Mobile teaching and learning in higher education is approaching a tipping point. One of the most significant promises of mobile learning is the ability for faculty members, teachers, and students to use their own mobile computing devices. In the US, 75% of American teens have cell phones and almost 30% have smartphones with Internet capabilities. In universities, the numbers appear to be much higher. It seems instructionally sound and fiscally prudent for institutions and faculty members to leverage the existing devices in which students are most comfortable. The purpose of this paper is to (1) critically examine the definitions and affordances of mobile learning in higher education, (2) identify the ways mobile teaching and learning have been and could be accomplished in higher education, (3) identify the challenges to implementing mobile teaching and learning in higher education.

1. The Promise of Mobile
Learning in Higher Education
Affordances, Implementations &
Challenges
Michael M. Grant
Joanne Gikas
The University of Memphis

2. Michael M. Grant
The University of Memphis
@michaelmgrant
http:/
/viral-notebook.com

3. Joanne Gikas
The University of Memphis
@ecampusUM
http:/
/ecampus.memphis.edu

4. “
What is mobile learning?
Mobile learning is more than just
learning delivered and supported by
handheld and mobile technologies. It
is learning that is both formal and
for the learner.
“
informal, context aware, and authentic
(Traxler, 2005, 2007, 2010)

5. Mobile devices
Some images from Lisa Buser at http://www.memphisparent.com/2010/09/pint-sized-learners-have-the-touch/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceardach/4549898097/sizes/m/

6. Formal Learning
Images from http://www.law.fsu.edu/prospective_students/VideoViewbook/images/sections/technology.jpg

7. Informal Learning
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/oncell/4711186271/in/set-72157624761515274/

8. Twitter

9. In between …
Images from http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/monitor/01-15-07/page26071.html

10. Context aware
Images from http://www.radford.edu/mdunleavy/445/ROAR.html

11. Broadcastr.com

12. Context aware & authentic

13. Scvngr.com

14. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

15. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

16. Increase interaction with
course content
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/chegs/5161314847/sizes/l/

17. Increase interaction with
course content
Image from http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100426/NEWS/100429736

18. Phonecasting with iPadio

19. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

20. Increase access to
student information &
campus resources

21. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

22. Create representations of
knowledge

23. Create representations of
knowledge

24. Create representations of
knowledge
Image from http://www.st-clair.net/ict/picomap.htm

25. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

26. Augment face-to-face
instruction
Image from http://www.tommiemedia.com/news/professors-using-smartphones-other-technology-in-classrooms/

27. Augment face-to-face
instruction

28. Augment face-to-face
instruction

29. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

30. Support performance &
decision-making

31. Support performance &
decision-making

32. Uses of Increase interaction with course
content
Mobile Increased access to student
information & campus resources
Devices Create representations of knowledge
Augment face-to-face instruction
Support performance & decision-
making
Deploy instruction

33. Deploy instruction

34. Deploy instruction

35. Implementation Institutional support
Challenges
Competing platforms &
Student-owned devices
v. institution selected
Faculty members’
willingness & readiness

36. Implementation Institutional support
Challenges
Competing platforms &
Student-owned devices
v. institution selected
Faculty members’
willingness & readiness

37. Institutional support

38. Implementation Institutional support
Challenges
Competing platforms &
Student-owned devices
v. institution selected
Faculty members’
willingness & readiness

39. Competing platforms & Student-
owned v. institution selected

40. Implementation Institutional support
Challenges
Competing platforms &
Student-owned devices
v. institution selected
Faculty members’
willingness & readiness

41. Faculty members’
willingness & readiness

42. Questions?
Image from http://www.fbcfonthe.net/mediafiles/dareyou.jpg