Innovative Practice - Mobile learning

Posted by Kevin Tsang

In definition by MOBllearn., Mobile learning is: Any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies. In the recent years, mobile phone becomes more and more popular and mobile technologies had been developed very fast. In Hong Kong, about 99% of people carried at least one mobile phone and about 70% of Hong Kong people have a smart phone that the mobile phone can access internet for multipurpose. Those users can use their mobile devises to interact with portable technologies and learning that reflects a focus on how society and its educational institutions can accommodate and support users. An advantages of mobile learning is that it is accessible anywhere, it can be collaborative and constructive, we can share a huge of information to others, teacher act their role as facilitator which can be give instant feedback and evaluation. Moreover, mobile learning can also provide learning materials in very small boxes that can be easier to create innovative practice in school, learning materials including text book, presentation materials, animation, simulation and internet search.

QR code

One innovative practice by using mobile learning is the application of QR code. QR is the abbreviated from Quick Response, which is similar to bar code but QR code is much more fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity.

One example of using QR code is an international school teacher which is teaching mathematic in Grade 7 students. The lesson is about cardinal direction, teacher prepare QR codes in somewhere of the campus, and ask students form a groups to finish the task. The task is like orientation, At the starting point, students have to scan the QR code by using mobile devices, some questions about Cardinal direction will be asked, if students answer correctly, next check point will shown. Students than have competition to see which group is faster.
I think this is very interesting for student and motivate them to learn.



There are two more innovative practice examples in youtube:

Using QR Codes in the Classroom

QR Codes: Applications in Education


MLearning can create new ideas of teacher to think more about teaching and learning and generate innovative practices.