mLearning from the Perspective of Generation Y July 31, 2011
Posted by elearningtyro in : Guest posts , add a commentThis guest contribution was submitted by Gena Taylor. Questions and comments can be sent to genataylor@maestroelearning.com
The term “mLearning” did not exist when I was growing up (and this is coming from a twenty-two year old!) but now it is apart of my everyday life. As a member of generation Y, I remember my first cell phone. It was one of those big clunky Nokia phones my mom gave me when I was in the sixth grade. Since then I’ve had flip phones, sidekicks, touch screens, blackberrys, etc.
The cell phone has instilled itself into my daily activities. I use it to look up movie tickets, check the weather, view email, find a local restaurant, or to navigate unfamiliar areas. The impact is so profound that even Movado was forced to change its positioning. It now markets Movado watches as fashion accessories, since the cell phone has become our generation’s new timepiece.
Without my cell phone, my level of productivity and multitasking would go way down. We all know that feeling when we lose our cell phone or leave it at home. You feel empty, like something is missing. It’s almost like we’ve lost part of our connection to the world, because we have. Cell phones continue to be a link to our family, friends, and coworkers, but I have to say I’m more excited about them being the link to knowledge.
On many occasions in the past I would hang out with friends and someone would bring up a very vague question like, “Why is the sky blue?” A few people would try to answer but never really nail down anything memorable. Nowadays, if I’m out with friends and that same question comes up, someone will whip out their iPhone or Android to instantly look up the answer on Google.
This has done WONDERS to clear up arguments, prevent fights, and ENHANCE the learning experience. Sometimes we get wrapped up in life or we are having so much fun that we don’t even notice when we are learning something new. This is the BEAUTY of mLearning – it’s effortless.
As a generation Y’er, I’m sick of textbooks and paper printout packets. It’s not that we want to take the easy route – we just want to take the route that saves us time and energy. Give me a kindle, an iPad, or a smartphone to read my book on. Show me an app that can help me learn something new. I love my smartphone because it’s portable, convenient, and a lot easier on my back.
