Teaching and Digital Technologies Big Issues and Critical Questions

Introduction

There are now more internet-connected mobile devices in the world than desktop and laptop computers (The Economist, 2012), with mobile internet traffic already constituting more than 25 per cent of global traffic (Meeker, 2014). In the developed world, multiple device ownership is increasingly common, and among those devices there are likely to be one or more smart devices, like smartphones or tablets. Mobile devices can be used for much more than making calls or sending messages. For many people, they have become a preferred way to access information, build knowledge and share understanding. Indeed, nowadays we hear more and more about mobile learning, or m-learning. But what exactly is m-learning? What are its benefits, how can it be implemented, and what might its drawbacks be? This chapter addresses these questions.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS

What is m-learning and how is it different from other kinds of learning?

A useful rule of thumb for differentiating portable from truly mobile devices is that the former are typically used at Point A, powered down and moved, then opened up again at Point B, while the latter can be used at Point A, Point B and everywhere in between without stopping (Puentedura, 2012 ). Mobile phones - ranging from feature phones to smartphones, which run on mobile operating systems and are largely app-driven - are of course included in the mobile category, as are tablets, but laptops are generally excluded. The mobile category also includes gradually disappearing older devices like PDAs (personal digital assistants) and MP3 players, as well as emerging devices like i tness bands, smartwatches and smart glasses.