Issues involving the implementation of mobile learning technologies - Essay Example

Considering the wide span and quick progress of technology over the last decade, it goes without saying that there are multiple forms where technology can be used to foster student learning, be it distant or in-campus education. This far-reaching potential of technology constitutes synchronous and asynchronous learning (Piskurich, 2003). The first term is similar to what’s conventionally the class-room learning, where the students or participants are present and real-time lecture delivery takes place.

The use of technology here is in various forms, such as e-meeting, e-conference (video/tele-conference), virtual classrooms, radio technology and live streaming etc. Asynchronous is a kind of passive form of distant learning, which allows the student or participant to access lecture notes and study material at their own convenience. The schedule here is more flexible for the student, who may take notes whenever possible for them. The means used here are email, audio or video recordings, print materials, message board forums etc.

(Belanger & Jordan, 2000). Challenges and Obstacles The basic challenge in the use of technology to foster student learning is the adaptability factor. It is a major responsibility on the part of the organization or institution to extend access as well update and enrich the resources available to a medium online or at the form of technology being used. Although the phenomenon of distant learning might be a very attractive one for institutions, and may come with positive factors like an increased enrollment, greater creativity for the faculty in their teaching techniques, supporting “education for all” slogans, cost and time saving etc.

, yet it possesses a plethora of challenges and obstacles which have to be covered before the long-term benefits are realized. Before a thing such as distant learning is popularized, it has to be advertised enough to the people to understand the need of it. Lack of such an understanding might give a severe blow to the initiative taken and the institution could incur high losses. This involves a collective change in the perception of learning and teaching, as opposed to the traditional classroom practice.

It calls for almost a revolution in this field and a major change in the administrative planning, organization and day-to-day management. More important is technology adaption, which not only involves agreeing to adapt the said phenomenon, but also calls for a huge investment and development of related infrastructure in the form of state-of-the-art technologies with consistent technological updates. Unless it is very worthwhile and/or its long term benefits are kept in view with knowledge of short term loss period, most institutions or organizations would not prefer to revert to distance learning phenomenon.

This investment is not only on the part of the institution, but also the people to whom the services are intended to be delivered to. Not the same, but a fair amount of technological availability will be mandatory for the receptors of distant learning, which would come from their willingness to invest in it. Hence this way, it is not just an institutional