Students hail the effectiveness of mobile learning

Students overwhelmingly support the use of mobile technologies to support learning, with 96 per cent of those surveyed agreeing it helps them to learn, according to a new report by education charity LSN.

The study draws on the experiences of more than 11,000 learners and two thousand teachers involved in the 2nd year of the Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET), which enables colleges and schools to take advantage of new mobile learning technologies.

Nine in ten students also said the technology helps them to learn in a wider range of times than they otherwise would be able to.

Ashley Garner, assistant principal of e-Learning at Redbridge College in Essex, said: “Mobile technologies were introduced across a range of our courses including NVQ2 Hairdressing and National and First Diplomas in Media. Across this spectrum, it has had an outstanding effect on students in terms of increasing passion and commitment for learning.

“For example, the innovations have encouraged students to work in different locations, away from the formal teacher/student scenario to ultimately interact and take charge of their learning in an altogether different way, using materials which they are already savvy with, and which motivate and excite them. A student today is rarely found without their mobile phone, so mobile technologies make it easy for staff to engage students in learning directly and conveniently wherever they are.”

Mr Garner continues: “Young people today live in a world where mobile technology will be used in everyday working life. As such, it simply makes sense to introduce them to the tools they will use for work, whilst they are in the classroom so that they can train with them. It makes learning modern, relevant and directly applicable to the world we live in.”

John Stone, LSN’s chief executive, commented: “What this research demonstrates is the invaluable role that mobile technology can play in today’s classroom. I would urge those FE colleges and schools who have not embraced these innovations to sit up, take notice and, most importantly, take immediate action to incorporate these modern approaches to teaching curriculums and improve their learner engagement and performance before they get left behind.”

Susannah Fairbairn