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It
is common knowledge that mobile phones have become an integral part of our
everyday life and they can be used for various educational purposes. I think , this
can promote successful language learning both in and outside classroom. For instance, learners can use the
recorder to interview each other, they can take photos of the things and places
they are interested in and bring and share them with the rest of the class.
Mobiles are also widely used to interact with others in social networks such as
Facebook, MySpace or Skype. This is can
be an effective way for learners to practice their English outside classroom.
In
the article entitled “Action Research Approach on Mobile Learning Design for
the Underserved” (Kim, 2008), the author carried on a research study for
developing a mobile learning model for migrant indigenous children of Latin
America. The children had no access to technologies, they lived in very poor
living conditions, and most of the population was illiterate. I was surprised to
learn that children (3-13-years-old) needed minimal help in operating the
mobile devices and were able to learn to use them just in minutes. Also it is interesting
to note that children with an early stage of reading proficiency could read the
short stories at the same speed as in papers and magazines. Besides, they enjoyed
using aural and visual animations and learned to browse the stories very easily.
I think this study can serve as evidence of the effectiveness of mobile phones
in any learning environment.
Also,
mobile learning fosters collaboration among learners. In one of the articles by
Kukulska –Hulme and Lesley Shield, mobile learning is described as a means of
promoting interaction among learners. Mobile devices create an extra dimension
for learning by allowing students to identify, edit and share information with
other learners and teachers. According to the authors , mobile learning can
successfully support collaborative asynchronous speaking and listening
activities. However it was found out that it is more difficult to support synchronous
interaction by using Mobile devises as you need you learners to be available at
a specific time.
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