·         93% of teens ages 12-17 go online and 63% do so every day

·         69% of teens have their own computer

·         27% of teens use their phone to get online

·         24% of teens with a game console use it to go online

·         73% of teens are on a social network

·         37% send messages to friends every day

Technology is no stranger to the children of today’s generation. From a young age these kids are introduced to, and educated through all sorts of mobile devices such as phones, iPods, computers tablets and many others. A PewInternet Project survey was conducted in 2010 and discovered that over 75% of those children aged 12-17 had cell phones and a large majority operated them for an array of activities beyond texting and talking. With these statistics, shouldn’t we consider mobile learning in the classroom to be of absolute benefit for students and enforce it in as many schools as possible nationwide?

Mobile learning effectively refers to teaching and learning with mobile technologies. These devices are often lightweight, pocket-size or small devices which may fit in the palm of your hand (mobile phones, smartphones, handheld computers like the iPad, tablets, PCs and personal media players). These devices can be transported with relative ease and may be used for communication and collaborative purposes, teaching and learning activities that are often considered different from other media.

Throughout my first semester at University I found working with mobile devices of huge benefit for the progression and understanding of topics, aloud for various group, pair or one-on-one discussions and made each course more enjoyable and fun to study. There are so many opportunities out there for students to advance their education and understanding of a huge variety of subjects by researching what can be done by using mobile devices and operating with those products.

There are a whole list of games and fun activities for kids of all ages to play using mobile technology which should eventually enhance their ability and desire to learn. Games such as Vehicle Fun, Counting and Addition, Gravity 2.0, Endless Alphabet and many others are downloadable from the App Store which helps to provide opportunities for children to engage in their learning and creating a fun and educational environment through the use of mobile technologies. After researching and working in small groups during tutorials in week 12 it was clear that there were just too many applications out there to decide on a simple few. This makes learning with mobile devices even more exciting, knowing that there are literally infinite possibilities.

Mobile learning has a range of positive attributes:

- Spontanious
- Personal
- Informal
- Contextual
- Portable
- Ubiquitous
- Pervasive

In the long run mobile learning is an extremely effective method for educating and engaging students in alternative ways of which should help with their learning and development throughout their schooling career. They can take lessons home with them, communicate and ask questions where it suites, research and download educational games and activites which are prefered/favourited by that individual student and above all, it is fun, exciting and challenging in a whole new way.

Bibliography

Dale, C. & Pymm, J. M. (2009). Podagogy: The iPod as a learning technology. Active Learning in Higher Education,10(1), 84 -96. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://alh.sagepub.com/content/10/1/84

Facts and Statistics on Teens and Technology. (2010) WebWiseKids. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://www.webwisekids.org/programs-facts-statistics-beseen.html

Dean, Faculty of Education & Social Work. (2013) Mobile Learning. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/learning_teaching/ict/theory/mobile_learning.shtml

Mobile Learning: What is that? (2012) Vid. Youtube. Retrieved May 25, 2013