M-Learning (or "Mobile Learning") is learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location and takes advantage of opportunities offered by mobile technologies. In other words, if you can learn by using a portable device while you’re walking down the street, you’re using m-Learning.
Analysts at Gartner now predict that mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common Web browsing device by 2013. However, as of December 2009, mobile browsing accounted for only 1.3% of all browsing, according to NetApplications.com and HitsLink Market Share. Why are the Gartner analysts so positive that this shift is going to take place? They are looking at the point at which browser-equipped smart phones will outnumber PCs worldwide. But there are other more compelling reasons to expect the full emergence of m-Learning.
In his 2008 book, Mobile as 7th of the Mass Media: Cellphone, Cameraphone, iPhone, Smartphone, author and mobile strategy consultant Tomi Ahonen outlined seven unique features mobile devices offer that will ensure their continued growth.
- Mobile devices are the first “personal” mass medium
- Permanently connected to the Internet
- Always carried by the user
- Has a built-in payment channel
- Available when the creative impulse strikes
- Has most accurate audience information available
- Captures social context of consumption
Smartphones are the current driver behind this trend, but cloud-based applications, the wider availability of WiMax services, e-readers such as the Kindle, and (of course) the much-anticipated Apple tablet are also playing a part. Together they raise the visibility of mobile applications, and make it a certainty that m-Learning (not necessarily just on, or even mainly on, smartphones) will become a regular channel for learning delivery. Given these trends, it may not even take until 2013 for this to happen.
mLearnCon (June 15-17, 2010) is the premier conference and expo focused entirely on m-Learning. This event will address every aspect of mobile learning including strategy, platforms (Smartphones, PDAs, iPods, Tablets, etc), operating systems (Android, BlackBerry, iPhone OS X, Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile, etc.), authoring tools and technologies, and content design, development, and management strategies and best practices. mLearnCon will focus on the practical use of mobile technologies to deliver learning in corporate, government, military, academic, and other settings.
Guild Research is conducting a comprehensive survey on m-Learning. Please take a few moments now to contribute to this important survey – the results of which will be available at mLearnCon. You’ll find our survey at http://www.elearningguild.com/member-surveys/surveys/?sid=93
