Support for Cloud-Based Mobile Learning

Abstract

Cloud based mobile learning (m-learning) is emerging as one of the most important branches of cloud computing, and is still in its infancy. These days, there are two emerging archetypes in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for learning. The first one is the anytime, anywhere, on-the-move, to be called the mobility archetype, and the second one is the cloud computing. Both archetypes are radically transforming the way we learn, communicate, access, and utilize information resources, and connect with peers and colleagues, thus affecting all aspects of education. This chapter delivers an introduction of the evolution of cloud based m-learning, benefits and characteristics of cloud based m-learning. It also canvasses the current scenario of m-learning utilizing the cloud, various challenges for implementing the m-learning system on the cloud. It further confers technologies used for cloud based m-learning. It also considers a brief look at methods for creating m-learning content and experiences, suggested by various researchers and concluded with the future aspects of the cloud based m-learning.

Analysis of the Main Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud based Interactive Mobile Learning in the Australian Higher Education Sector

“…The small schools and universities could gain instant benefits by provision of the Cloud learning services without the need to incur the unaffordable high setup costs. There is also no need to upgrade their hardware and software components since all the upgrade and related activities are done on the administrator side and therefore the use of the mobile devices is only for display [13]. Other benefits of the Cloud computing process are that there is no need to update the mobile phone software for which it has limited or no space to accommodate, and thus it is a very efficient method of learning.…”

The Role of Lecturers and University Administrators in Promoting New E-Learning Initiatives

“…E-learningisanewparadigmofteachingandlearningthatcanbedeliveredthroughacomputerbasedormediatedmediumthatcanenhanceglobalreachbecauseitallowseveryonetolearnanything anywhereandatanytimethroughouttheirlives (Deeraj&Harbon,2014;Marimo,Mashingaidze& Nyoni,inNcube,Dube&Ngulube,2014).Duetoitsomnipresencenaturee-learninghasmultiple benefitsthatarewelldocumentedintheliterature.Theyincludetheabilitytobridgethedistance,that iscollapsingthetransactionaldistancebetweenstudentsandfellowstudentsandlecturers,widening opportunitiesandaccesstoeducationbeyondgeographicspectra,providingflexibility,convenience andautonomyofstudyingattheirownpacetoanyone,anytime,anywhere (Johnston,Christensen & Loquist, 2003;Verma, Dubey, & Rizvi, 2016;Medastin, 2016). Further, e-learning provides opportunitiesforenhanced,broad,flexibleandsustainedcommunication,interactionandsharingof informationandexperiencesamongststudentsandlecturersinrelativelyshorttime (Pourghaznein, Sabeghi&Shariatinejad,2015).Thespinoffsthatstudentsgainfromenhancedcommunicationis thatstudentsgetfeedbackontimewhichincreasestheprobabilityofcompletingcoursesjust-in-time whichinreturnreducesthecostexpendedtowardsstudying (DeVilliers,2007;Law&Perryman 2017),andimprovescompletionandthroughputrateswhilstreducingdropoutrates.…”