Not all that long ago, the term “mobile learning” implied laptop computers and mobile carts that were wheeled from classroom to classroom. Now, as a growing number of students carry smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices that can connect to the internet wirelessly through a cellular as well as a Wi-Fi connection, the definition of “mobile learning” is expanding—and with it, the possibilities inherent in the term.
The rise of mobile technologies small enough to carry in one’s pocket, and the increasing power and functionality of these devices, is causing a seismic shift in education technology.
Last fall, nearly 50 percent of middle and high school students said they carried some type of smart phone—a 47-percent increase from fall 2009, according to Project Tomorrow’s annual Speak Up survey of students, parents, teachers, and administrators on their uses and views of school technology.
There are now five billion wireless subscribers in the world, and of those, 1 billion are 3G subscribers, according to Wireless Intelligence. By 2014, there will be 2.8 billion 3G subscribers. (3G refers to a third-generation cellular network, which is capable of streaming video and other bandwidth-intensive applications wirelessly. Already, some providers are rolling out 4G services that promise even faster download speeds and more capabilities.) |
