M-learning

The education industry is going through a number of changes of late, when the telephone was invented it was expected to storm the education market, it didn’t. Then came the internet that took education a step forward, but still it isn’t showing the promise that it should. There are websites like thekhanacademy.org and others that are taking education to places where teachers are not easily available or even I they are available are not educated enough to teach the students. There is a new method that is catching up with the masses and the poor economies, and that is M-learning.

I am pretty skeptical of the use of this medium as these courses have to be smart-phone compatible. Not everyone has a smart phone! Isn’t this so very clear? People are investing millions is trying to develop systems and software and expect this expensive, not so easily available alternative to storm the market. How is it even possible? People who are looking to do a course in English language teaching are not opting for multimedia in ELT, simply because they are convinced that these mediums like the internet or a computer are no longer going to revolutionize the education but they believe mobiles are, insane!

Why I strongly believe this is not going to happen at least in the next couple of years is because no matter how good the technology companies get in getting better hardware and software on cheaper devices it is close to impossible to distribute these handsets to the people who are looking for basic education. They not only are looking for a cheaper alternative, but they even require an effective one. What is the point in going around distributing stuff that is not effective? Stuff that doesn’t seal the deal?

I believe the next digital device that will in many ways revolutionize education and many other fields is the tablet. Apple has been pretty successful in creating apps for people suffering with autism that helps them communicate better. The uses seen with these devices are amazing and well, you get a large screen for content and amazing processor speeds. You can get tablets at every price point! The table is going to be the future of education!

Rahul Gonsalves for naashtapaani.com