Trending with Mobile Technologies

Trendy technology, mobile learning, portable devices, pros and cons of Mobile Technologies

The world is being re-shaped by the convergence of social, mobile, cloud, big data, community and other powerful forces. The combination of these technologies unlocks an incredible opportunity to connect everything together in a new way and is dramatically transforming the way we live and work

- Marc Benioff

Click, click there; you have it! Right at your fingertips! Information for entertainment, educational pursuits, or just for mere curiosity. Technology continues to evolve into faster, more dynamic, thrilling, and interactive components for daily life activities. The convenience of portable devices to communicate on the go, conveniently make purchases and participate in meetings from remote locations gives mobiles a big 'buzz'. Mobile technologies are a "learning model that enables learners to access educational materials anywhere and anytime using mobile and internet technologies" (Lan & Sie, 2010, as cited in Mohammadi et al., 2020). However, mobile technologies can enhance 21st-century skill development like collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and exploration and encourage a growth mindset.

We all know that technology has pros and cons, and we must be mindful of these to make ethical decisions in striving to build a society with positive morals. Some pros for using mobile technology in education include:

1. building collaboration skills

2. encouraging independent learning

3. ease of access and convenience

4. accommodates flexible learning styles

5. provide opportunities for instant feedback

A quick look at some cons of mobile technology integration in education highlights:

1. risk of cyberbullying

2. openness to distraction

3. lead to addiction

4. lacks face-to-face interactions

5. personal data and security risks

However, everything requires balance, and the benefits outweigh the cons of mobile technology integration. These can be used as teachable moments to promote digital citizenship and encourage interactions with technological devices. Technology will not be going away. Therefore it is vital to be mindful of associated risks and adapt to reliable measures to minimize or eliminate risks.

Here is a mobile technologies implementation plan I designed to promote effective communication and collaboration among Secondary school instructors. The plan includes the problem identified, purpose for mobile technology integration, ethical considerations and procedures to follow to effectively integrate collaboration plan of a centralized system for communication within institutions.

Thank you for stopping by! See you next time!

Useful Resources:

1. https://macsources.com/benefits-of-smartphones-for-students/

2. https://www.iberdrola.com/talent/what-is-mobile-learning-and-advantages

3. https://elearningindustry.com/mobile-learning-advantages-disadvantages

Reference

Mohammadi, M., Sarvestani, M. S., & Nouroozi, S. (2020). Mobile phone use in education and learning by faculty members of technical-engineering groups: Concurrent mixed methods design. Frontiers in Education, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00016.