far has been that people are becoming more and more mobile and devices are becoming capable of accessing a wide variety of content. We are at the branch point now where 'mobile learning' has lost its newness and now we can clearly look at it as another tool in our chest.
mLearning should fit the need of:
The Right Content
on the Right Device
in the Right Format
at the Right Time
in the Right Context

mLearning is exploding right now, but, if any of us thinks it will replace the ILT/CBT type learning, then we will lose it's true power.

From Leonard Low» Mobile Blogging + GPS data = Locoblog Mobile Learning

Further extending the concept of blogging beyond blogging mobile-ly (moblogging), Locoblog automatically uses embedded GPS data in uploaded images to associate each image with a location as soon as it is uploaded; these locations are then viewable on a Google Maps map embedded in a viewer’s web browser, where they can be browsed sequentially or visually (using the map).

Read the rest here:
» Mobile Blogging + GPS data = Locoblog Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning is Best Practice

In the school system in which I teach, laptops are being made available for every Teacher over the next 3 or so years. Exciting as this is, there are some districts overseas where every student has a laptop. In particular, the state of Maine in the USA is in its fifth year of providing iBook laptops to all its thousands (25,000+) of students. This kind of long term project has great potential to provide feedback then on whether the technology is just a gimmick, or if it has had a positive impact.

As reported by 'The Ellsworth American', a Main newspaper, surveys of nearly 5,000 middle school teachers from throughout Maine show that laptops improve motivation, engagement and class participation for special needs students and for students considered “at risk” for low academic achievement.

The results have been overwhelmingly positive. To read the rest of this post, go HERE.

mlearning m-learning mobile-learning mobile+learning podcasting iphone apple web+2.0 learing+2.0 eLearning