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Mobile technologies: Can Mobile technologies: Can they make learning a social they make learning a social

activity?activity?

Mercy Maleko, RMIT UniversityMercy Maleko, RMIT University

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Mobile technologies…Mobile technologies…

Mobile technologies- mostly personal and Mobile technologies- mostly personal and portable technologies.portable technologies.

example- mobile/smart phones, PDAs, tabletPC example- mobile/smart phones, PDAs, tabletPC (e.g. iPad), laptops etc(e.g. iPad), laptops etc

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Why mobile technologies and education?Why mobile technologies and education?

Mobile technologies and usage are Mobile technologies and usage are exploding… exploding…

The growing use of wireless technology and The growing use of wireless technology and mobile devices by students. This suggests that mobile devices by students. This suggests that education cannot ignore the use of mobile devices education cannot ignore the use of mobile devices in the learning process.in the learning process.

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Characteristics of current students- digital natives.Characteristics of current students- digital natives. they are multitasking.they are multitasking.

always on.always on.mobile.mobile.they emphasize on doing rather than knowing.they emphasize on doing rather than knowing.have greater familiarity with typing rather than have greater familiarity with typing rather than handwriting. handwriting. have zero tolerance for delay. have zero tolerance for delay. have 24/7 mentality. have 24/7 mentality. they rely more on web as a primary source of information they rely more on web as a primary source of information ““Google itGoogle it!”!”““Staying connectedStaying connected” is very important.” is very important.

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Mobile technologies have made students Mobile technologies have made students ““escapeescape” from classrooms to engage in ” from classrooms to engage in other activities that might have no other activities that might have no relationship with their studies. relationship with their studies.

Students Students become less engaged in University activities.become less engaged in University activities.spend less time on campus. spend less time on campus.

have low attendance in lectures, have low attendance in lectures, seminars/tutorial, laboratories and even in seminars/tutorial, laboratories and even in mentoring sessions (if available).mentoring sessions (if available).

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What should we do?What should we do?

NeedNeed to develop new teaching to develop new teaching approaches that will address the approaches that will address the characteristics of these students to characteristics of these students to engage and inspire their learning.engage and inspire their learning.

How?How?

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A Humanities lecturer is reported as having said: A Humanities lecturer is reported as having said: ““I found out all my students were looking at I found out all my students were looking at the material in the Virtual Learning the material in the Virtual Learning Environment but going straight to Facebook Environment but going straight to Facebook to use the discussion tools and discuss the to use the discussion tools and discuss the material and the lectures. I thought I might as material and the lectures. I thought I might as well join them and ask them questions in well join them and ask them questions in their preferred spacetheir preferred space”.”.

Should we follow them in their preferred space?Should we follow them in their preferred space?

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What takes them there?What takes them there?

the the social interactionssocial interactions environment that environment that Social Networking Sites provide motivates Social Networking Sites provide motivates students to interact.students to interact.

social interactions and learning social interactions and learning do they do they relate?relate?

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What do they say…?What do they say…?

““Learning is an activity rooted in social Learning is an activity rooted in social interactions- stresses on interactions- stresses on interactions for interactions for development of cognitiondevelopment of cognition - - Vygotsky’s social Vygotsky’s social development theory.development theory.

““Learning is a Learning is a social activitysocial activity”- “interactions play ”- “interactions play a fundamental role in the learning process”- a fundamental role in the learning process”- Laurillards Conversational Framework.Laurillards Conversational Framework.

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But…But…

Mobile devicesMobile devices

are tools to expand discussions are tools to expand discussions students can students can communicate beyond classrooms.communicate beyond classrooms.

provide the potential for rich social interactions which provide the potential for rich social interactions which when used to enhance learning contribute +vely to the when used to enhance learning contribute +vely to the quality of education.quality of education.

SNS provide interactive environments that allow learners SNS provide interactive environments that allow learners to communicate, interact, create and share knowledgeto communicate, interact, create and share knowledge..

SNS=Social networking sitesSNS=Social networking sites

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So…So…

We thought of coming up with a study to We thought of coming up with a study to investigate the use of mobile devices and social investigate the use of mobile devices and social networking sites to support learning of novice networking sites to support learning of novice programmers (Mobile learning). programmers (Mobile learning).

We hope the mobile learning will We hope the mobile learning will motivatemotivate students to students to engageengage in learning, by encouraging in learning, by encouraging them to them to interactinteract with themselves and with their with themselves and with their tutors and mentorstutors and mentors, hence , hence make learning a make learning a more more social activitysocial activity..

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Mobile Learning-delivery modelMobile Learning-delivery model

Students will use their mobile devices which Students will use their mobile devices which have access to internet and can connect to SNS.have access to internet and can connect to SNS.

Learning materials will be uploaded to SNS for Learning materials will be uploaded to SNS for students to self learn.students to self learn.

Discussions about the lectures notes, material Discussions about the lectures notes, material on SNS etc will be conducted through their on SNS etc will be conducted through their mobile devices via SNS.mobile devices via SNS.

SNS=Social networking sitesSNS=Social networking sites

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Thank You!Thank You!