NOODLES

Cloud computing

The terms "cloud computing" and "working in the cloud" refer to performing
computer tasks using services delivered entirely over the Internet. Cloud
computing is a movement away from applications needing to be installed on
an individual's computer towards the applications being hosted online. (The
"cloud" refers to the Internet and was inspired by technical flow charts and
diagrams, which tend to use a cloud symbol to represent the Internet.)
M learning
M-learning or mobile learning is defined as "learning across multiple contexts, through social and
content interactions, using personal electronic devices.[1]:page 4 A form of e-learning distance education,
m-learners can use mobile device educational technology in many locations at their time
convenience.[2]
M-learning technologies include handheld computers, MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones and
tablets. M-learning focuses on the mobility of the learner, interacting with portable technologies.
Using mobile tools for creating learning aids and materials becomes an important part of informal
learning.[3]
M-learning is convenient in that it is accessible from virtually anywhere. Sharing is almost
instantaneous among everyone using the same content, which leads to the reception of instant
feedback and tips. This highly active process has proven to increase exam scores from the fiftieth to
the seventieth percentile, and cut the dropout rate in technical fields by 22 percent. [4] M-learning also
brings strong portability by replacing books and notes with small devices, filled with tailored learning
contents.
Knowledge building and Computer-Supported International Learning Environments

Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environments, or CSILE, was developed by

Marlene Scardamalia and Carl Bereiter and is an educational knowledge media
system that allows information of different media types to be entered into a
common database where it is available to be retrieved, linked, commented on,
rated, and so forth. (Scardamalia et al., 1989, pg 57). CSILE is designed to support
students in more purposeful and intentional learning. This intentional learning is
fostered by allowing students to take control over the learning by allowing for
students to create a collective database/knowledge-base of their thoughts using
notes, graphics, pictures, etc. These thoughts are then stored in a database and
made available to all other students. This learning system allows for the notes and
media entered into the database by students to be linked together, as well as
commented on, rated, retrieved etc. It essentially follows the client/sever model
commonly seen on the web today. CSILE is designed to help students foster a
cooperative and communal learning environmentComputer-Supported Intentional
Learning Environments, or CSILE, was developed by Marlene Scardamalia and Carl
Bereiter and is an educational knowledge media system that allows information of
different media types to be entered into a common database where it is available
to be retrieved, linked, commented on, rated, and so forth. (Scardamalia et al.,
1989, pg 57). CSILE is designed to support students in more purposeful and
intentional learning. This intentional learning is fostered by allowing students to

take control over the learning by allowing for students to create a collective
database/knowledge-base of their thoughts using notes, graphics, pictures, etc.
These thoughts are then stored in a database and made available to all other
students. This learning system allows for the notes and media entered into the
database by students to be linked together, as well as commented on, rated,
retrieved etc. It essentially follows the client/sever model commonly seen on the
web today. CSILE is designed to help students foster a cooperative and communal
learning environment
SUMMARY
CLOUD COMPUTING
HOW CLOUD COMPUTING IS APPLIED IN EDUCATION?

The entire educational system is suffering from a lack of resources: small classrooms, staffing
cuts, shortage of qualified teachers and constantly changing standards. Cloud computing is a
valuable tool that can be used to improve accessibility to quality education and to boost
achievement.
The cloud can help address these challenges in a number of ways by capitalizing on economies
of scale. The problem of outdated, too-small, overcrowded classrooms can be addressed by
virtualizing the classroom environment. Students can actually log onto a space online and attend
classes outside of the classroom environment. As such, the lecturers do not have to deal with
overflowing classes, instead, they can focus their attention on creating content students will
understand, developing their students skills and helping students pass their exams.
The cloud can also improve collaboration among teachers, administrators, students and staff.
Many schools already use computers in the classroom, but cloud computing platforms can
increase collaboration, enhance team-building initiatives and improve group- and team-centered
project success rates. This is a great way to address the needs of students who may not be great at
face-to-face interaction, public speaking and/or small discussion group work.
Accessibility is another incredible benefit of the cloud when applied to an educational setting.
The nature of the cloud also allows students to share not just ideas, but education infrastructure
and tools, he said. This can reduce schools overhead expenditures on quality learning materials
like books and software, and can equalize access to these scarce resources. The end result is that
students academic performance should increase along with the quality of education.
The cloud also allows for information durability, which means information can be placed in
cloud storage for as long as needed. Many schools have moved their libraries online, allowing
students to access hundreds of thousands of books, periodicals and other resources at any time.
the cloud is expanding access to education across the globe and bringing resources to populations
that, for one reason or another, didnt succeed in the traditional educational systems. If a student

never finished their degree or received their diploma, they now have a second chance to do so
through cloud learning systems. Immigrants who began their education in their country of origin
can easily continue to do so while making a move to another country. The cloud is poised to
revolutionize the educational sector, and schools and learning institutions would be wise not to
write off the cloud as just a business tool. The future opportunities for success or failure of
students could rest in the cloud.
Risks of cloud computing in learning institutions
Cloud computing is a general term for the delivery of hosted services over the
internet. Cloud computing enables companies to consume compute as a
utility similar to electricity or a telephone service rather than building and
maintaining infrastructure.
Before considering cloud computing technology it is advisable or important to
understand the risks involved when doing your business into the cloud. It is vital
that learning institutions carry out a risk assessment process before any control is
handed over to a service provider. The following are some risks associated with
cloud computing in learning institutions.
Less control over personal data
The risks of cloud computing in learning institutions are that educational institutions
no longer have as much control over the personal data. The learning institutions
therefore rely on the cloud computing provider to have the appropriate practices
and policies to ensure that data is properly maintained, handled, used or disclosed.
To add on that a cloud computing provider can outsource or subcontract some of its
functions to another company or country who have NO to little legal privacy
protections. This companies may at times expose private records/information of
the learning instituion and as a result the learning instituions may lose control of
information such as results of the students, employess accounts and students
scholastic records when outsourced.
shared access
in cloud computing multiple usually unrelated clients (companies) will share the
same computing resources eg cpu,storage,memory, namespace. In this way private
data of the learning institutions may leak to other clients.Other clients such as
health institutions, insurance or banking institutions may assume the school's
identity and see their data.
Lock- in
Companies such as google and microsoft for example allow institutions to co-brand
their cloud products.There may be risks in associating an institution too closely with

