2008 International Symposium on Knowledge Acquisition and Modeling

4G Technology Promote Mobile Learning for New Development

Libin He, Chengling Zhao

Department Of Information Technology
HuaZhong Normal University,Wuhan,Hubei 430079,China
nxbayblue@qq.com, zhcling@mail.ccnu.edu.cn

Abstract technological have deep relationships.With the

development of the network technology and information
Mobile learning is a new learning model following technology,The modern distance education developed
the e-learning. How to assist mobile learning with new rapidly which based on internet and multimedia
mobile communication technology effectively has been a technology,and the learning models changed a lot.The
hot spot in the modern educational research.In this mobile learning has became a hot spot.
paper the author introducted fourth-generation mobile
communication technology and mobile learning 2. The fourth-generation mobile
briefly,then made some mobile learning models which communication technology (4G)
based on 4G technology,and gave some examples for introduction
these models. At last, the author summaried the
advantages for 4G technology in the development of 2.1. What is fourth-generation mobile
mobile learning. All of above would be hoped to provide communication technology
some helpful references for the educators working in
mobile-learning. The fourth-generation mobile communication
technology can be used widely known as the band
1. Introduction (Broadband) access and distribution networks with the
data transmission’s speed faster than 2Mb/s.It can also
In the past few decades,The mobile communication provide 150Mb/s high-quality video services for the
technology has been reached rapid development stage global mobile users.Fourth-generation mobile
and wide application stage.From the first time of mobile communication system includes wide band fixed
communication technology to be used,there has been for wireless access, broad band wireless LAN,
three generations.At present the International mobile-systems and interoperability with the broadcast
Telecommunication Union (ITU) has begun to networks.It not only can provide wireless services in the
formulate the standards of fourth-generation mobile fixed wireless platforms and across different frequency
communication,and has reached a consensus:With the bands in the network,but also can access broadband
mobile communication system and other systems (such Internet and provide the targeted time, data collection,
as wireless LAN,WLAN etc.)combined,The 4G integrated remote control functions Anywhere without
technology was produced, so that before 2010 the data information or communication.[1]
transfer rate will reach 100Mbp/s,which can provide a
variety of business more effectively. Thus 4G 2.2. Features of fourth-generation mobile
technology not only can offord convenience for people communication technology
but also can bring a learning revolution.
The development of education and the progress of We communicate with each other freedly by the

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DOI 10.1109/KAM.2008.151

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 fourth-generation mobile communication technology.It technology use signal processing technology to access
will change our way of life completely and even social different conditions of the various complex environment
patterns. The followings are the 4G’s characteristics. with the normal transmission and reception,It is strong
(1) Faster spread rate intelligence, adaptability and flexibility. Can be adaptive
As the initial purpose why people research on the to carry out the allocation of resources, the
fourth-generation mobile communications is to enhance communication system can be adjusted in the course of
the rate which cellular phones and other mobile devices changing business-size accordingly deal with
wireless visit Internet, So the most important character communications and meet the requirements of terminal
of 4G is its faster speed wireless communications equipment in the design and operation is also
rate.The highest rate which the Third-generation mobile intelligent.[3]
communication system can reach is up to 2Mb/s, (5) Stronger compatibility
experts estimate,the speed which the fourth-generation In order to be acceptable as soon as possible,
mobile communication system can reach is up to Developers should consider that how to let more users
10-20Mb/s,maybe even 100 Mb/s,which is 10,000 times to use 4G technology.Therefore, from this perspective,
as "i-mode" service. 4G communications systems should have many
(2) More flexible communication functions such as global roaming,open interfaces
Strictly speaking, the functions of 4G mobile phones ineterconnect with a variety of network,and the
has beyond the general mobile phone, because diversification of terminals from 2G,3G smooth
transmission of voice data is only one of 4G mobile transition and so on.
phone’s functions. Furthermore,The form and (6) High-quality multimedia communications
appearance of 4G mobile phones will be more amazing, 4G can meet the coverage,quality
You can imagine that glasses, watches, powder box, communications,telecommunications prices on the
gym shoes all you can imagine may become 4G’s support of high-speed data and high resolution
terminal. multi-media services.Multimedia communication
(3) Complete integration of business services provide by 4G wireless communications will
The personal communications,information include voice,data,images and so on,A lot of
systems,broadcasting, entertainment and so on,These information through broadband channel sent out,So the
business seamless connectivity as a whole to meet the fourth-generation mobile communication system also
various needs of users.4G can integrate different modes known as "multimedia mobile communications."
of wireless communications-from wireless LAN and (7) Cheaper communications costs
Bluetooth,and other indoor networks,cellular 4G communication solved the compatibility issues
signals,radio and television to satellite between 4G and 3G.So that more communications users
communications,mobile users can freely roam from one can easily upgrade to the 4G communications,and 4G
standard to another standard.All kinds of business communications has introduced many cutting-edge
applications, systems platform are more convenient, communications technology,So compared to other
safe and they can meet users’ kinds of requirements.4G technologies, 4G communications when be deployed it
technology can provide a variety of standard business is easy and quick.Simultaneity,when building 4G
communications to meet a variety of business needs.[2] communications network systems,Telecommunications
(4) High intelligent network operators will consider that 4G should be build on the
4G communication system which use intelligent 3G telecommunications network infrastructure directly,
technology will be a high degree of autonomy, adaptive and if use this gradually introduce method ,Operating
network. It has a good reconstruction of the scale costs can effectively reduced.
variability, self-organization.It can be used to adapt the
different environment,and meet different users.4G 3. Mobile learning Introduction

