The effect of mobile learning on students’ attitudes using mobile devices

Mobile learning (m-learning) has the potential to vastly change and improve education as we know it. Its main advantage is in extending the educational contexts to any place and any time. This leads to possibilities of more active and experiential learning. Furthermore, it greatly improves the potential for communication and access to information. All of these improvements, if utilized properly, can lead to more meaningful learning and more internal motivation for learning. However, these changes are not easy to implement and require the overcoming of several obstacles. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes towards m-learning and its relationships with ubiquitous learning, experiential and active learning, meaningful learning, cooperative learning, internal motivation for learning, and demographic variables. In order to measure these constructs, questionnaires were completed by 200 participants. The results suggest that the youngest generations (15-17 years old) and those who used their mobile phones the most have the highest attitudes towards m-learning. There were no differences amongst genders or people with various levels of education. Furthermore, the effects of mobile and ubiquitous learning on meaningful learning were mediated by collaborative and experiential and active learning. Lastly, the effects of mobile and ubiquitous learning on internal motivation for learning were direct. The findings indicate the importance of utilization of mobile learning and its positive consequences on both academic and personal aspects of the students’ lives.

Aprendizagem móvel e ubíqua em Odontologia: revisão integrativa da literatura

Com a pandemia da COVID-19, e o distanciamento social imposto por ela houve necessidade de se elaborar estratégias para que o processo ensino-aprendizagem fosse mantido. Dessa forma conceitos como aprendizagem ubíqua e aprendizagem móvel passaram a figurar entre estudantes, professores e toda a comunidade acadêmica, inclusive nos cursos de Odontologia. Sendo assim a compreensão sobre essas formas não tradicionais de aprendizagem se torna necessária, no intuito de que sua aplicação seja feita de maneira responsável. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a aprendizagem móvel e ubíqua e suas aplicações em Odontologia. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura realizada por meio das bases PubMed e Scielo. A estratégia de busca considerou os termos:” aprendizagem móvel e odontologia” “aprendizagem ubíqua e odontologia” e seus correspondentes em inglês “mobile learning and dentistry”” ubiquitous learning and dentistry”, em um período de 10 anos (2011 a 2021). A análise descritiva, à luz da literatura científica nacional e internacional, permitiu agrupar uma amostra de oito artigos com evidências científicas de maneira a caracterizar a aprendizagem móvel e ubíqua e suas aplicações em Odontologia, identificar quais as ferramentas utilizadas para esse fim e seu impacto no processo ensino-aprendizagem. A partir do exposto percebe-se que a nova realidade imposta e acelerada pela pandemia da COVID-19, em relação ao uso das ferramentas digitais de ensino-aprendizagem, especialmente a aprendizagem móvel e ubíqua, é possível e já se mostra eficaz principalmente quando associada aos encontros presenciais, embora mais estudos sejam necessários para verificar seus impactos diretos sobre estudantes e docentes.

Readiness for the Implementation of Ubiquitous Learning in Programming Course in Higher Education

<p class="0abstract"><span lang="EN-US">The use of information technology in education is inevitable by the increasing utilization of gadgets and the internet. The emergence of generation Z has driven the need for transformation in learning process, including in Higher Education area. Learning programming is important and fundamental for informatics students. Numerous endeavors have been executed to achieve satisfactory results that is absorption of graduates within the society and industry. However, there are still many efforts that must be done to meet the high need for informatics graduates who are experts in programming. Ubiquitous learning (u-learning) is a mean for learning anywhere, anytime and through anything that aims to provide the right information at the right time and place to accommodate a lifestyle by utilizing technology. In order to harmonize the current generation Z learning styles, u-learning is considered suitable to comply with their style. This research is a descriptive study design to describe the current situation as a basis for finding facts. The results showed that the students' perceptions showed that the support of the u-learning environment could support them in improving programming learning outcomes and u-learning could be applied in programming learning.</span></p>

Online Education and Women’s Empowerment

Formal and informal online learning spaces have evolved into important sources of knowledge that are accessible to many, require limited mobility, and provide ubiquitous learning opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has led to a major jump in the increase of online learning to make learning available, accessible, and possible to the diverse learner population globally. Reducing the gender divide in access to knowledge and information has been the goal of many initiatives, and understanding how access has evolved and improved women’s opportunities to learn and be empowered is key to analyze the changing society. Women are empowered when they have access to learning and access is enhanced through the use of formal and informal online learning spaces and programs. With the knowledge gained, women’s capability is boosted with informed choices, active roles in the workforce, advancement in academics, and increased participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Online learning can encourage and motivate women to actively participate in social or cultural movements as well as modify their roles as childbearers, caregivers, and home managers. Women empowerment and gender equality has been the focus of research for decades, but with the rise and availability of ubiquitous learning possibilities, women empowerment through the utilization of online learning opportunities is becoming an area that has much need for understanding. In the past, women were more passive about their marginalized position in society. However, women in the 21st century are more aware and active, and are disrupting their marginalized status with their increased use of digital spaces and online learning possibilities. They explore different sources of knowledge and information and join in different online education opportunities for formal and informal learning. Women not only empower themselves with the exploration of online resources but also others when they teach online, actively share information on social media, and participate in online discussion forums.