these companies whose popularity is variable with users. an institution will become
locked in in to the products of a particular provider as a result.
Access of data by everyone
Data stored on a cloud provider's server can be accessed by anyone.Institutions
have no idea where their data is being processed or stored, who is accessing their
information how their data is protected and what school data has been accessed by
whom for what reason.
Data availability and business continuity
lastly there is also a concern of loss of internet connectivity. With this the school
activities which depend on availability of internet would not be carried out. for
example some learning institutions use cloud computing to host institutional
management systems (LMSs) such as blackboard, or moodle would suffer. students
on the day would not have access to moodle or blackboard to download notes nor
submit their asignments via blackboard.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud computing
Advantages:
Cost Efficient: No need of spending on the infrastructure, organizations can save initial setting up costs
on hardware, software and licensing fee (Capital expenditure and startup costs).It is easy to use, maintain
and upgrade (Automatic software upgrades).
Easy Accessibility: People around the world can access the cloud where there is an internet connection,
so it is easy to collaborate anytime from anywhere, and more work can be done in less time. No need of
carrying devices around, saves paper because quizzes, tests, assignments can be taken on line, and
records the grades and can be shared with parents easily with the help of learning management system
(e.g. Blackboard, Moodle etc.).
Unlimited Storage: Cloud computing gives you unlimited storage capacity so no need to worry about
increasing your storage space.
Backup and Recovery: The data is stored in the cloud and cloud service providers are efficient in
handling the backup and recovery process, so it is simple than complex disaster recovery plans.
Security: To access information requires authentication so its not easily accessible by anyone. These
services are regularly backed up so less chances of losing content.
Disadvantages:
Technical Issues: outages and downtime (slower internet connections) are a problem sometimes. To
overcome this, consumer is provided with services for network connectivity. It is difficult to get prompt
support and it is not an acceptable way to run your business, to overcome this you need to read and
understood the service level agreement with cloud service provider.
Security: Unreliable companies can put your company at risk the information on the cloud is vulnerable
for security attacks. IT managers have to understand cloud providers level of security. Migrating from one
vendor to other may lead to risking the security and privacy of data.
Limited Control: Applications and services run remote, so companies and users have less control the
function and execution of the hardware and software sometimes it may lack features of running
applications locally.

Conclusion: We can only hope that the advantages will further grow and the disadvantages will be
mitigated, since cloud computing seems to have made IT a little bit easier. Cloud computing has a great
potential for future which helps service provider to offer better and finer tuned services and solutions

A brief history of cloud computing

Cloud computing and other internet-based services continue to develop rapidly, though it hasnt
exactly been a direct path to get to where we are now. The current state of the industry may seem
like obvious and inevitable when we look back, but just a short time ago it would have been hard
to guess that this is where things were actually going.
In the 50s mainframe computers were huge, occupying entire rooms. Due to the cost of buying
and maintaining mainframes, organizations couldnt afford to purchase one of the each user. The
solution was time sharing in which multiple users shared access to data and CPU time. The
term time sharing is the premise of cloud computing.
J.C.R Licklider developed the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) the
network that became the basic of the internet. His vision was for everyone on the globe to be
interconnected and accessing programs and data at any site, from anyway.
IBM released an operating system called VM that allowed admins to have multiple virtual
systems or Virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical node. The VM operating system took
the 50s time sharing model to the next level and most of the basic functions of any
virtualization software that you see nowadays can be traced to this early VM operating system.
Telecommunication companies started offering virtualized private network connections, which
meant it was possible to allow for more users through shared access to the same physical
infrastructure. This change enabled traffic to be shifted as necessary to allow for better network
balance and more control over bandwidth usage. Meanwhile, virtualization for PC-based systems
started in earnest, and as the internet became more accessible, the next logical step was to take
virtualization online.
The term cloud computing is coined by University of Texas professor Ramnath Chellappa in a
talk on a new computing paradigm. However, the term may actually have been used a year
earlier in Compaq.
Amazon created Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing an advanced system of cloud services
form storage to computation. Amazon introduced the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) as a
commercial web service. The EC2 let small companies rent computers on which they could run
their own computer applications. Google and Microsoft entered the playing field. The Google
App Engine brought low-cost computing and storage services, and Microsoft followed suit with
Windows Azure. The One serve field service management software moves to the cloud.

CLOUD COMPUTING MYTHS

Cloud is always cheaper.

