Floribeth Q. Panay
Introduction
Mobile learning (m-learning) refers to any type of learning that takes place in learning environments and spaces that take account of the mobility of technology, mobility of learners and mobility of learning. (Attewell & Savill-Smith, 2005). M-learning is increasing immensely which is now considered as one of the most efficient ways of delivering higher education instruction. This is because most of the academic practitioners and students have their own mobile phones, laptops, netbooks, tablets, wattpads, e-readers and smartphones. With these technologies, there is a greater opportunity for students to participate and collaborate with each other. Aside from its portability mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are more reasonably priced than desktops and laptops. Mobile devices are different from laptop or desktop computers. Mobile devices are small, portable and compact. They can often fit in a pocket or purse. Unlike laptop computers, which are expensive and heavy, mobile devices are relatively low cost, lightweight, and some work a very long time on a charge or a couple of standard disposable or rechargeable batteries.
Mobile devices are also the easiest method of accessing the internet. Most mobile devices are wifi ready and can easily connect to any wifi routers available in the area. Many mobile devices can, in effect, be “filled up” with hours upon hours of training and require no connection to a network, wireless or otherwise, until the time comes to replace old training content with fresh content, or to upload the results of assessments to a learning management system capable of tracking mobile learners. In many training situations, the learning experience for the student is largely unaffected by the way the mobile device accesses information, wireless or otherwise. Rather, what differentiates m-learning from elearning is the nature
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