People and Computers Learning and Living Online - Coursework Example

People and Computers – Learning and Living Online Learning and Living Online – Mobile Technology Mobile learning or m-learning is a proliferating technique that has incorporated ingenious methods of facilitating education on mobile devices. In this way, learners can gain access to information where ever they are and whenever they want. Hence, M-learning subdues the limitation of learning location with the mobility of general portable devices. Mobile learning can be carried on various technologies such as the Mp3players, notebooks and cell phones. However, the most ubiquitous are the smart phones which offer abundant features that support learning. Comparatively, smart phones are cheaper and increasingly powerful (Kukulska-Hulme and Traxler, 2007, p. 143). Majority of learners easily operate smart phones than any other M-learning device. Thornton and Houser reports that young learners in Japan prefer using cell phones to carry out different tasks such as reading and emailing. Another research, conducted in Taiwan showed that students enjoy using cell phones because of easy access to materials and availability to practice anytime and anywhere. In an increasing mobile population, the use of smart phones adds of the instructor and involves creation of learning materials “on the spot”, “in the field,” with specific feature like AHG Cloud Note (Crompton, 2013, p. 13). This application is aimed to summarize data into visual, audio and text format. It is basically designed for co-operate and business users to simplify the processes, instructions, tutorials and procedures. The Note cloud works by allowing its user to create continuous step by step process with the help of images, videos and text. It saves time and effort. Consequently, it is predominant in educational institutions. Students, who avoid comprehensive writing and are unskilled at handling paper based assignments, may find this application of great assistance. They tend to make notes on their smart phones and share the details with teachers and their fellow counterparts on the cloud network (Crescente and Doris, 2011, p111). Cloud Note gains a unique position in the android market because it enables the user to create a step by step process where each stage is documented with image, videos and text rather than allowing a one text note with attachments. It reduces amount and volume of text documents and increase clarity and quality of communication. Numerous features such as save, browse, edit, view as slide show, use as a presentation and the authorizing tools, provides a marvelous opportunity to alter the document on the spot along with presenting it to a live audience. For this reason it is also appreciated by teachers and instructors who wish to impart knowledge adequately and swiftly to the students (Moore, 2009). However, the Cloud Note brings about some disadvantages especially in case of students as not every individual possess an android phone. The Cloud Note and many other features promoting M-learning are available on smart phones alone. Hence, rising non-uniformity this is likely to cause disturbance in learning. Also updating documents on blogs and networks require access to internet which may be expensive for certain students. Wi-Fi facility may help such students but may become unaffordable by the institutes and might not be available beyond the premises of the institute (Vavoula, Pachler and Kukulska-Hulme, 2009, p. 13). The Cloud Note technology offers a whole wide range of opportunities for learners through smart phones, a device that people are intimately familiar with and carry around all the times. It may be followed with certain flaws but it saves time, increases mobility and is environmental friendly (Saylor, 2011, p. 176). Cloud note has successfully consummated its aim in providing its customers to process information easily and from many mobile devices. Now, editing of data is not limited to computers alone. With the creation of Cloud Note application customers can easily manage data creating organized presentations just from their android phones. It has increased mobility and quality of data being presented to the audience. Therefore helping improve the communication skills at large. Web 2.0 is a redefined version of the World Wide Web that provides services beyond the static pages of earlier websites. It is also known as “social web” because it provides a platform for the user where they can collaborate, share and communicate data. Unlike, Web 1.0 which merely assisted finding and collecting of information, web 2.0 tools encourage creating information with and for others. The social web offers new ways of collaborating, sharing, editing and creating user generated content online. However, it does it in a user-friendly way for the audience. A rather more valuable achievement from the advent of web 2.0 is the end to desktop bound limitations. This means the users are able to access tools and resources from any device with internet access at any time. Web 2.0 features promote social networking, encouraging users to link with others through tagging and private groups. Face book and my space are sites that promote social networking. They were created to increase interaction between family members and friends by means of sharing photographs and personal statements, also tagging destinations and places travelled. Exchange of text among users is also possible. Face book enables users to manage their own profile with varying privacy policy. This social working site has undergone a lot of amendment (Solomon and Schrum, 2007, p. 13). It was initially developed in 2004 by Mark Zuckerburg and was limited to Harward students only with no pictures, news events or pages. Later, in the same year it was available for students at Stanford, Columbia and Yale. In 2005, it was purchased as facebook.com and was accessible by the High school students. Option for uploading photos was introduce by the time. In 2006, face book met with a lot of changes such as redesigned groups and events, face book mobile text was introduced, browse and my photo page was launched (Shelly and Frydenberg, 