This isn't always the case, Gartner (Oct 30, 2014). Sure, saving money with cloud is a
benefit, but leading with money isn't always the best way to go about selling cloud.
"Assuming that the cloud always saves money can lead to career-limiting promises,"
Gartner explains. "Saving money may end up one of the benefits, but it should not be
taken for granted."
2. its not good unless it's cloud.
Don't get caught in the trap many IT organizations are falling into. "Some cloud
washing is accidental and a result of legitimate confusion, but some is also based on a
mistaken mantra (fed by hype) that something cannot be good unless it is cloud,"
Gartner (oct 30,2014).
3. He gets a cloud! She gets a cloud! We all get clouds!
Cloud shouldn't be used for everything. "Clearly, there are some use cases where there
is a great fit, however, not all applications and workloads benefit from the cloud,"
Gartner (Oct 30,2014). "Unless there are cost savings, moving a legacy application
that doesn't change is not a good candidate."
4. Your CEO has a cloud strategy.
Many companies don't have a cloud strategy. In fact, they normally just recite back
what the CEO wants. "This is not a cloud strategy," Gartner (Oct 30,2014). "A cloud
strategy begins by identifying business goals and mapping potential benefits of the
cloud to them, while mitigating the potential drawbacks."
5. Multiple cloud vendors isn't the way to go.
Cloud is too broad to break everything into one offering. "Those goals and benefits
are different in various use cases and should be the driving force for businesses, rather
than any attempts to standardize on one offering or strategy," Gartner (Oct 30,2014).
6. Cloud can't be secured.
Let's get something straight: "Cloud computing is perceived as less secure." But that
only means there's a trust issue with cloud. "To date, there have been very few
security breaches in the public cloud most breaches continue to involve onpremises data center environments" Gartner (Oct 30,2014). "While cloud providers

should have to demonstrate their capabilities, once they have done so there is no
reason to believe their offerings cannot be secure."
7. Mission critical apps need not apply.
Adopt cloud when it's needed. It's not an end-all, be-all strategy. "Therefore, it is not
surprising that early use cases are mainly not for mission-critical systems," the IT
research firm says. "However, many organizations have progressed beyond early use
cases and experimentation and are utilizing the cloud for mission-critical workloads."
8. Data center does not mean cloud.
"Most cloud decisions are not (and should not be) about completely shutting down
data centers and moving everything to the cloud," Gartner (Oct 30,2014). "Nor should
a cloud strategy be equated with a data center strategy."
9. Cloud migrations inherit all cloud characteristics.
"Cloud attributes are not transitive," the IT research firm says. "Distinguish between
applications hosted in the cloud from cloud services." This mean you might not
necessarily inherit cloud characteristics from infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
10. Virtualization is not the same thing as private cloud.
Yes, virtualization is commonly used to enable cloud computing, but it's not the only
way. "Even if virtualization is used (and used well), the result is not cloud
computing," Gartner (Oct 30,2014). "This is most relevant in private cloud
discussions where highly virtualized, automated environments are common and, in
many cases, are exactly what is needed."
Categories of cloud computing
There are three distinct categories within Cloud Computing:
1. Software as a Service (SaaS) is defined as a software that is deployed over the internet. A
SaaS provider gives subscribers access to both resources and applications. SaaS makes it
unnecessary for you to have a physical copy of software to install on your devices. SaaS also
makes it easier to have the same software on all of your devices at once by accessing it on the
cloud. In a SaaS agreement, you have the least control over the cloud. With SaaS, a provider
licenses an application to customers either as a service on demand, through a subscription, or
increasingly at no charge when there is opportunity to generate revenue from streams other

than the user, such as from advertisement or user list sales. A benchmark example of this is
Salesforce.com, Quick Base, Base Camp, Google Docs and Microsoft office online.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS) can be defined as a computing platform that allows the creation
of web applications quickly and easily and without the complexity of buying and maintaining the
software and infrastructure underneath it. A PaaS system goes a level above the Software as a
Service setup. A PaaS provider gives subscribers access to the components that they require to
develop and operate applications over the internet PaaS is analogous to SaaS except that,
rather than being software delivered over the web, it is a platform for the creation of software,
delivered over the web. Some examples of PaaS include Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure
Services and the Force.com platform.
3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): An IaaS agreement, as the name states, deals primarily
with computational infrastructure. IaaS is a way of delivering Cloud Computing infrastructure
that is servers, storage, network and operating systems as an on-demand service. Rather than
purchasing servers, software, datacenter space or network equipment, clients instead buy those
resources as a fully outsourced service on demand. IaaS can be obtained as public
(infrastructure that consists of shared resources, deployed on a self-service basis over the
Internet) or private (infrastructure that emulates some of Cloud Computing features, like
virtualization, but does so on a private network) or a combination of the two generally called
Hybrid Cloud. The cloud provider has less control in an IaaS system than with an SaaS
agreement. An example is Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2).
The cloud provider has less control in an IaaS system than with an SaaS agreement.
Benefits of cloud computing in Education
Cloud computing provide benefits to education in many ways, the following are some of those
benefits.
1.

Storage students and teachers are able to store their documents, assignments, notes

and other academic related documents in the cloud. They will be able to access them anytime
anywhere as long as there is internet access
2.

Backup- the cloud automatically save content, meaning that content cannot be lost or

deleted from the cloud, so teachers and students do not need to worry if their computers get
crashed by viruses or black out. Students, teachers and administrators do not need to use
storage devices such as hard disk and pen drives.

3.

Security and Stability- anything you store in the cloud usually requires authentication like

an ID and password, so it is not easily accessible by anyone. In addition, should something

happen to the technology at school, your content will still be available to you and your students
if it is stored elsewhere.
4.

Other benefits of cloud computing in education is that Cloud computing enables

educational institutions to reduce their own electricity consumption.

