Implementing Mobile Learning Across Cultures Globally: Opportunities and Challenges” and to present a poster entitled, "Athabasca University Mobile Learning: Delivering French Training Using Mobile Devices

Abstract

Because of the rapid growth in the use of mobile technology globally, there is the potential to reach learners around the world to help them become more educated and to improve the quality of life. Mobile technology allows citizens, many of whom are underserved, to access both formal and informal education using their existing technology. There are many global initiatives to help people around the world achieve a basic educational level. For example, one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is to achieve universal primary education by 2015. One important strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals is to design and deliver learning materials using mobile technology since many people already have mobile devices. Another important reason to deliver learning materials on mobile technology is because in some developing countries, a large percent of the population is young people who will be the next generation of students. The current and future generations of students are very comfortable using mobile technology and they expect that mobile technology will be used in the learning process. This diverse panel, which consists of mobile experts, has global experience in the implementation of mobile learning using mobile technology, including smartphones and tablets. They will describe global mobile learning projects and discuss opportunities and challenges when implementing mobile learning projects globally.