ODL Programmes Through M-learning Technology

Abstract

M-Learning technologies are a perfect complement to Open and Distance Learning (ODL). It provides communication with learners beyond their traditional places of learning. It also supports face-to-face learning by reaching out to learners outside the traditional classroom. m-learning technologies deliver education at reduced costs by leveraging the relatively cheap mobile infrastructure. m-learning technology is an aid for the people who are suffering from a lack of interactivity. Many online classes simply provide recorded instructor lectures to which distance students listen after downloading. They have developed a cutting-edge mobile learning system that can deliver live broadcasts of real-time classroom teaching to online students with mobile devices. Their system allows students to customize their means of content-reception, based on when and where the students are tuning into the broadcast. This system also supports short text-messaging and instant polls. Through these features, students can ask questions and make suggestions in real time, and the instructor can respond immediately. Mobile devices have a strong appeal among young adults that helps to provide flexible learning opportunities regardless of the time or the location of learners. In this paper we show how it can be used to support ODL, using technologies such as context and location awareness, mobile learning management systems, and mobile RSS. We show how classroom learning can be supported with m-Learning technologies that deliver concise course notes, summaries, assignments, and tutorials directly to individual learners after each class or topic is covered. The technology supports opinions and other forms of student interaction and communicates information on timetables/schedules, deadlines, news, alerts, etc. to an entire class. This paper describes this system in detail.