CLOUD COMPUTING AND COLLABORATION
Web collaboration is only partially enabled by the underlying concept of cloud computing.
Collaboration, the process whereby individuals and/or groups work together on a practical
endeavor, has always been a fundamental feature of every organization. Modern information
and communication technology (ICT) enables collaboration to take place on a virtual dimension,
regardless of time and location thereby creating the virtual organization in which a group of
persons are able to share and access available resources regardless of location.
Web collaboration allows users without knowledge of the underlying Internet's infrastructure, to
create content and have a contribution to what is being communicated and published daily.
Companies and organizations have now been catching on to the trend using a variety of free
Web services such as social networking sites and wikis to create an inexpensive Web presence
to market services, expertise, and resources to the growing digital population.
ICT enabled collaboration has become so important in business that it is a necessity for
companies to adopt. The adoption of collaboration practices and technologies leads to a
customercentric organization that makes the needs and resources of individual customers the
starting point for planning new products and services or improving existing ones.
External collaboration with other firms and customers can result in improved services and
expanded company markets. With virtual external collaboration, customers not only access but
improve and develop the Web content and online presence of a company.
Libraries need not be left behind in this area. The library's Web presentation and online
services may also receive added value from external collaboration. The Web provides
opportunities for libraries to collect the information that resides in people's heads and benefit
from the library's community of users supplying feedback and contributions.
Four examples of cloud computing services used for facilitating Web collaboration
1.Wikis-Wikis is one such service that exemplifies a Web tool or service enabling collaborative
work and cloud computing. Wikis are tools for building websites without the need for a
knowledge of HTML and with the option of continuous collaboration. Wikis can also be used to

create intranets and extranets, facilitating the exchange of messages, management of company
documents,
2.Collaborative website development -Another example of a tool for collaborative website
development is Google Sites.
3.Collaborative Web documents -Apart from working on library websites, librarians can
collaborate using the Web to work on online documents. This can be done through the use of
Web services that permit online document collaboration and sharing.
4.Collaborative customizable search engines-Search engines are popular tools for
discovering content on the Web

Security concerns about cloud computing

Although cloud computing can offer small businesses significant cost-saving benefits, the service
does come with certain security risks. When evaluating potential providers of cloud-based
services, you should keep these security concerns in mind.
Secure data transfer: All of the traffic travelling between your network and whatever service
youre accessing in the cloud must traverse the Internet. Make sure your data is always travelling
on a secure channel. Also, your data should always be encrypted and authenticated using industry
standard protocols, such as IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), that have been developed
specifically for protecting Internet traffic.
Secure software interfaces: The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) recommends that you be aware
of the software interfaces, or APIs, that are used to interact with cloud services. Reliance on a
weak set of interfaces and APIs exposes organizations to a variety of security issues related to
confidentiality, integrity, availability, and accountability.
Secure stored data: Your data should be securely encrypted when its on the providers servers
and while its in use by the cloud service. Ask potential cloud providers how they secure your
data not only when its in transit but also when its on their servers and accessed by the cloudbased applications
User access control: Data stored on a cloud providers server can potentially be accessed by an
employee of that company, and you have none of the usual personnel controls over those people.
First, consider carefully the sensitivity of the data youre allowing out into the cloud.
Data separation: Every cloud-based service shares resources, namely space on the providers
servers and other parts of the providers infrastructure. Hypervisor software is used to create
virtual containers on the providers hardware for each of its customers. But CSA notes that
attacks have surfaced in recent years that target the shared technology inside Cloud Computing
environments.

The concerns about cloud security are not stopping companies and their employees from
wholeheartedly adopting cloud services to better do their work. You should address these
security issues with the cloud provider before you entrust your data to its servers and
applications.
CLOUD COMPUTING AND WEB 2.0
Cloud Computing: means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of
your computer's hard drive.
Web 2.0: is the term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is
focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online. Web 2.0 basically
refers to the transition from static HTML Web pages to a more dynamic Web that is more
organized and is based on serving Web applications to users
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLOUD COMPUTING AND WEB 2.0

The basic difference is that Cloud Computing is about processing data and Web 2.0 is
mostly about collaborating the data. Though when we talk about Mashups (web APIs), it
is acceptable to be confused between cloud computing and web 2.0 but cloud computing
can be looked upon as a deeper/finer level of web 2.0
Web 2.0 can be regarded as a particular type of application while cloud computing is a
method by which applications and data are hosted and delivered.
Cloud Computing is a way of searching through data. Basically an indexing method.
Cloud computing is about computers. Web 2.0 is about people.

M LEARNING

Benefits of M Learning in education

Education has entered a period of major change based on the use of information
technology. The advent of mobile devices such as iPads and Notebooks brings with it
the ability to deliver information to students whenever and wherever they want.
Mobile devices have improved the communications between students and teachers. For
example, students could be sent timely reminders by teachers, during the term or over
the holiday period. Some students seemed to prefer texting over face-to-face encounters
as a medium for asking questions and engaging in discussion with the teacher.
Mobile learning improves social learning (i.e. communicating with peers and experts):
SMS texting reminders, knowledge sharing forums, ask a question forms and the use
of telephone are all means to enable interaction between peers and tutors using mobile
devices.

 Easy access of information knowledge is delivered on-demand, with updated

information within the precincts of the m-learning campus, which bring the options for
Self-study.
Flexibility the flexibility of m-learning enables participants to learn at their own time
and pace even more compared to the fixed PC access. Hence the amount of information
retained from the training is often greater, which results in increased information
retention.
Evaluation and Feedback assessment tools can be included into the m-learning or elearning packages to monitor student's progress, and produce detailed usage reports.
This can be given as feedbacks to students or learners through their mobile devices.
Access of Online Repository the online materials accessed through m-learning system
offers a place for the lecturers and students to interact frequently.
Learners have access to a stored repository of knowledge and information like the digital
course materials and a host of other online digital libraries for assignments and exams.
Mobile learning in classrooms often has students working interdependently, in groups, or
individually to solve problems, to work on projects, to meet individual needs, and to allow for
student voice and choice. With access to so much content anytime and anywhere, there are plenty
of opportunities for formal and informal learning, both inside and outside the classroom.