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3.1. What is mobile learning
M-learning, or "mobile learning",now commonly
abbreviated to "m-learning", has different meanings for
different communities.Although related to e-learning
and distance education,it is distinct in its focus on
learning across contexts and learning with mobile
devices. One definition of mobile learning is: Learning
that happens across locations,or that takes advantage of
learning opportunities offered by portable technologies.
In other words, mobile learning decreases limitation of
learning location with the mobility of general portable
devices.Alexzander Dye and others in the paper
"Mobile Education a Glance at Future" made a more
specific definition M-Learning: "Mobile Learning is a
kind of study which based on mobile computing
devices,You can study at any time,any place.Mobile
computing devices which mobile learning used must be
able to provide learning content effectively,and to
provide two-way communication between teachers and
students. "[4] Renowned scholars Chabra and Figueiredo
combined with the idea of a long-distance
education,They defined mobile learning : "Learners can
use any device, at any time, any place for study".[5]
3.2. Characteristics of mobile learning
(1) Mobility of learning forms
In the mobile learning environment,the learners no
longer subject to time,space and cable network
restrictions.They can learn flexibly,convenient and at
anytime, anywhere for different purposes, in different
ways.Learning institutions,learning tools,learning
resources, learning supporters of the learners can be
mobile.
(2) Interactive learning process
Mobile learning technology is based on network
communication technology and mobile computing
technology. The digital learning information,resources
and services of the transfer can be used by these
technologies to achieve two-way communication.This
learning process will help learners improve their grades
and confidence,form learner's optimistic about the
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treatment of learning, train learner’s ability to
communicate, develop learner’s personality.
(3) Integration of learning technology
Mobile learning integrated multiple technologies,such
as personality,multimedia,smart context, tactile
interaction, mobile devices ect.It implement some
changes for example from the virtual learning
environment to a wireless virtual learning
environment.So mobile learning is different from
network learning and digital learning which based on
cable network and desktop computer.
4. Mobile learning format based on 4G
technology
4.1. Mobile learning based on the short
message
Mobile learning based on the short message can not
only provide voice service,but also can provide short
message service.Through the short message,we can
transmit limited characters not only among learners,but
also between learners and the Internet server.By 4G
technology we can provide high-quality multimedia
communications.Mobile phones can send and receive
multimedia messaging including text,sound,images and
video.Learners sent text message to internet servers of
teaching by mobile phone terminals,teaching server
analysis the user's text message then change it into data
requests,and then make a data analysis,processing,At
last it sents to learners on mobile phones.Use of this
property, students can complete a teaching and learning
activities through a wireless mobile networks and the
internet between the communications.
Using of a downloadable Java games and Short
Message Service text messages.BBC Bitesize is in the
vanguard which via mobile phones to provide a revised
version of the material.In view of the limited screen
space,The text messages and revised version of the
material is "one byte size". Since 2000,When the project
began, many people have been favored, especially with
the Java-enabled mobile phone has a number of
case-by-plus, The project will become more and more
popular, and its impact mainly due to the number of
 users.More than 650,000 students who received the
british general certificate of secondary education and
[6]
many adult learners.
4.2. Mobile Learning based on the link browse
As the performance of communications chips and
DSP (Digital Signal Processor) improved, and the new
communication protocol introducted.
communications agreement will be greatly improved,
communications speed will greatly enhanced,The
mobile learning based on the way to connect mobile
learning will be widely applied.This approach is learner
use of mobile learning terminal,through the gateway of
the telecommunications then access the Internet,visit
teaching sever through WAP,then browse,query,
real-time interaction, similar to ordinary internet users.
With the improvement of communications chip and
DSP (Digital Signal Processor),the performance of
mobile communication protocol will be a great
improvement,the speed of communication will be
greatly enhanced.At present,many mobile
manufacturers have been or are being developed to
support the high-end mobile phone browser,such as
WAP phones, imode phone,GPRS mobile phone,They
can support browser.Now the mobile learning will have
large change in convenience and
quality.Learning activities won’t be limited by time,
space but can receive high quality assurance.
Mobile learning based on the link browse can help
learners escape from the constraints of time and
space.They can access the internet at any time to find,
browse, download the necessary information. Moreover,
the fundamental advantage of downloading information
can be stored for a long time in the mobile terminals,
Offline learners can learn any time,meanwhile also can
alleviate the financial burden on students.It should be a
suitable learning model for all mobile learners. Beijing
