Literature Review - Mobile Learning
eLearning is predominately restricted to the workplace or access via a portal requiring a desktop or laptop; therefore with SmartByte being mobile exclusive, this will allow users to interact and distribute content with ease. Taking this into consideration, I intend to investigate the current state of mobile learning and what it takes for it to be successful.
The book, 'Mobile Learning: Structures, Agency, Practices' outlines how mobile learning is an "emerging, and rapidly expanding field of educational research and practice across schools, colleges and universities as well as in the work place" (Pachler et al., 2010), and it is of my interest to produce SmartByte in order show how learning on a mobile devices has a prosperous future. I want the product to feel informal so the user can participate in the available courses at home, on the go or wherever convenient. Pachler (2010) also raises the concern that do we really need to add yet another form of learning to society where there is an array of learning platforms already available. I believe that due to the rapid growth in mobile sales and usage, mobile learning is an appropriate form of learning as it is abiding by what is happening in todays society and seems like it will be inevitable that this form of learning will be successful.
One area that I feel is very relevant and links to my project is the argument of whether social media is encouraging a 'superficial' engagement with digital media. A prime example of this is Twitter. Twitter is renowned for its restricted character count (was 140 characters but has recently been increased to 280 characters), and it can be argued that this is limiting users to how much content they can post, however, is this what the user wants? I believe this is a helpful response to my development as users will be able to relate to the content that they seen online on a daily basis. When casually scrolling through the feed on Facebook or Twitter for example, do you stop and read every post, or stop at the content that appears interesting from your first glance? Taking this into consideration, I aim to adopt Twitter's concept of restricting the character count per card with the intention that the user is more likely to interact with bitesize material.
Pachler et al. (2010) elucidates on the idea that mobile learning goes beyond the technology and argues that it's the "convergence of services and functions into a single device, its ubiquity and abundance, portability and multi-functionality" that makes this style of learning new and contemporary. Being portable is a key selling point for SmartByte as I believe portable learning is a niche market. Pachler et al. (2010) also goes onto say that it has become socially acceptable for mobiles to be used in everyday life which enhances the opportunity for a learning app to be successful. Pachler et al. also refers to the educational implications that mobile learning has, in particular "the preparation of young people for active, and meaningful participation in their social, cultural, political and economic life". There is a strong animosity towards young people and technology and the social implications it has. Taking this into consideration, I believe SmartByte would benefit from being targeted at business primarily but could also be effective at university level. Having the collaborative element enables users to connect.
Bibliography
Pachler, N., Bachmair, B., Cook, J. and Kress, G. (2010). Mobile Learning: Structures, Agency, Practices. Boston, MA: Springer-Verlag US.
The book, 'Mobile Learning: Structures, Agency, Practices' outlines how mobile learning is an "emerging, and rapidly expanding field of educational research and practice across schools, colleges and universities as well as in the work place" (Pachler et al., 2010), and it is of my interest to produce SmartByte in order show how learning on a mobile devices has a prosperous future. I want the product to feel informal so the user can participate in the available courses at home, on the go or wherever convenient. Pachler (2010) also raises the concern that do we really need to add yet another form of learning to society where there is an array of learning platforms already available. I believe that due to the rapid growth in mobile sales and usage, mobile learning is an appropriate form of learning as it is abiding by what is happening in todays society and seems like it will be inevitable that this form of learning will be successful.
One area that I feel is very relevant and links to my project is the argument of whether social media is encouraging a 'superficial' engagement with digital media. A prime example of this is Twitter. Twitter is renowned for its restricted character count (was 140 characters but has recently been increased to 280 characters), and it can be argued that this is limiting users to how much content they can post, however, is this what the user wants? I believe this is a helpful response to my development as users will be able to relate to the content that they seen online on a daily basis. When casually scrolling through the feed on Facebook or Twitter for example, do you stop and read every post, or stop at the content that appears interesting from your first glance? Taking this into consideration, I aim to adopt Twitter's concept of restricting the character count per card with the intention that the user is more likely to interact with bitesize material.
Pachler et al. (2010) elucidates on the idea that mobile learning goes beyond the technology and argues that it's the "convergence of services and functions into a single device, its ubiquity and abundance, portability and multi-functionality" that makes this style of learning new and contemporary. Being portable is a key selling point for SmartByte as I believe portable learning is a niche market. Pachler et al. (2010) also goes onto say that it has become socially acceptable for mobiles to be used in everyday life which enhances the opportunity for a learning app to be successful. Pachler et al. also refers to the educational implications that mobile learning has, in particular "the preparation of young people for active, and meaningful participation in their social, cultural, political and economic life". There is a strong animosity towards young people and technology and the social implications it has. Taking this into consideration, I believe SmartByte would benefit from being targeted at business primarily but could also be effective at university level. Having the collaborative element enables users to connect.
Bibliography
Pachler, N., Bachmair, B., Cook, J. and Kress, G. (2010). Mobile Learning: Structures, Agency, Practices. Boston, MA: Springer-Verlag US.
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