MOBILE LEARNING SWOT ANALYSIS

SWOT ANALYSIS-This is a tool or an effective way of identifying strengths and
weaknesses, and of examining the opportunities and threats faced by mobile learning.
The following table summarizes SWOT ANALYSIS of Mobile Learning
STRENGTHS

According to Gri,
.Picek(2013), Todays mobile
devices are practical, affordable
and available to enable
mobile learning. With each new
wave of phones and tablets, we
are introduced to technology that
is bigger, stronger, faster with
increasing memory and

WEAKNESSES
Mobile learning is constrained by mobile
device characteristics as much as it is enabled by
them. For many, the term mobile learning often
evokes images of cellular telephones with
tiny screens and limited options. Others imagine tiny
and mid size touch screen for normally reading. Size
of device, battery life, usability and cost are main
disadvantages of mobile devices used for mlearning.

storage capacity making it

possible for complex applications

to reside on devices.

Mobile phones have the

availability of wireless networks.
It is likely that as wireless
networks will become more
widespread, devices will become
more fully functional, enabling in
that way more efficient way of
information access, social
interaction and networking. It is
evident correlation between

technology progress and use of

devices for m-learning.

Internet connectivity on
phones is not restricted to Wi-Fi
alone. Options like EDGE, 3G,
4G and even WAP exist. SMS
and voice can also be used for
learning tools mobile.Finally
,adaptable learning strategies,
tools and resources can be
adjusted to learners profile.

Numerous operating platforms,device types

and variations in supported technologies that make it
difficult (and at times impractical) to create a unified
solution which works well
across the platforms.
(http://www.upsidelearning.com/presentationmobile-learning-swot-analysis.asp)
It requires a skill-set that includes
instructional and media design competencies for
mobile device, and interface & user experience
design skills. Related problem is a lack of tools to
create engaging mobile learning content.
There are Concerns around basic device
security and data security with lack of common
standards for mobiles can be observed.
Lack of common standards for mobiles adds
to the confusion.(F:\LMS A Quick SWOT Analysis
The Upside Learning Blog.htm)
Lack of tools to create engaging mobile
learning content due to lack of flash.

Mobile learning is
everywhere,is easy to use, and
has rich content, high efficiency,
flexibility, security,reliability,
interactivity, portability and other
features that can be used to
compete with the other language
teaching methods.

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Lee,

Chan(n.d),states that
learning materials can be stored
in a number of places therefore a
need for a better content
organization is needed, providing
fast access to books, student or
lecturer notes, and tutorials is
one of the recognized
opportunities.

Mobile learning can

provide real-time learning

improvements based on demand.
For many students , lack of
impersonal teaching can be
replaced having information on
demand, at their fingertips

because that is the way they

work.

Todays mobile computing

devices have more power than
the largest computers of a
generation ago, and this trend
continues, new protocols for
better, faster data transfer are
emerging and they will
implemented to overcome this
restriction. Choosing the right
protocol is a new opportunity.

Because of such diversity of mobile devices,

complex architecture is necessary and hard to
overcome, supporting multiple platforms and
different technical frameworks is hard, time
consuming and expensive
process.http://www.upsidelearning.com/presentation
-mobile-learning-swot-analysis.asp.
Knowing which devices, operating systems,
and networks will have the longest life has
seemed difficult to predict.
Technology can be addictive and the user
can abuse it. When designing mobile learning
environments we should be very careful not to
overwhelm our users instead user will focus greatly
on the technology rather on the learning as a
process which ultimately becomes a distraction.
Lack of standards for learning mobile and
even general use of technology on mobiles.

Major Issues which motivated the introduction of mobile learning.

Mobile learning is delivery of learning, education or learning support through multiple contexts,
social and content interactions using personal electronics devices. M-learning encourages the
use of devices which citizens are used to carrying everywhere with them, which they regard as
friendly and personal, which are cheap and easy to use, they use constantly in all walks of life

and in a variety of different settings (Desmond Keegan,1999).Before the introduction of mlearning, there were a number of issues that were considered to make learning a bit difficult.
Some of these issues where;
Traditionally education required space, where pupils and the teachershad to conduct
learning in a basic classroom environment.Traditional learning programs utilize the long
established technique of on campus classroom meetings for delivering course information and
facilitating student conversations.Students meet at an assigned time and place to partake in class
lectures, labs,study groups and exams. Traditional learning environments are more structured
than distance learning programs and provide face-to-face contact with fellow students and
professors.
Students had to travel more distances in order to reach education andlearning facilities.
Education couldnt reach a lot of people especially in the rural areas.
More manpower was needed i.e. schools needed more teachers as the education expanded
( moreteachers where needed in the primary schools, junior secondary schools, senior secondary
schools as well as colleges and universities).In this case the government as well as private
schools had to spend more money in salaries hiring more teachers as well as the school
management personnel.
More cost of resources and materials such as textbooks, notebooks andstationary. More
tuition cost and material were required from both the government and parents as students had to
have books for learning to take place. Parents had to pay school fees in order to help students to
have learning materials especially in government aided schools.
Certain skills and specialities were needed, that is teachers who have certain skills
whereneeded to help in schools for example science teachers. Therefore teachers had a lot to
offer yet they were not skilled enough to produce good results and needed advanced teaching
aids to help improve learning.
Teachers had to go for further education in order to be able to meet theeducation need as
most teachers where not trained to do teaching. Government began to spend a lot of money
taking teachers to further education which is still taking place now. For example; In the
University of Botswana, teachers that did certificate as well as Diplomas are studying as they
prepare themselves to acquire better education and skills in order to go and improve education
and learning at schools after they complete their studies.
Therefore these issues had to be addressed in order to improve education and
learning.Technology in education was introduced in terms of computers in schools; where elearning took place. However, with the advent and evolution of the Internet and other
information technologies, online or distance learning is becoming more and more popular. Both