2010, p. 42). Mobile web was functioning and most importantly Face book was accessible by every individual above 13 years of age. Every year face book undergoes changes. Many features have been added to make it more functional. For instance, the users are able to create their own pages. Different brands have launched pages promoting their products. Other than this face book provides a platform for online advertisement (Shuen, 2008, p. 13). Face book has laid an important impact on society. Community development and freedom of communication are among the crucial impacts. Face book has affected the social life of the people by increasing the communication among people. Now, people are not restricted to keep in touch merely through emailing from computers or sending mails through TCS. With the advent of Web 2.0 technology like face book, users may keep in touch wherever they are and whenever they want. This web 2.0 tool has helped in reuniting many families. One such reunion was between John Watson and his daughter whom he was searching from many years. Watson found her face book profile. Other than reuniting lost relationships it reunites people with same interests with the presence of various groups and pages. While some consider face book useful in increasing communication among people, other says it is detrimental for relationships and has resulted in divorces and infidelity. Communities today are seen as “digital natives”, “next generation and “generation media multi tasking” because they have made tremendous progress in digital technology. Web 2.0 tools are playing an important role in transforming teaching and learning. Virtual teaching environment is proliferating. For instance, the London school of business and Finance is offering free MBA courses on face book. Students can easily access the course not merely because it is free but because they can study anywhere, anytime and on any m-learning device. However, students have to pay the fee to give the test. Valery Kisilevsky, group managing director of LSBF give reasons for choosing face book as the technology to promote free learning saying, “We looked at how our current students communicate with each other and the college and Face book is the platform of choice.” A survey of students using face book and Moodle for learning purposes show preference for the former technology than the latter. They say that their personal data is safer on face book than other VLE’s. Also face book offers a wider platform for sharing information with other members. Hence students easily share educational data through face book with their peers. Another important criterion is the familiarity with face book. Students are acquainted to face book long before the advent of Moodle. Consequently, they are more familiar with face book environment and its usage than Moodle. The cost free MBA course provides online videos on you tube. The students may go through those and later decide if they have required time and money to pursue the course. This adds another reason to its success. The course is available free of charge. Hence, people who only need to acquire business skills may go through it without any charges. This shows how face book has affected the ability of people to learn and collaborate. There are several other ways too which face book has affected education and learning among people. Many educational institutes are working towards expanding their professional experience and train their personals so as to incorporate maximum use of technology in their teaching activity such as wikis and video conferencing (Tuten, 2008, p. 19). A teacher at University of Florida, who teaches a Beginning Spanish class, uses face book for home work assignment and class discussions instead of Black board. In Texas, a kindergarten teacher communicates with parents through face book. Many such examples supports Tuten’s analysis. In America the data collected on social networking users illustrates that social networking sites are highly popular among teens. However, the surveyed highlighted that the main topic of discussion was education. 60% of the young people surveyed talking about education-related topics while 50% discussed their home work. Apart from this Web 2.0 plays a significant role in electronic banking. It has eased the transaction of money, paying bills or carrying out other activities with the introduction of online ATM services (Anderson, 2012, p. 73). In general, the web 2.0 has considerable potential for enhancing innovation in formal E&T. It may aid learning and can facilitate technological, pedagogical and organizational innovation in Education and Training. Consequently, helping to modernize institutes deemed necessary to face the challenges of the 21st century. References Anderson, P. 2012. Web 2.0 and Beyond: Principles and Technologies. London: CRC Press Crescente, M. and Doris, L. 2011. "Critical issues of m-learning: design models, adoption processes, and future trends". Journal of the Chinese Institute of Industrial Engineers 28 (2): 111–123. Crompton, H. 2013. A historical overview of mobile learning: Toward learner-centered education. KY: Routledge. Kukulska-Hulme, A. and Traxler, J. 2007. Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Educators and Trainers. London: Routledge. Moore, J. 2009. "A portable document search engine to support off-line mobile learning". Proceedings of IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning. Barcelona, Spain. Saylor, M. 2012. The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. London: Vanguard Press. Shelly, G. and Frydenberg, M. 2010. Web 2.0: Concepts and Applications. London: Cengage Learning. Shuen, A. 2008. Web 2.0: A Strategy Guide: Business thinking and strategies behind successful Web 2.0 implementations. NY: OReilly Media, Inc. Solomon, G. and Schrum, L. 2007. Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools. NY: ISTE (Interntl Soc Tech Educ. Tuten, T. L. 2008. Advertising 2.0: Social Media Marketing in a Web 2.0 Worlds. London: Greenwood Publishing Group. Vavoula, G., Pachler, N. and Kukulska-Hulme, A. 2009. Researching Mobile Learning: Frameworks, Tools, and Research Designs. NJ: Peter Lang Read More