Video Sharing in Education – Does it create an impact?

Being a regular user of YouTube for some time now, One question remains at the back of my mind on how it could be used for teaching and learning. I bet the current epidemic of YouTube is here to stay, in many ways beyond its social networking debut.

The YouTube generation has been coined as the group of internet users who are making use of today’s technology of video sharing with the ease of personal video uploading. Vblogs are an offshoot of this group, allowing users to blog their lives and experiences in writing, and accompany the whole package with a video rendition. Video sharing is exploding into a variety of industries, including mass media advertising, and learning. Students who use You Tube and other social networking sites today are not only bombarded with friend’s messages and links, but also with the rise in advertising and media-sponsored videos.

Education using multimedia and other visual aids has always been a strengthening component of many subjects and curriculum. Today’s educators are taking steps to incorporate the Internet and media-based tools to improve participation and learning. Still, video sharing on a small scale could prove to have multiple benefits.

The impact of video sharing in education benefits both educators and students. Responsibility and ethics with internet use are certainly factors that play a strong role in making the best of today’s technology. There is great potential for educators to create effective policies and allow students to participate in a positive and productive way.

mLearning: Digital learning in your pocket

Learning with mobile devices (mLearning) is fast being recognized as a key subset of eLearning as it provides another flexible delivery option for learners. With a growing buzz around the globe about the unique and advantageous facets of mLearning, the interest generated by technology experts and learners have already stated leading to exciting results.

For instance, mlearning benefits users in various ways. “I am studying a foreign language so to practice listening, I call up a phone number that simulates various dialogues with me…such as, buying a bus ticket…, says a user. “Now that’s something else! It gives me feedback on my understanding or even on my pronunciation instantaneously!.” The vast possibilities fostered by these devices extend from sharing pictures or documents to collaborative game playing, reading and writing.

Mobile Learning in Your World Today

The contemporary scenario of mobile learning is heading down an interesting path following the rapid advancements in technology. These advancements are becoming the norm as quality and capability are constantly increasing while costs continue to drop. On the other hand, even after continuous advancement in technology the are still limitations when it comes to mLearning which the industry must overcome. However, this issue is being combated systematically. Currently, few of these devices are ubiquitously connected, the screens are small, the processing is slow, and the storage capacities are limited.

The concept of elearning is a combination of relevant content with engaging graphics, animation etc that covers both the conceptual material as well as illustrations. In addition, it also includes vital interactive practice activities, which allows the user to participate and provide personalized feedback. Following the ideology of elearning, conscious efforts should be made to ensure all learning applications integrate or interface with a Learning Management System (LMS). This is essential in order to track performances and update records as well as enable certification. When tracking learning, it is imperative for outcomes to be stored systematically and reported back. This information is crucial in order to meet learner needs, to be able to reward outcomes, and to manage corporate knowledge. Usually, based on user action, the learner platform can communicate the outcome to the management system. However, this solution does not work with intermittent connectivity. These same mechanisms do not possess the ability to save or maintain outcomes until connectivity is restored.

Another major issue that must be overcome is successfully facilitating managed learning through an intermittent connection. Ideally most providers would prefer that individuals take responsibility personally for their own learning, but many constraints suggest that there are benefits from having systems track and manage learning. Cross-platform solutions are another issue, meaning enabling all learners to have access to all materials independent of particular system preferences.

Ongoing research focused on improving the capabilities of standard web mechanisms and mobile device connectivity and capability will soon eliminate the distinction between mLearning and elearning. With seamless wireless networking, high-powered supercomputers, high resolution flexible full color screens (or integrated into our visual field through special glasses), and flexible input from pen to keyboard, the distinction between desktop and mobile will disappear.

mLearning is the perfect delivery tool for JIT (just in time) teaching. Imagine having content, reminders, assignments, updates and discussion questions sent directly to your portable device. Like the AOL announcement “you have mail" soon, you will soon hear devices echoing, with "You have an assignment"!

Do Games Help In Enhancing Learning Experience?

This is completely a legitimate question which I have asked to myself many a times. And the answer is? You bet they work! Games have a high presence in non-formal and informal segments of learning. Unfortunately, in formal education, games are still too seldom seen just as a serious activity. However, there are some areas where the game-based learning model is used very successfully, particularly in business, corporate training, healthcare, science and mathematics.

In many cases, the application of serious games and simulations for learning provides an opportunity for learners to apply acquired knowledge and to experiment and obtain feedback in the form of consequences, thus obtaining the experiences in the “safe virtual world”. The unique attitude of game-based learning is the social aspect where such categories as critical thinking, group communication, debate, and decision-making are improving.

Can innovative learning approaches such as game-base learning and playful interaction change the acceptance of learning and turn it into an enjoyable and stimulating activity?

The power of gaming in learning is that, the second a question is asked, the brain automatically goes into search mode to find the answer. What makes games so effective is their ability to bring out curiosity and a competitive spirit. Games in learning have been found to:

• Break the mode of what a typical training class is like.
• Keep learners' attention by engaging and motivating them.
• Make learning more fun and participative.
• Enhance and energize any learning experience.
• Speed up learning process and increases knowledge retention.
• Provide bottom-line benefits such as increased productivity and more engaged, motivated, happy and capable workers

Game show training programs can be easily customized and are appropriate for a full range of learners. A higher level of participant engagement in training creates a greater emotional stake, and emotions are tied to memory. As a result, the knowledge retention capability is high when the information is presented in a game show format.

Think back and analyze how your favorite teachers taught you in schools to make you understand a particular concept - most likely they were the ones who really engaged you at a very emotional level.

Play on and learn more!