Play is our favourite way of learning. Diane Ackerman
Since the way that children play has changed in today's modern world, learning through play should also change to become more modernised in order to keep up with the times. In fact, since play means using technology and mobile devices when playing, learning should also entail using mobile devices and relying on technology.
M-learning, or mobile learning means using a device in order to learn. In fact, m-learning could also mean relying on videos, podcasts, interactive apps, or even blogs in order to learn.
M-Learning is meant to be fun since it entails learning in smaller chunks and being able to concentrate more since you are only paying attention to content being taught for a shorter amount of time.
Today most of the advances in learning and almost every sphere of life is meant to be mobile first. This means that there are a variety of educational apps meant specifically and only for your mobile device. With so many educational apps on both the App Store and the Google Play Store, there is simply no reason why you should not rely on apps to learn and more so to revise the work that you have learnt. So, get out your mobile phone and get ready to revise the work that you have learnt by searching for an app that can help you.
Using a Phone to Revise
Initially, you may be against using your mobile device to revise mathematics or science content learnt as you may feel that your an app on your mobile phone will be a distraction. Well, a phone can be an excellent tool to help you to revise your work or even to assist you when completing your homework. Infact, if your mind is set on learning, you can surely learn by using your mobile device. Plus, you may actually learn something entirely new if you choose to download the right app for learning a specific subject or a certain topic.
You may still not be convinced to become part of M-learning generation. You surely are part of Gen X, but your study and revision methods are more traditional. However, here's some food for thought: you can't revise your work when you are out at a boring family reunion as you don't have subject books with you. You can, however, simply use your smartphone to help you with revision and studying when you are out at a boring family reunion as you’ll have your phone with you.
For a more structured study and revision approach, consider setting up a schedule. In this way, you can revise maths, history, life science, English, science, and even art by using traditional books and study material during the afternoon. You can then schedule in further revision of maths, history, life science, English, science, and even art during the evenings with your mobile phone in hand. An added bonus is that your smartphone is pretty light to carry around everywhere whereas most of your textbooks are pretty heavy.
If you are still not entirely convinced, read our list of the best study apps you can use in order to revise all the work that you have learnt at school.
Benefits of Using a Smart Learning App
Although we are trying to convince you that M-learning surely is the way forward, you have to admit that there are very many apps that are much like revision quizzes. These apps are structured to be almost game-like or like a fun quiz that tests your knowledge of what you have learnt.
There are also very many apps that you can use that are much more entertaining and far less boring than your textbook. Furthermore, you will be learning and revising without even acknowledging that you are learning. As the saying goes, when learning is fun and much like play, learning becomes better, and learning becomes fun.
There are also several other benefits to using a smart learning app and M-learning. For example, smart learning apps help you to:
Save Money
There are some revision apps that do require a subscription that you have to pay for, but even the subscription fee is far less expensive than that of a private tutor. Relying on a mobile app is a great way of saving you from incurring less expenses of having to need the services of a tutor to revise the work that you learn every day.
Even paid for apps that are ideal for revision purposes tend to be rather reasonably priced and hence you won't lose much even if you do use the revision app as a secondary method.
Remember, although M-learning is great, there are some people who thrive better if they learn with a tutor. We are not at all suggesting you stop taking tutorial lessons to settle for a mobile app, we are suggesting that you keep your options open and should you be struggling to pay tutorial fees, know that you have alternate avenues for learning and revising your work.
Saves Time
Time is money and another advantage of using apps when studying and revising is that you can pull out your study app rather easily at any time and at any place. You can do some revision while you are in the transport so that you revise an entire subject by the time you reach your home. To use a revision or studying app, you don't have to travel anywhere or use public transport in order to meet up with your tutor before you can get revision done. Most of time, all you will need is good signal and perhaps Wi-Fi in order to get much of your revision and studying done at the drop of a hat.
Created With a Purpose in Mind
Most smart learning apps have been specifically designed with a purpose in mind and that is to educate users about a subject or some content. Most educational apps are created after much research and considerable thought. That is why many educational apps tend to teach and then test or quiz learners on what has been taught.
The way that most learning apps work is that they teach you something or show you a video on a certain topic then test whether you grasped what was taught or rather shown to you. The apps sometimes even provide incentives if you learn at a rapid pace or even provide suggestions as to whether or you can advance to the next section. Most of time you can judge whether an app will be effective or not by seeing how many times the app has been downloaded.
The more downloads an app has, the greater the chance is that the app will work well for you as well. If you are still doubtful, find out how to effectively use apps for revision.
e-Learning Platforms in South Africa
While there are tons of international e-learning platforms, we suggest that you seek a good e-learning platform that is based in South Africa. South African e-learning platforms usually cater for a South African audience and thus focused on teaching you content that you need to know. You must remember that many e-learning platforms are designed for a single user to use on their own. The good thing about many e-learning platforms in South Africa is that they make you a much more independent learner.
e-learning platforms like DorkK and even the Vodacom learning app focuses on teaching South African students how to learn and revise content by viewing videos of the work being retaught by professional teachers and tutors. In this way, you get to learn in a similar fashion to how you would learn at school. The beauty part of video e-learning platforms is that you get to rewatch the videos if there is something that you don't understand. You can even pause the videos to write down what you have learnt and even to repeat what you have learnt.
How to Use Study Time Effectively
Now that you know the advantages of using M-learning apps, you can consider using your study time more effectively. You can make the most of your study time by scheduling in time for M-learning and for using an e-learning app to learn.
It is an advantage that you get to use your e-learning apps whenever you want to, however, you must remember that you need to be in the right mood in order to learn. Therefore, if you structure in time during your busy schedule to use an e-learning app, you will reap much benefit from this method of studying and revising.
We suggest that in order to study effectively and use your studying time wisely, you use an e-learning app to revise one or two subjects per day. If you revise two subjects per day, you can revise all your subjects in a week.
If you feel that a specific app is not helping you to revise or study, the app may not be the right one for you. It is okay not to taking a liking to a specific educational app even if the app is rather popular among your friends.
If you struggle with making the most of your study time since you are always distracted when using your mobile phone, we suggest you still consider using e-learning apps but with the help of a private tutor. Consider getting some extra help from one of the many talented and experienced private tutors on the Superprof website.
It must be remembered that if you are not reaping much benefit from your designated study and revision time, you may not be doing something right. Guidance and assistance are invaluable and hence we suggest you always seek help if you want to use your study time effectively and make the most of all the educational apps that you may have downloaded.
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