What’s Holding Back Mobile Phones for Education? Vocabulary and Expressions practitioner broadband animate str

What’s Holding Back Mobile Phones for Education?
   The increasing application of mobile phones to development challenges has created what Ken Banks called " an explosive interest and excitement in mobile, and a sense that the technology can be the savior of everything. " Practitioners of mobile phones for education (mEducation)are already building on the enthusiasm generated by the scale of mobile health and mobile money programs, but they should be wary of a technology-centered, top-down approach.
   The possibilities of a mobile broadband approach to mEducation will expand as the world’s one billion smartphone users grow to an expected three billion or more. Organizations such as iHeed are harnessing this new opportunity for online content delivery through animated videos that inform communities about topics such as water purification. The next step is for this type of content to be incorporated into more structured MOOCs that combine video, text and forums in an open online format.
   But the global need for context-specific mEducation and relevant workforce development training opportunities will inevitably strain the MOOC one-size-fits-all approach. Differences in language, custom, and culture, along with poor connectivity and electricity access, and unfamiliarity with ICTs and self-directed learning approaches mean that MOOCs will not be a viable education model for many people around the world. While MOOCs are a bargain at scale, just one video-rich course can cost upwards of $ 50, 000 and even professionals have difficulty in executing with a class size in the tens of thousands.
   That may be a good thing, however. Instead of adapting international development to available technology, online and mobile education efforts should focus less on scale and more on lowering barriers to creating smaller, locally owned online and mEducation programs. Powerful mobile learning experiences require engaging content, a social platform and relevant facilitation. While the enthusiasm around mobile broadband is welcome, evidence and practical experience show that we will not overcome global education and workforce development challenges simply through a device, massive levels of content and an Internet connection. Even the best textbooks will be wasted if they are not coupled with an appropriate classroom, good pedagogy, and attentive teachers.