E-learning technology has been persistently transforming the global education sector for quite some time now. With so many different tools and mediums available, education has become so much more accessible and convenient for students with the help of e-learning.
Such e-learning technologies have also trickled into the Pakistani education sector. But there is so much more potential to grow.
One of the most exciting e-learning technologies that have the potential to enrich the Pakistani education sector is mobile learning, otherwise known as m-learning.
What is Mobile Learning?
Mobile learning, or simply, m-learning, refers to any educational content that is accessed via personal mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. This can include anything from podcasts to video lectures, online exam preparation resources, and complete e-learning courses.
In simple words, mobile learning allows students to gain education through personal mobile devices. There are several advantages of having educational content delivered through a mobile phone. Some of these advantages include:
M-learning takes the basic concept and benefits of traditional e-learning technology and takes it a step further by allowing students to store and access their educational curriculum, from the palm of their hands.
Benefits of Mobile Learning in Pakistan
Clearly, there are several benefits of m-learning, and the global education system has reported significant success with using a mobile-based medium to deliver the educational curriculum. These benefits can be even more profound if successfully implemented in Pakistan.
Here are some of the major ways that m-learning has the potential to improve the educational sector in Pakistan.
Easily Accessible Education for Students in Remote Areas
In Pakistan, many students living in remote areas are unable to get access to education. This is because schools are often located at a large distance from their homes, so they are unable to make the travel from home to school each day.
M-learning provides a solution to this problem. With their mobile phones, which are common among most households in the country, students can tune into a virtual classroom and receive a good education from their home. This way, students do not have to miss out on gaining knowledge as a result of their living situation and distance from schools.
Affordable Educational Medium
Pakistan is ranked as the number one country for the provision of most affordable telecom services. This means very affordable mobile internet packages. And with telecommunication companies such as Jazz offering special discounted mobile internet packages for students, students can use m-learning platforms within a reasonable cost.
Factor in the hefty transportation costs and book fees for attending a physical school, and it is easy to realize that m-learning provides an economical solution to accessing educational content. Pakistani m-learning platforms can offer exam preparation and study materials such as solved past papers and book notes at a very reasonable cost.
Effective Method of Exam Preparation
With mobile learning platforms, students can access exam preparation resources for their annual BISE final exams, all conveniently organized within their mobile phone. Such resources can include solved past papers, book notes, and lecture videos.
With all study materials conveniently organized on their mobile phone, students will be able to maximize their productivity and time spent studying. This can lead to higher marks on the final exams and a better understanding of concepts.
Therefore, the potential of m-learning to improve the educational sector and facilitate Pakistani students is undeniable. With the right training and implementation, m-learning can be introduced into the educational sector within the next few years, thereby making education more accessible and effective for students, and subsequently contributing to a higher overall literacy rate.
