E-Education in Multicultural Setting: The Success of Mobile Learning
Commenced in January 2007
Frequency: Monthly
Edition: International
Paper Count: 33093
E-Education in Multicultural Setting: The Success of Mobile Learning

Authors: Subramaniam Chandran

Abstract:

This paper explains how mobile learning assures sustainable e-education for multicultural group of students. This paper reports the impact of mobile learning on distance education in multicultural environment. The emergence of learning technologies through CD, internet, and mobile is increasingly adopted by distance institutes for quick delivery and cost-effective purposes. Their sustainability is conditioned by the structure of learners as well as the teaching community. The experimental study was conducted among the distant learners of Vinayaka Missions University located at Salem in India. Students were drawn from multicultural environment based on different languages, religions, class and communities. During the mobile learning sessions, the students, who are divided on language, religion, class and community, were dominated by play impulse rather than study anxiety or cultural inhibitions. This study confirmed that mobile learning improved the performance of the students despite their division based on region, language or culture. In other words, technology was able to transcend the relative deprivation in the multicultural groups. It also confirms sustainable e-education through mobile learning and cost-effective system of instruction. Mobile learning appropriates the self-motivation and play impulse of the young learners in providing sustainable e-education to multicultural social groups of students.

Keywords: E-Education, mobile learning, multiculturalism.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1070707

Procedia APA BibTeX Chicago EndNote Harvard JSON MLA RIS XML ISO 690 PDF Downloads 2047

References:


[1] M. Anteboth, et al. "Organizing Mobile Teaching," European Workshop on Mobile and Contextual Learning, University of Birmingham, 2002; Attewell, J and C. Savill-Smith, "M-learning and Social Inclusion: Focusing on learners and learning," Proceedings of MLEARN: Learning with Mobile Devices, Learning and Skills Development Agency, London, 2003; A. Kukulska-Hulme, and J. Traxler, Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Educators and Trainers. London: Routledge, 2005; Mohamed Ally, ed. Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training, Edmonton: Athabasca University Press, 2009.
[2] J. Traxler, "Defining Mobile Learning," in P. Isaias, C. Borg, P. Kommers and P. Bonanno (eds). Mobile Learning 2005, Malta: International Association for Development of the Information Society Press; Mohamed Ally, ed., Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training, Edmonton: Athabasca University Press, 2009.
[3] Becta, http://www.becta.org.uk; MOBIlearn, http://www.mobilearn.org; K12 Handhelds, http://www.k12handhelds.com; M-learning, http://www.m-learning.org
[4] N. Pachler and J. Seipold, "Mobile learning cultures across education, work and leisure," 3rd WLE Mobile Learning Symposium, London, 27th March 2009.
[5] Becta, http://www.becta.org.uk/
[6] D. Keegan, The future of learning: From eLearning to mLearning, Hagen: Femstudienforchung, 2003.
[7] K. Wood, Introduction to Mobile Learning, http://ferl.becta.org.uk/ display.cfm
[8] S. Motlik, ÔÇÿMobile Learning in Developing Nations,- The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 9, No 2, 2008.
[9] K. Masters, Low-key m-learning: a realistic introduction of m-learning to developing countries. http://www.fil.hu/mobil/2005/Masters_final.pdf
[10] J. Baggaley and T. Belawati, eds., Distance Education Technology in Asia, Lahore: Virtual University of Pakistan, 2007.
[11] G. Zurita G and M. Nussbaum, "Computer supported collaborative learning using wirelessly interconnected handheld computers," Computers and Education, vol. 42, no. 3, 2004, p.289-314.
[12] India, 2009: A Reference Annual, Publications Division, Government of India, New Delhi; D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Prentice-Hall, New Delhi, 2004
[13] D.L. Sheth and G. Mahajan, eds., Minority Identities and the Nation- State, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1999; Rajeev Bhargava, (2005), Civil Society, Public Sphere and Citizenship, New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2005; Paul Brass, Language, Religion and Politics in North India, Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1974.
[14] Marc Galanter, Competing Equalities: Law and the Backward Classes in India, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1984.
[15] Jeoung-Keun Lee and Cedric Wachholz,, Workshop Report on Mobile Learning for Expanding Educational Opportunities, 16 -20 May 2005, Tokyo, Japan, p.71.
[16] Pawan Agarwal, Higher Education in India: A Need for Change, ICRIER Working Paper, New Delhi, 2006, p. 10.
[17] S. Chandran, "Collaborative Learning through Mobile: A Case Study in Self-Motivation and Technology," Proceedings of the ICT 2010 Conference, SIM University, Singapore, June 30-July 2, 2010.
[18] S. Chandran, "Between Policy Options and Technology Applications: Measuring the Sustainable Impacts on Distance Learning," Proceedings of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 66, June 2010, pp. 457-460.