Benefits of Mobile Learning

Technology advancements are revolutionizing learning. Increasingly portable smartphones and tablets are reshaping the manner in which learners receive information and how they access learning materials. The learning devices assist students to absorb more from what they learn by offering them an opportunity to access the instruction content from anywhere. This has made learning to more self-directed and relevant than ever. It is generally documented in many studies that successful and right application of mobile learning offers innumerable benefits to learning institutions and learners. Moffett, Gray, Dunn, & Mitchell (2017) opines that mobile learning allows for flexibility learning since it eliminates the requirement for learning to occur at a given stipulated place and time. Mobile learning in the recent past has taken learning to a new level by introducing instructional content in podcasts, videos together with other multimedia formats that are available on devices such as tablets and smartphones. The students now are able to access the learning content from different locations at any time. Jeno, Adachi Perspective (n.d) agrees with Moffett, Gray, Dunn, & Mitchell (2017) that mobile learning has increased the flexibility of learning among the students. Particularly, he notes that the mobile learning devices such as smartphones are portable and can connect to the internet at any place as long the location has access to the internet. Thusly, traveling students may benefit greatly from mobile learning without interrupting their journey. Therefore, mobile learning is impeccably integrating learning into a student`s daily routine, a factor that will lead to the successful completion of course and retention of learned content.

The use of mobile learning, recently, has become vital for many higher education institutions across the world because it offers many benefits. Integration of mobile learning into various education systems permits learners to learn from anywhere at any time. Mobile learning helps in raising the technological awareness of students, facilitate their conversations, facilitate collaboration, make it easy to find answers, and permit sharing of knowledge.  As Demir & Akpınar (2018) further notes, mobile learning has been of great help to disabled learners since it inspires them to attend classes remotely. The mobile devices enable disabled students to access learning materials remotely without having to meet physically with their instructors. Crompton, Burke & Gregory (2017) in his article highlights that disabled and disadvantaged students can take advantage of mobile learning to overcome some barriers that impede their learning. For instance, they can overcome the problem of distance by using mobile learning devices to join others in learning. Moreover, disabled students will be able to learn and socialize with others through their mobile learning devices without being troubled by moving out from their safe places.

Kaliisa & Picard (2017) observes that mobile learning empowers the learner to take an active role in the learning process. A learner can plan, organize and evaluate their learning process since they can control the learning process. This simply means that mobile learning makes learners be active learners instead of being passive learners. They can use their mega-cognitive and cognitive skills to master different concepts, a factor that sees them improve their high-ordered conceptual skills. Chee, Yahaya, Ibrahim, & Hasan (2017) expand on the benefit of flexibility of learning associated with mobile learning. He presents that through mobile learning the learners are not restricted to specific learning environments so that the learning process can occur effectively. Accordingly, the learners are able to utilize individual learning styles as well as opportunities offered by a learner`s selected learning environment. A student may select any environment for learning that supports their learning process and thinking abilities. Personalization of the learning environment motivates learners and has the propensity to increase the learning outcomes.

According to Moffett et al (2017), mobile learning is able to accommodate the needs and preferences of different learners. Mobile learning is suitable for everybody. Mobile learning has brought tremendous changes in the manner in which learning materials are accessed, discussed, consumed, and shared. Working and non-working learners can learn at any time they prefer depending on their schedules. Some students can learn during weekends or evenings since mobile learning permits this flexibility unlike the traditional form of learning that often required learners to attend physical classes. Mobile learning also has the advantage of allowing learners to access learning content countlessly. This is particularly important during the revision period when learners prepare for examinations. The learners can revise different learning modules with ease from the comfort of their places. Additionally, as Chee et al. (2017) asserts mobile learning enables learners to access up to date learning content. The materials which are uploaded online for learning are usually up to date, a factor that ensures that the learner is synchronized with the other modern learners located in different parts of the world.

Likewise, Furió, Juan, Seguí & Vivó (2015) articulates that mobile learning provides greater flexibility to learners regarding location. It is regarded to have potential because of its flexibility, accessibility, ease of evaluation and provision of feedback, and ability to enable learners to access many online repositories. The learners and educators can communicate or interact with one another and this ensures that the learners are able to receive the support of their teachers as they learn.

Mobile learning as further revealed by Furio et al. (2015) is a quick method to deliver lessons. This is because mobile learning adapts comparatively quick delivery cycles, unlike classroom teaching. Learners under the mobile learning mode usually are able to cover a lot within a few weeks as the lessons start quickly and are wrapped up within one learning session. The learners are also able to define their learning speed rather than following the learning speed of a whole class. Besides Cui, P., Zheng, Li, & Tian, (2018) highlights that mobile learning allows learners to select specific study areas that are relevant to their learning needs without focusing on every area covered in the learning module.

It is clearly highlighted by Cui et al. (2018) that since mobile learning uses different learning devices that are ubiquitous in learners` lives, it fosters the engagement of students in addition to providing them with opportunities that enable them to make learning part of their day to day activities. It makes learning personal, situated, lifelong and collaborative, all of which are important in today`s learning process.

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Most of the mobile learning benefits are identified in surveyed literature; however, some authors warn that the educational value of different programs, apps and devices ought to be assessed thoroughly before they are adopted.