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The Role of Mobile Phones in Education and Instruction of Classroom Materials Karim ,Sevari Department of Educational Psychology University of Nour Payam,Ahwaz , Iran karim sevari (
[email protected]) Abstract - In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones and their use in teaching and learning curriculum content is evaluated.Research method is done analytical. Important information is collected from valid references. Evidence shows that learning Via Voice, SMS text, Graphical displays, information extraction, Internet search ,Camera and Video clips are a variety of mobile phone learning in education. Improvement and increasing of learners’ understanding of difficult concepts, completion of teachers’ instructions, meeting the needs and interests of learners , improvement of abilities & critical thinking skills, meaningful use of time and not to waste the class time are some of the advantages of cell phones in the education. Disadvantages of sending text messages via cell phones as a learning tool are also discussed.
Key words : Mobile phones , Education , Instruction , Classroom materials 1. Introduction Wireless communication technologies have become widespread all over the world. In 2006, 90.9% of people in the developed countries and 32.4% of people in the developing countries owned a cellular phone[1 ]. Many people are mobile-phone subscribers and own devices such as mobile telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and laptops that are enabled with wireless fidelity [2 ]. One of the most important characteristics of laptop computers is wireless network access [3 ]. As the computer technology was developed extensively in the 21 century [4 ].As the result, people relationslip and communication became more complex and in order to contact with each other , they use different devices ( such as mobile phones). In this regard , some researchers [5 ]- [ 6]- [7 ]. Some believe that people communicate with their family and friends using their cell phones [8 ].Some also claimed that nowadays cell phones have changed to a mechanism in personal communication [9 ]. Researcher in a study on university students showed that the students are the most users of mobile phones [10 ]. As the most classroom activities are done by teachers, in order to form any task and process in class , they need to utilize specific procedures suitable to deal with those activities and task. Teachers use difficult procedures in teaching and training in classes (such as teaching via cell phones). In this regard , many experts in the field [11 ]believe that cell phones are cheap and their abilities are high comparatively. Some of researchers believe that people use cell phones since they are easy to use and they are available to meet the purposes and abilities needed in any time and any place since they are useful computers to carry in their pockets[12 ] .
2. Functional elements of mobile phones From the point of view of researchers functional elements of mobile phones are comfort, tranquility, counsel and speed [13 ]. Another researcher also believe that the new mobile phones that have the facilities can be used to enhance teaching and learning as following: Access and connectivity to the internet The ability to send messages Equipped with a digital camera and video recorder [14 ].
3. Types of learning through mobile phones 19
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Obviously, there are varieties of learning and learning through mobile phones is one of the electronic learning which is done by means of communication devices. Reviews and studies done in this field show that cell phones have a main role to help people in learning and training and the motivation and the interests of learners can be increased through mobile phones. As the youths spend a lot of time using mobile phones and it’s a source to spend their leisure time, it can be used to acquire their highly purposeful education. In this regard, some universities such as Duke university uses the most available facilities from cell phones and finding out new teaching procedures by active use of mobile phones. In this regard, a study done on 45 university students showed that the students enjoyed cell phones and help them to learn new terms. They also found that mobile phones are used an educational tools to help students with academic success [15 ].Time saving feature is the short message system because users can send text messages and in return, they can read them again.
4. Types of learning through mobile phones In this regard, some of types of learning through mobile phones are pointed out. Learning through sound ; Learning through short text messages; Learning through a graphical display; Learning through information obtained from data; Learning through Internet search ; Learning through cameras and video clips.
5. Text message via cell phones as a learning tool In this regard, whether sending educational texts via cell phones in education has positive effects or not, many different studies were done [16 ]- [17 ] In this regard , some of the positive effects of mobile phones are pointed out. Improvement of learning and increasing understanding of difficult concepts; Completion of teacher training; Satisfaction of needs, abilities and interests of learners; Improvement of critical thinking skills; Constructive use of time and preventing from waste of class time (as the result of teacher’s absence or delay). SMS (short message service).
6. Disadvantages of sending text messages via cell phones as a learning tool One researcher believe that sending text messages via cell phones as a learning tool has negative effects in learning, some of them are are as following . Sending short messages in class time; Sending or receiving test answers; Annoying others; Extra charge for a teacher; Dealing with educational problems caused by forgetting to bring mobile phones; loss of learning styles , needs, abilities and interests of learners; Delaying in transferring and receiving messages due to network outages [18 ].
7. Discussion and Conclusion As it was said before, recent development in software and hardware, qualities let teachers grow and manifest the students abilities. Cell phones is one of the technologies that people use in order to communicate with each other. As the mobile phones are cheap, extreme interests of
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students in utilizing them result to facilitate learning. There are several reasons to use cell phones in education and learning, especially language learning that is the most important. Communication via mobile phones is a collaboration tool that facilitates appropriate and proper social relations with learners. Students can exchange information at any time an in any case. Understanding difficult concepts, completion of the teacher training, satisfaction of learning styles, needs , abilities and interests of learners and students styles, needs, abilities and interests of learners and students to use critical thinking skills are some of them. Meanwhile sending text messages through mobile phones as learning tools can have disadvantages such as sending short messages in class time, sending or receiving test answers, annoying others, extra charge for the teacher , dealing with educational problems caused by forgetting to bring mobile phones,loss of learning styles, needs, abilities and interests of learners and delaying in transferring and receiving messages due to network outages.
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