traditional and distance learning programs provide quality education, with the main difference
between them being the content delivery method. Today, distance learning, eLearning and online
programs use various forms of media, information technology and the Internet to deliver course
materials. Distance learning programs deliver course materials viawebinars, live streaming
lectures, asynchronous lectures, PowerPoint presentations and content management systems.
Group discussions and communication between faculty and students transpire by means of email,
message boards and chat rooms. Furthermore, since courses are typically taken online,state
residency restrictions do not influence tuition rates. Course materials made available online also
alleviate the cost of textbooks. Some schools may offer tuition or fee discounts for their online
distance programs not available for on-campus programs. Some online distance programs allow
students to view lectures and take exams at their convenience. Given the chance to study at their
own pace, some students may complete a degree program faster online than they would in a
traditional setting. Moreover the overall benefits of education; provides us with knowledge about
the world. It paves the way for a good career. It leads to enlightenment. It lays the foundation of
a stronger nation. Researches has discovered that since the introduction of m learning, as per
education is concerned; a large number of people in Botswana have developed to love education
and

showed

more

interest

in

empowering

themselves

and

there

are a number of branches of Botswana College of distance learning all over the country. As
mobile phones, tablets and other connected devices become more prevalent and affordable,
wireless technology also improve learning and bring digital content to students. The students
love mobile technology and use it regularly in their personal lives. Therefore young people
employ mobile devices to make education more engaging and personalize it for their particular
needs.
Characteristics of mobile learning that emerged were as follows: Enables knowledge
building by learners in different context. Enables learners to construct understanding on their
own thus promotes student cantered concept. Convenience, flexibility, engagement, and
interactivity are all factors that make mobile learning more attractive to students.
Disadvantages of m-learning
Connectivity: There may be some connectivity problems while uploading and downloading
of data and because of poor mobile network signals.

Device: Learners must possess the mobile device that is supporting the courseware and this
device may be expensive. As technology keeps changing at a rapid rate, these devices should be
upgraded frequently. In addition to the cost of these devices, there are monthly data charges from
mobile network providers; so downloading large content not only takes time but also costs a lot.
Mobile learning is the ability to obtain or provide educational content on personal pocket devices
such as PDAs, smartphones and mobile phones. Educational content refers to digital learning
assets which includes any form of content or media made available on a personal device.
According to (Wikipedia, 2015), distance education is a mode of delivering education and
instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a
traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides access to learning when the
source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.

Importance of M Learing in Distance Education

Access-Aids voluntary and active learning
A mobile learning environment is about access to content, peers, experts, portfolio artifacts,
credible sources, and previous thinking on relevant topics. (Chen, 2008) Point out that, it can be
actuated via a smartphone or tablet, laptop or in-person, but access is constant which in turn
shifts a unique burden to learn on the shoulders of the student.
Cloud-Increased collaboration
The cloud is the enabler of smart mobility. With access to the cloud, all data sources and project
materials are constantly available, allowing for previously inaccessible levels and styles of
revision and collaboration. (Shawe, 2014) Says this also reduces the burden of data storage in the
immediate device enabling speed of access to be maintained. Therefore, there are no complex
disaster recovery procedures.
Divergent Thinking

With mobility comes diversity. As learning environments change constantly, that fluidity
becomes a norm that provides a stream of new ideas, unexpected challenges, and constant
opportunities for revision and application of thinking. Audiences are diverse; thinking is diverse,
as are the environments data is being gleaned from by both the student and the teacher.
Blending the Learning Styles
A mobile learning environment will always represent a much better path to the whole concept of
blended learning.
Mobile learning is a very effective tool in distance education, and through the survey of recent
researches on mobile learning, results clearly indicate that facilitating mobile learning can
improve the entire distance education by enhancing ways of communication among distance
learners, tutors and supporting staff. The biggest advantage of this technology is that it can be
used anywhere, anytime and its usage is easy access to a larger number of distance learners.
Mobile technology brings the impact of mobile learning on traditional pedagogical learning
strategies. The mobile learning model emphasized on mobile users, learning strategies, situated
environments, and virtual group awareness.
Mobile learning in special education
Students with special needs have difficulties to develop cognitive abilities and acquire
new knowledge. Development of customizable and adaptable applications tailored to
their specific needs provide many benefits as it helps mould the learning process to
different cognitive sensorial or mobility impairments. Mobile learning can benefit those
with special needs by laying a platform for them to have an equal chance to those who
do not have any special needs
Assistive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and
rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in
selecting, locating, and using them. Assistive technology promotes greater independence
by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or
had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods
of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. M learning can be
categorized as an example that utilizes assistive technology.
Lowenfeld (1973) determined that there were three primary issues facing individuals
with visual impairments: access to information, independent travel, and a lack of
meaningful experiences. Assistive technology is used by individuals with visual

