Mobile learning
technologies in education all over the world. In fact, wireless technologies such
as laptop computers, palmtop computers and mobile phones are revolutionizing
education and transforming
the traditional classroom-based learning and teaching
into anytime and anywhere education. The term „mobile learning” or
“m-learning”, is not a new one. It describes learning of the
learners’ not defined location or when he or she uses the benefits of mobile
technology when learning. Mobile learning was previously limited to laptops, but
today it mainly refers to smart phones, tablet PCs or mobile gaming and
entertainment consoles. The strengths of mobile learning lie primarily in the use
of learning programs not dependent on time or place, that are in the extremely
efficient use of the available time. Periods of idle time between customer
meetings or waiting times at airports can be used to access learning modules.
Therefore, the vision behind this is the learning is to get what you want,
where you want and when you want. Mobile learning importance has increased
since the beginning of the twenty first century.
language learning (CALL) can be traced back to the 1960s but modern computer
technology together with the internet have revolutionized the ways in which
computers can support language learning (Warschauer, 1996). One of the case
studies reported by Warschauer is that of a group of Bulgarian students who traditionally did not
have access to the English speaking world. The class was studying contemporary
American short stories and used a variety of technologies to assist in this
process. E-mail communication was set up with a group of TESOL students from
America so that they could ask questions about the language and cultural
references. In addition concordance software was used to explore some of the expressions
from the texts in a greater range of English language. The American students
also made recordings of the texts so that they could be used to improve the
Bulgarian students’ listening skills (Meskill and Rangelova, 1995).Mobile
learning in contrast is a much recent development and represents a more
personalized style of learning.
