Best Advantages and Negatives of Mobile Learning

Oct 13, 2022

Mobile learning has become a well-known method of learning for students across the globe. It's a fantastic way for course creators to expand their reach and meet students where they are, with mobile devices.

The average Canadian checks their phone 144 times each day, while the average American checks their phone an insane 344 times per day.

In the process of integrating technology into their daily routines It's not surprising that more and more people turn to their phones, tablets, and laptops to study. Mobile learning offers students freedom that they've never experienced when they are exploring new abilities, hobbies, trades, and careers.

We will look into the advantages and drawbacks of mobile learning and explore how m learning will help your students.

Skip ahead:

What exactly is Mobile Learning (M-learning)?

What are the most mobile learning advantages?

There are plenty of advantages for mobile learning, however we've identified 6. These include accessibility, flexibility in content, motivation as well as engagement and cost. Let's look at each of them a bit more below:

    Accessibility    

One of the major advantages of mobile learning is its access. Online courses for M-learning are available and students are able to access their courses from anywhere in the world. It makes mobile learning adaptable and helps creators get their message out to a wider audience.

    Flexibility    

Similar to accessibility but differently, mobile learning provides students the freedom that synchronous or in-person courses can't. Students can complete the course whenever it is most convenient for them and their schedule, regardless of whether they want working at 12 noon or 12 midnight.

If the course lets students learn at their own pace. This gives them more flexibility as they can take the course in as little as a couple of hours, or for as long as few months.

    Motivation    

Both eLearning and mobile learning employ technologically advanced methods of teaching and evaluation. Methods like interactive quizzes and tests can gamify the course and encourage students to make progress by engaging with the content, and recall important points.

Engaged and enthusiastic students will be more likely to retain what they've learned , and go home content.

    Present Content    

Since mobile learning courses are on the internet, they offer an extraordinary advantage of revision. Authors aren't able to alter physical textbooks, online courses, and even webinars, after they've been created. Online courses can.

Creators of online courses could benefit from this, and can update courses frequently as needed. This helps them to keep their the courses current and relevant for students.

    Engagement    

Duolingo has grown to become the most frequently used app for learning new languages by implementing innovative methods such as microlearning. The app provides students with bite-sized lessons that are easy to complete on a regular basis.

    Affordability    

Most mobile learning courses do not require instructor-in-person instruction or synchronous learning as they are designed to teach one skill or achieve one outcome. The scale of a mobile course can help it be more affordable than classes that demand the use of more personnel, maintenance, scheduling, and even research.

What are the disadvantages of mobile learning?

Just like everything else it is true that there are drawbacks to mobile learning that you should consider in addition. Mobile learning can leave students exposed to distractions, do not provide interactions with others, depend on tech too much, lack the ability to personalize, and even exclude students with no access to quality technology. Explore each of these reasons in the following sections:

    Distractions    

One of the benefits of mobile learning in education is the fact that it demands students to connect to the content via a smartphone. But, it also means that the students are more likely to be distracted.

Students are likely to receive text messages, emails, and social media notifications in their class. They can reduce engagement and completion to drop.

    Lack of social interaction    

M-learning can help students make important connections on the internet, but it doesn't provide for meaningful in-person interactions.

Although some students might be more comfortable in an isolated and focused environment, other students may depend on social relationships to motivate them. This can become even more apparent when students take courses that require an ongoing commitment.

    Reliance on tech    

Like eLearning, M-learning, is entirely reliant on the technology. Designers should think about compatibility with operating systems and the best way to optimize for mobile devices or they risk making awkward and hard-to-use courses.

Reliance on tech can also exclude skills that rely on practical experience. Artists and mechanics may struggle with mastering real-world skills with no personal feedback and instruction in person.

    Personalization is poor    

The most personalized feedback is usually provided by one-on-one mentors, an in-class instructoror a cohort leader. Even with engaging tests like interactive quizzes and tests, students can still be left without personal feedback when they're in learning programs that are mobile, which makes it harder to learn and develop new skills.

    Poor technology    

Although many students have access to up-to-date technologies and reliable internet connections, not everyone does. Students may be working with older tech or have unreliable electricity and internet access.

Mobile learning does offer an opportunity for education to many, but it can still limit access to students who do not have the devices for online learning. It is important to think about the target market and make sure that you create a program which is easily accessible for them.

Find the perfect balance with mobile education

The advantages to some might be detrimental to others. For example, the extreme degree of flexibility offered by a self-paced class may be unmotivating to some audience members. In the end, it's your responsibility to determine the right balance for your target audience and create accordingly.

Regardless, creators can outweigh limitations of mobile learning, and design higher-quality, accessible, and inclusive courses that have never been offered previously. With the right content, mobile technology allows you to expand your reach, engage students, and create a sense of community.

If you're considering making an online course, give it a try no cost! The course will include the creation along with the selling, marketing, and creation instruments you'll need to make your course into a mobile business of learning.