Mission Impossible wireless technology developed by
Limited-English mobile platform is more successful
cases.
4.3. Mobile learning based on 4G video
services
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Because 4G technology is more mature than 3G
technology,It can provide more rapid dissemination
speed,higher-quality multimedia communications.
Therefore,We can use 4G technology to develop some
softwares for students to watch,simulation learning
course content.To some extent,4G technology-based
mobile learning will impact the traditional distance
Mobile education,tele-education tremendously.The reason is
that 4G-based video services for mobile learning is
more flexibility,more suitable for modern fast-paced
learners.
"Skills arena" is a video game about Mathematics, it
make up for the traditional teaching methods and
curriculum deficiencies. Students can choose to play a
role in their names according to physical characteristics.
and then as a role of design they play with the
computer opponents in the "race".The competition level
is measured by the difficulty level of questions. and the
degree of difficulty increases by raising the issue on the
screen. Compared with traditional exercises, "the skills
phone arena" can provide faster feedback,and allow students to
choose the level of difficulty of the exercise,and be able
to continue to stimulate students motivated.[7]
5. The advantages of mobile learning
service which based on 4G technology
4G mobile technology-based learning model will be
the emergence of a strong impetus to mobile
communications and the integration of the internet and
mobile communications and education combined to
make full use of educational resources,improve people's
learning, in addition to its advantage of fixed distance
learning owned by the Interactive,Shared the advantages,
This kind of mobile learning also has the following
characteristics:embodied in portability, efficiency, and
individual, low-cost.
5.1. Portability
The main terminals of mobile learning include mobile
wireless laptops, smart phones, PDA, and so on.They all
have some features such as the portability wireless and
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 mobile.With the develop of 4G technology,these devices of students have mobile phones,So schools don’t need
function become a complementary,and the size is to invest equipments for student again.
smaller and smaller.Learners can control their own
learning time by portable mobile device,or make 6. Concluding remarks
voice,video,data and other information access,study and
exchanges in scattered time or scattered by time voice, The advantages of mobile learning are obvious to
video,data.such as access to information, all.We believe that with 4G technology,mobile learning
communication and learning on the road or in the park. education can bring us a new development
Mobile learning is more helpful for someone who has stage.However,the fourth-generation mobile
job, they are no longer restricted to a specific time, communication technology is still in the exploratory
specific place to learn, but can organize their life, stage,How can we use the latest mobile
study and work better. telecommunications technology to play the inherent
advantages of mobile learning?And how to solve the
5.2. Efficiency technical, environmental, financial and other material?
How can we do to be better on the humane care for
In the mobile learning process,learners first proposed learners? All of these are we should be concerned about.
learning from,then with some questions to explore.when Although mobile learning research is last out not long
they learn the knowledge.Mobile communications time,Theoretical system is still not perfect enough,but
equipment can display multimedia forms of learners with development of the technology,mobile learning
learning resources.4G technology provide learners will be developed rapidly,which will bring more
intelligent networks.Learners can change ideas timely convenience for our study and life.It will bring large
with other learners on the internet,They can study the changes for the teaching methods of distance education.
issue,discuss,By this way we can enhance learners’
learning efficiency rapidly.
References
5.3. Individuation
[1] Atallah JG,Ismail M.Future 4G Front-Ends Enabling
Modern education advocacy personalized Smooth Vertical Handovers[J].IEEECircuits&
learning,learners can be in accordance with their own Devices,2006,(01):6-15.
actual conditions and needs,master learning,learning [2][3] Peng Yi, “the investigation bright. Fourth-generation
sites,learning content ect.Mobile learning provides a mobile communication system and prospects”.
self-learners to develop the space and learning Telecommunications Science, 2002 (6) :8-12.
platform.Each learner can be based on their habits, [4] Aleksander Dye, “Mobile Education-A Glance at The
preferences and demand to build their own curriculum. Future”Http://www.nettskolen.com/forskning/mobile_educatio
n.pdf ,2001-10-04.
5.4. Low cost [5] Desmond. Base more. “Mobile Learning - the next
generation of learning”. Opening up education and research,
Mobile equipment breakthrough in the study and 2004 (6): 23.
wired connections brought about by the [6][7] Laura Naismith Peter Lonsdale Giasemi Vavoula Mike
shackles,anytime,anywhere,wireless connectivity, Sharples,Yang Yuqin,Zhong Hongrui,Jiao Jianli, “Literature
flexible, easy.In the dormitory,office buildings and other Review in Mobile Technologies and Learning”distance
places where the high cost of wiring,the use of wireless education journal,2008(1):4-13.
LAN can avoid the high cost of cable installation
costs.In colleges and universities more than 90 percent

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