Mobile learning in Saudi Arabia

  
     Nowadays, a mobile device became a part of our live. Everyone has own mobile device. Mobile learning is a subset of e-learning, which itself is a subset of education, and has a distinct focus on learning through the use of devices that can be easily carried. There are many advantages to enhance mobile devices in a teaching and learning process. First, it is encouraging students to searching for information they want looking for. In addition, it will be improving students to use critical thinking. Furthermore, it will motivating the students to collaborate with each other’s. On other hands, it is very useful for teachers, because they are a lot of web sites and applications to participate with their students. Teachers can guide a learning process in indirect way, for Example, teacher can create blog, webQuest, and using any useful app. As a result, students can post in blog asking questions and other colleagues answer to them. As well, collaborating and participating with each other to complete a task in webQuest. The students nowadays do not like the traditional way of learning. I think Saudi students need to use Mobile learning to progress our learning process. Because the majority of the students having own mobile device. In addition, they are very intelligent for using these devices. Because this generation are born with this technological revolution. There are a huge of apps, which are available on mobile device. That is very helpful, interesting and easier to use.

    In Saudi Arabia, there is a gap between using mobile technology at home and in school. I divided into two reasons. First, the Saudi schools do not allowing students to bring their devices in the classroom. In addition, schools do not providing mobile devices for the students. Second, many of students they are not using their device for learning. The majority of them they are using their device for entertainment purposes.

    I think we can support our education system by providing a variety of technological applications, which improving learning and teaching process. As a result, Students will be more awareness for how can benefit from their devices to increase their knowledge and understanding. Mobile learning can be easily practice as an individual, pair and group work in English language classroom. For example; students may reading e-books or listening to audiobooks, recording audio/visual content, Posting questions or work products on shared websites, sending files to peers or instructors, or using social networking sites/shared websites to collaborate with others anywhere in the world. However, students can easier dealing with technology revolution anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, students will be center approach in learning process.

    Finally, I hope for our Ministry of Education to benefit from Mobile learning for progressive learning and teaching process in our schools. Mobile learning is becoming very active part of the learning and teaching process.

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