Mobile Learning and How it Relates (Or Differentiates) From E-Learning

While most of us have heard or come across theactivities conducted on the Internet, of which
term e-learning in the past decade, the termmobile learning is one part.
mobile learning or m-learning is not as widelyDifferentiating e-learning from m-learning
adapted into common usage. While both areE-learning can be real-time or self-paced, also
intuitive in their meanings, how they vary andknown as "synchronous" or "asynchronous".
differentiate from each other is not that apparent.Additionally, e-learning is considered to be
What is mobile learning?"tethered" (connected to something) and
Mobile learning is defined as the ability to obtain orpresented in a formal and structured manner.
provide educational content on personal pocketIn contrast, m-learning is often self-paced,
devices such as PDAs, smartphones and mobileun-tethered and informal in its
phones. M-learning using handheld computers is inpresentation.e-learning
its infancy in terms of both technologies and- lecture in classroom or internet labs
pedagogies. As a result there is still some dispute- e-mail-to-e-mail
amongst industry advocates in how mobile- private location
learning should be defined: in terms of devices and- travel time to reach to internet sitem-learning
technologies; in terms of the mobility of students- anywhere, anytime
and the mobility of education, and in terms of the- instantaneous messaging
students' experience of knowledge gaining with- no geographic boundaries
mobile devices. (Traxler, 2007)- no travel time with wireless internet connectivity
Clark Quinn, professor, author, and expert inBecause mobile devices have the power to make
computer-based education, defined m-learning aseducation even more widely available and
the intersection of mobile computing (theaccessible, mobile devices are considered by
application of small, portable, and wirelessmany to be a natural extension of e-learning (Ellis,
computing and communication devices) and2003).
e-learning (education facilitated and supportedReferences
through the use of information and1. C. Quinn (2000), "mLearning: Mobile, Wireless,
communications technology).In-Your-Pocket Learning"
What is e-learning?2. Traxler, John (2007), Defining, Discussing and
E-learning has come to define any disseminationEvaluating Mobile Learning: the moving finger
of educational knowledge over the Internet. Thiswrites and having writ...
makes e-learning a subset of technology-based3. Ellis, K. (2003). Moving into M-Learning.
training. It also incorporates a number of study