Using learning as a tool to create and change habits, the Durban University of Technology based KZN e-Skills Colab, in collaboration with the University of Ontario, Canada, hosted a Mobile Learning Engagement session with local higher education stakeholders from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, SETAs and Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges on the opportunities of mobile learning (m-Learning), on Thursday (23 February 2017).
The KZN e-Skills Colab aims to promote the usage of m-Learning with educators in their teaching thereby preparing their students for the technology-centred workplace of the 21st century. This will contribute toward the University becoming a digital university.
Rosalina Chai, co-founder of Gnowbe, said although technology has taken over almost everything, including education, it was important not to neglect the human touch. Gnowbe is a pioneering micro-learning app for adults to learn cutting edge, relevant topics while on the go. According to So-Young Kang, the CEO and co-founder of Gnowbe, the app is about “learn-by-doing” through questions to reflect and actions to apply learning.
Chai said technologies such as smart phones have allowed learning to take place in places that could not have been imagined before and this allows access to everyone. She called this “mobile learning” and said it changes everything. “Mobile learning creates new habits and changes habits. Smartphones are in a position to deliver this type of learning,” said Chai.
Rob Elkington from the University of Ontario said the most effective way to introduce mobile learning to students was to first assess where and how they (students) were learning. He said mobile learning was also about democratising education by allowing access to everyone, hence they needed to create a social presence online in order to reach and accommodate a much wider engagement.
Dr Colin Thakur, Director of the iNeSi e-Skills CoLab at DUT and digital activist, said this engagement on mobile learning was not an event but part of a process. “There are many e-Learning platforms such as Blackboard and Moodle. I am platform neutral but remain compulsively output driven. This prospect of context sensitive, location aware, anytime any place learning is intriguing,” he said, concluding by asking, “How do we create content that is consumed”.
– Bongani Gema
Pictured: Local meets international: Attendees at the Mobile Learning Engagement session.