impairments to compensate for these limitations. It can enable students who are
visually impaired to achieve educational success and gain competitive employment by
providing tools for increased independent access to information and for effective
communication. The following are examples of mobile phone features that can assist
student with special needs.
IOS
IOS has a built in screen reader, Voiceover, which enables blind or visually impaired
users to use all of the devices functions. Learners with a visual impairment but dont
need a screen reader could benefit from using the zoom function or enlarging the font
across the device, or from changing the color scheme to a high-contrast one. Siri, the
voice recognition system, allows one to dictate commands and text this may be easier
than typing on a touch screen keyboard. These learners can still access learning
materials which otherwise will not be easily accessible
to them.
For learners with hearing impairment visual or vibrating alert can be set as an
alternative to audio alerts. Switching to hearing aid mode may improve your devices
performance with certain hearing aids), and you can switch the audio from stereo to
mono, so that all sound is channeled to one ear. This feature assists teachers to send
even audio lessons to such learners.
Android
Android has a screen reader built in called Talkback which, along with a system called
Explore by Touch, visually impaired users to navigate around and use their phone or
tablet. They can enlarge the text across the device, and use magnification gestures to
enlarge and explore areas of the screen. Passwords spoken as you type them, to avoid
typing errors, and use voice recognition to access the devices functions and dictate
messages, notes or emails.
For hearing impaired students automatically display closed captions in videos allows
them to understand videos. Depending on the device a flashing LED alert for
notifications. For a student with a motor impairment, voice recognition allows one to
dictate commands and messages rather than using the touch screen.
Apps
Apps are software applications that can be installed on a mobile device. There are a huge
number of apps available and their availability varies, and different apps will suit
different learners even if they perform the same basic function. However, apps in the
following categories can be useful for learners with disabilities
Planning and organization calendars and task
lists can be particularly beneficial for learners with dyslexia, or
difficulty with organization.

Note taking apps that allow learners to take

notes and store them on a mobile device can be useful for all learners as
they can be accessed at a convenient time and place for the learners. Many
note taking apps synchronize across devices, so that learners can always
get to the most up-to-date version of their work.
Text-to-speech for learners with dyslexia or other learning difficulties,
or would simply find it more convenient to listen to notes rather than
read them, apps that read their document aloud can be helpful.
GPS - works with mapping applications and allows
users to search for directions, or find out more about the area. GPS also
powers some augmented reality apps - for example, some apps give an
overlay of the night sky with information about the constellations above
you at that time.
Communication many mobile phones and tablets
have the facility to make video calls as well as voice calls, often free
over a wifi connection. For learners with little or no speech, there are
specialist Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps
available, which can cost considerably less than dedicated AAC devices
Speech recognition Both Android and iOS
devices have inbuilt speech recognition which allow you to use many of the
devices functions and dictate messages or emails.
Specialist apps there are apps for specific
disabilities available for mainstream mobile devices; for example, an app
for iOS devices uses the camera to identify banknotes (useful for visually
impaired students).

Benefits of implementing M learning technologies for special students

maximize independence in academic and employment tasks,

increase participation in classroom discussions,
Help students gain access to peers, mentors and role models,
help them self-advocate,
provide them with access to the full range of educational options,
help them participate in different experiences not otherwise possible,

provide them with the opportunity to succeed in work-based learning

experiences, secure high levels of independent living, prepare them for
transitions to college and careers
give them the opportunity to work side-by-side with peers,
help them enter high-tech career fields,
encourage them to participate in community and recreational activities.
The use of electronic devices and multimedia contents increases the interest of
students in learning.
The students can learn anytime and anywhere because of the mobility of the
devices.
Students with impairments have the opportunity to perform activities that
previously were not accessible to them, because of the interface and contents of
the
activities have been adapted specifically to them, and multimedia resources
areoften the only material that users with sensorial impairments can perceive.
Training sessions can be delivered to help the students become familiar with the
application and use of mobile devices

HISTORY/BACKGROUND OF MOBILE LEARNING

Mobile learning can be defined as knowledge in the hand with the use of
technological devices. It had some captivating revolutionary work in the early
1970s; below are the evolution of mobile learning.
*In 1968, Alan Kay and his colleagues in the learning research group developed
the Dynabook, a book-sized computer for education.Its niche was that anyone
could use it and it had high definition simulationsand material from around the
world
*In 1975, IBM 5000 became the first available portable computer laying the
groundwork for mobile education.
*In 1996, Palm releases PalmOS which gives access to learning and organization
software on handset devices.
*In 2000s practical mobile learning started up with the introduction of tablet
computers, a project was started at Birmingham University
*In 2001, The European Commission funds launched the Mobile Learn Project to
explore mobile education.
Objectives of Mobile Learning were to;
1. Supports interactive learning.
2. Independent Learning.
3. Improves Communication.
4. Helps to raise Self Confidence.
5. Enable Global Collaboration and access to information.

6. Enhance Knowledge.
Technology Support used for Mobile Learning:
1. SMS (Short Message Service).
2. MMS (Multimedia MessagingService).
3. WAP (Wireless ApplicationProtocol) allows the user to access internet via their
WAP enabled in mobile phones.
4. Bluetooth: A short rangewireless connection, this enables PDAs (Personal
Digital Assistants) to pass messages to & from other mobile devices.
5. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) evolved to mini PCs able to carry out many
of the basic functions of a larger PCs using Palm OS and MS Pocket PC operating
system.
6. MP3s: Audio file format that compresses the file and enables to share.
7.GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) an internet connection for mobile device
that provide greater speed of connection.
It is worth to conclude by saying; mobile learning is one of the technologies that
are growing faster with time and keeping pace with other technologies; it is now
developing more rapidly as it is no longer used only in schools. It results in
improved education and training basically for students and teachers as well as
researchers and developers.
KNOWLEDGE BUIDING
THE BENEFITS AND PURPOSE OF CSILE
CSILE (Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environment) is a networked learning
environment for fostering higher level processes of inquiry in elementary level education (see
Scardamalia& Bereiter, 1994). It provides students a shared space for working productively with
knowledge. The system is used to organize students learning projects in the context of such
domains of knowledge as mathematics, physics, biology, and history. CSILE was intended to
make advanced knowledge processes accessible to all participants, including children, also to
promote the creation and continual development of public artifacts or community knowledge and
provide a community space for carrying out this knowledge building work collaborative. It aims
at developing the intelligence of the user instead of making software as intelligent as possible
and to develop specifications for a wide range of educational software to support reflection,
problem solving, and learning.
CSILE supports intentional learning by providing a way for a group of students to build a
collective database of their thoughts using written notes and pictures. The design of CSILE is

