Smartphones

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Smartphone

Manufacturers: Apple, HTC, Nokia, Research in Motion, Samsung, and Motorola

Description: A mobile phone that offers a wide variety of functions beyond merely serving as a phone. Features that are becoming common now with Smartphones include color touch screen, Web browser, email/text messaging, still/video camera, keypad for text, media player, GPS, planner/organizer, and ability to sync with a PC. Examples of some popular models include the Apple iPhone, Nokia N95, AT&T Tilt, Blackberry Curve, and Samsung Instinct all of which are experiencing a convergence in design. The unique combination of technologies and portability of Smartphones has lead to the development of Mobile Learning, more frequently referred to now as M-Learning. M-Learning is similar to E-Learning and Distance Education, but it offers a number of unique advantages due to the portability of Smartphones.

Educational Advantages:

  • Course lectures can be downloaded as Powerpoints, Podcasts, or Vodcasts to these devices for playback at the convenience of the student.
  • Students can provide instant feedback during class to an instructor via handheld voting systems.
  • Messaging options offer potential for new forms of student collaboration.
  • Mobile versions of Learning Management Systems and virtual worlds such as Second Life are rapidly becoming available.
  • Vocabulary lessons and dictionaries for foreign languages can be easily downloaded and accessed on these handheld devices.
  • Portability and GPS systems increase the possibilities for outdoor and location-specific assignments and projects.

As processing power, bandwidth and market penetration continue to increase, Smartphones will become a more viable and accessible mode of delivering online learning. According to the BBC, the worldwide sale of Smartphones is expected to surpass the sale of laptops in the next 12 to 18 months.[1]


Educational Disadvantages: It is still costly and difficult at times to download a large amount of data and there are a multitude of operating systems and browsers.Screen size, key size, and battery life are other technological obstacles. Development of consistent standards for M-Learning is only in the early stages and will take time to crystallize.

Online Resources:

mLearnopedia website

References

Notes

BBC Technology News website

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