Mobile Learning and Policy Implications

Steve VoslooUNESCO Programme Specialist: Mobile Learning

Presented at the 9th Intel Education SummitStockholm, 6 November 2012

Mobile Learning and Policy Implications

A few themes from Day 1 of the summit …

It’s not about the bike (the tech)

The pedagogy of mobile learning is critical

Connecting formal and informal learning settings

Education is highly resistant to change

The ecosystem of mobile learning

The mobile revolution

In Africa mobile connectivity is becoming increasingly common

1995600,000 mobile subscriptions

200587 million mobile subscriptions

2012Estimated 735 million mobile subscriptions

Vastly improved functionality

Basic mobile phonesSmall screensNo internet compatibility

Multimedia communicationFeature phonesLimited internet compatibility

Bona fide computerLarge screen smartphones and tabletsSeamless internet compatibility

Increasingly ubiquitous

and powerful mobile devices

Expanding applicability for teaching and learning

Potential to benefit learners

everywhere

The mobile landscape is uneven

UNESCO’s work in mobile learning

Online Support Resources

Guidelines for Mobile Learning

Policy

Issues Paper on Mobile Learning

Policy

Teacher Development: Four Country

Projects

Working Papers Series: Global

Reviews

Mobiles for Literacy

Development of Women and Girls

Project

Issue Paper on the Future of

Mobile Learning

Turning on Mobile Learning in …

• Africa and the Middle East

• Asia• Europe• Latin America• North America• Global Themes

tinyurl.com/unescomobilelearning

Mobile Learning for Teachers in…

• Africa and the Middle East

• Asia• Europe• Latin America• North America• Global Themes

Aims of the Guidelines:• Raise awareness and put mobile learning onto

the ICT in Education agenda.• Promote value and practicability of mobile

learning.• Make high-level recommendations for

creating policies that enable mobile learning.

Primary Audience:

• Policy makers

Continuum of response to mobile learning

Ban Ignore/observe Engage

UNESCO Guidelines on Mobile Learning

Unique Benefits of

Mobile Technologi

es for Learning

Policy Recommendations

1) Expand the reach and equity of education

2) Facilitate personalized learning

3) Power anytime, anywhere learning

4) Provide immediate feedback and assessment

5) Ensure the productive use of time spent in classrooms

6) Build new communities of students

7) Support situated learning

8) Enhance seamless learning

9) Bridge formal and informal learning

10) Assist learners in unusual circumstances

11) Improve communication and administration

12) Maximize cost efficiency

Expand the reach and equity of education

Facilitate personalized learning

Power anytime, anywhere learning

Provide immediate feedback and assessment

Ensure the productive use of time spent in classrooms

Build new communities of students

Support situated learning

Enhance seamless learning

Bridge formal and informal learning

Assist learners in unusual circumstances

Improve communication and administration

Maximize cost efficiency

UNESCO Guidelines on Mobile Learning

Unique Benefits of

Mobile Technologi

es for Learning

Policy Recommendations

1) Create or update policies related to mobile learning

2) Train teachers to advance learning through mobile technologies

3) Provide support and training to teachers through mobile technologies

4) Optimize educational content for use on mobile devices

5) Ensure gender equality for mobile students

6) Expand and improve connectivity options while ensuring equity

7) Develop strategies to provide devices for students who cannot afford them

8) Use mobile technology to improve communication and education management

9) Promote the safe, responsible, and healthy use of mobile technologies

10) Raise awareness of mobile learning through advocacy, leadership, and dialogue

Create or update policies related to mobile learning

Train teachers to advance learning through mobile

technologies

Provide support and training to teachers

through mobile technologies

Create and optimize educational content for use

on mobile devices

Ensure gender equality for mobile students

Expand and improve connectivity options while

ensuring equity

Develop strategies to provide devices for

students who cannot afford them

Use mobile technology to improve communication

and education management

Promote the safe, responsible, and healthy

use of mobile technologies

Raise awareness of mobile learning through advocacy,

leadership, and dialogue

UNESCO Mobile Learning Week 2013

UNESCO HeadquartersParis, France

18-22 February 2013www.tinyurl.com/mlw2013

Thank you

tinyurl.com/unescomobilelearningse.vosloo@unesco.org

twitter.com/stevevoslooslideshare.com/stevevosloostevevosloo.com