E-learning technology has been changing the global education sector for quite some time. With so many different tools and mediums available, education through e-learning has become so much more accessible and convenient for students.
Such e-learning technologies have also penetrated the Pakistani education sector. But there’s a lot more potential for growth.
One of the most exciting e-learning technologies that has the potential to enrich Pakistan’s education sector is mobile learning, also known as m-learning.
What is Mobile Learning?
Mobile learning or simply m-learning refers to all educational content accessed through personal mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This can include anything from podcasts to video lectures, online exam prep resources to full e-learning courses.
In simple terms, mobile learning enables students to continue learning through personal mobile devices. The delivery of educational content via a mobile phone offers several advantages. Some of these benefits include:
M-Learning takes the basic concept and benefits of traditional e-learning technology and takes it a step further by allowing students to save their curriculum and access it from the palm of their hand.
Benefits of Mobile Learning in Pakistan
M-learning clearly has several benefits, and the global education system has reported significant success in using a mobile-based medium to deliver the curriculum. These benefits can be even more profound if successfully implemented in Pakistan.
Here are some of the top ways m-learning has the potential to improve the education sector in Pakistan.
Easily accessible education for students in remote areas
In Pakistan, many students living in remote areas do not have access to education. This is because schools are often far from where they live, so they cannot travel from home to school every day.
M-Learning offers a solution to this problem. Using their mobile phones, which are commonplace in most homes across the country, students can plug into a virtual classroom and get a good education from the comfort of their own homes. In this way, schoolchildren do not have to forgo the acquisition of knowledge due to their living situation and the distance to school.
Affordable educational medium
Pakistan is the number one country for providing the cheapest telecom services. This means very affordable mobile internet packages. And with telcos like Jazz offering special discounted mobile internet packages for students, students can take advantage of m-learning platforms at a reasonable cost.
Factor in the high transportation costs and book fees of attending a sports school, and it’s easy to see that m-learning is an economical solution for accessing educational content. Pakistani m-learning platforms can provide exam preparation and study materials such as homework assignments and book notes at a very affordable price.
Effective method of exam preparation
With mobile learning platforms, students can access exam preparation resources for their annual WI final exams, all conveniently organized on their mobile phone. Such resources may include resolved previous work, book notes, and lecture videos.
With all learning materials conveniently organized on their mobile phone, students can maximize their productivity and the time they spend studying. This can lead to better grades on final exams and a better understanding of concepts.
Therefore, the potential of m-learning to improve the education sector and empower Pakistani students is undeniable. With the right training and implementation, m-learning can be introduced into the education sector within the next few years, making education more accessible and effective for students, and subsequently contributing to a higher overall literacy rate.
Thanks to S Muddassar Shah