appropriate and flexible enough to foster intentional learning across the school curricula and for
children at all grade levels. It is intended for eventual use at all grade levels and for all school
curricula, as well as other conventional school activities. An objective was to develop
specifications for a wide range of educational software to support reflection, problem solving,
and learning.
It promotes educational objectives like planning, monitoring, goal-setting and is designed for
reinvestment of mental resources that becomes available as a result of automaticity into
increasing levels of complexity. Furthermore this learning style will encourage students to be
intellectually smart as it allows them to think and state their own opinions on different subject
matters. It also encourage them to be able to critique each others points of view thus developing
students who are less dependent on the teachers to give them the right answers. Students who use
this type of learning style tend to become very creative and outspoken on what they believe to be
right and wrong.
Summary
Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE)
Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE) is a type of learning network
that focuses on providing a sense of community and collaboration amongst learners. Learners
can create, manipulate, expand, and exchange information with their colleagues through the
creation of information nodes that include both text and graphics. The original intention of
CSILE was; accessibility to advanced knowledge processes for all, foster and cultivate
community knowledge, and provide community space for knowledge-building learning
activities.
In 1995, CSILE was reengineered to create Knowledge Forum (KF). Both CSILE and
Knowledge Forum were created for purpose of supporting knowledge creation. The development
of Knowledge Forum is a continuous process that focuses on utilizing advances in technology to
enhance and improve its knowledge-building foundation. According to Scardamalia (2004), the
main technique used in Knowledge Forum is scaffolding. In Knowledge Forum, scaffolding is
broken down for learners into the following sections: my theory, I need to understand, new
information, this theory cannot be explained, a better theory, and putting our knowledge together.
Educational Applications

CSILE/Knowledge Forum has great educational applications for learners of all ages. The
following are key learning principles that are enforced through the usage of CSILE/Knowledge
Forum:
-

Multiple perspectives, multiple literacies, and Teamwork

Creating connections and public Knowledge

Advance knowledge processes

Rise-Above and improvable Ideas

Individual and group portfolios: evolution of ideas

Ideas and artifacts as objects of discourse

Embedded and transformative assessment

The Knowledge Society Network (KSN) and the Virtual Suite of Possibilities

In short CSILE/Knowledge Forum focuses on continuous development, comprehension, and

building of knowledge for learners at all levels. Evaluation of Knowledge Forum has indicated
that learners develop great computer literacy as well as improvement in inquiry, collaboration
and advanced knowledge processes. Knowledge Forum has extended to encompass not only
formal educational settings but also professional development in health care, public
organizations, and many types of workplaces around the world. It is the creativity and
knowledge-building process that is conducive of creating learners that are innovative and will
continue to learn throughout their lives.

HISTORY AND BENEFITS OF C SILE IN STUDENT EDUCATION

HISTORY

CSILE is an "educational knowledge media system", with a common database to store, retrieve
and link information from several media.

This expression is used to refer generically to

environments that foster the ability of students to exert intentional control over their own
learning. CSILE supports intentional learning by providing a means for a group of students to
build a collective database of their thoughts using written notes and pictures. Pictures can be
"zoomed" in or out and written text can be labeled in a number of ways to facilitate reflection

and allow the notes to appear in multiple contexts. The notes can also be placed on a timeline or
attached to a spot on a picture.
CSILE was initially developed for college students, yet the first-year implementation focused on
two grade fix-six classes. CSILE was made available on 16 networked computers. It is designed
for eventual use at all grade levels and for all school curricula, as well as other conventional
school activities. An objective was to develop specifications for a wide range of educational
software to support reflection, problem solving, and learning. It promotes educational objectives
like planning, monitoring, goal-setting, and is aimed at developing the intelligence of the user
instead of making software as intelligent as possible.
BENEFITS OF C SILE TO STUDENTS EDUCATION

Maintain Attention to Cognitive Goals

Treat Knowledge Lacks in a Positive Way

Provide Process-Relevant Feedback

Encourage Learning Strategies other than Rehearsal

Encourage Multiple Passes through Information

Support Varied Ways for Students to Organize their Knowledge

Encourage Maximum Use and Examination of Existing Knowledge

Provide Opportunity for Reflectivity and Individual Learning Styles

Facilitate Transfer of Knowledge across Contexts

Give Students More Responsibility for Contributing to Each Other's Learning

CONCLUSION
This learning style will encourage students to be more intellectually smart as it allows them to
think and state their own opinions on different subject matters. it also encourages them to be able
to critique each others viewpoints thus developing students who are less dependent on the
teachers to give them the right answers. Furthermore, students who use this type of learning style
tend to become very creative and outspoken on what they believe to be right and wrong. We do
want the world of thinkers and this is a great initiative that Marlene Scadamalia and Carl Breiter
developed that encourages students to express their thoughts using different media types. so it is

not only limited to those with writing skills but other students can use graphs or whatever that
tickles their fancy to express their thoughts.