Writing a New Chapter in Mobile Learning

In the last fifteen months, education systems across the world have seen the need for student access to digital devices and reliable connectivity exacerbated as schools adapted to new teaching models in response to the pandemic. More than a billion students across the globe were confronted with the new reality of remote learning; many of whom were left behind, without the adequate digital tools and means to connect to their classrooms. Now, educators are assessing how to better prepare for a new chapter of learning to address all student’s mobile learning needs.

Innovative classroom environments and self-directed student learning have been core instruction pillars, long valued by educators. Digital tools and resources have become increasingly pervasive in classrooms over the past 10 years; mobile devices in the hands of students have helped both teachers and administrators realize the better student outcomes that un-tethered learning enables.

According to longitudinal research from Project Tomorrow®, a national education nonprofit organization:

• Teachers are significantly more likely to attribute student success to the positive impact of mobile devices in their classroom than ever before.
• 75% of teachers now say that their students are better prepared for college and career success because they have a digital device to support –a 32% increase since 2017.
• By the 2018-19 school year, 66% of American school districts reported that they were providing students with a mobile device (tablet, laptop or Chromebook) to use in school, though far fewer had implemented programs that allowed students to take devices home.

Many students were challenged to connect at home and in their communities, which made streaming virtual classes a serious obstacle. This resulted in an ineffective learning experience for and a high degree of frustration for teachers. Educators have emerged from this past years’ experience with a new list of “must-haves” when it comes to enabling effective teaching and learning. Whether students are at desks in the classroom or at the kitchen table at home, education models need to evolve to provide continuity for student instruction. Educators are utilizing online content and tools more than ever before, and as students prepare to return to school this year, the increase demand for connectivity will test the limits of in-school infrastructure. Today, more than 50% of district technology leaders say their schools have intermittent problems with internet access and connectivity speeds

Educators and leaders have underscored the importance of capturing the lessons learned throughout the pandemic to be utilized for the design of more a more effective and equitable student learning experience..  As educators write this new, post-pandemic chapter of mobile learning, the following requirements for mobile devices are rising in relevancy: 

• A new generation of mobile devices must be always connected to the Internet to ensure students have untethered access to the online resources that are part of their new learning playbook.
• Longer multi-day battery life is essential as students depend more on their devices to facilitate both teacher-led and student-directed learning.
• Teachers are using more video, multi-media content and online apps than ever before within their lessons, so devices must have the capacity to access and stream those resources without interrupting the learning process.
• New devices should mirror the key functions of smartphones to support sustained student engagement.  

To learn more about the new generation of mobile devices needed to support today’s students and teachers, check out this infographic created by Project Tomorrow and the Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ Initiative.

About Project Tomorrow

Project Tomorrow’s nonprofit mission is to support the effective implementation of research-based learning experiences for students in K-12 schools.  Project Tomorrow is particularly interested in the role of digital tools, content and resources in supporting students’ development of college and career ready skills.  The organization’s landmark research is the Speak Up Research Project which annually polls K-12 students, parents, educators and community members about the impact of technology resources on learning experiences both in school and out of school, and represents the largest collection of authentic, unfiltered stakeholder voice on digital learning. Since 2003, over 6 million K-12 students, parents, teachers, librarians, principals, technology leaders, district administrators and members of the community have shared their views and ideas through the Speak Up Project.  In addition, Project Tomorrow regularly designs and implements evaluation and efficacy studies on behalf of school districts, nonprofits, museums, foundations and companies to understand the impact of digital tools, content and resources on student outcomes and teacher effectiveness.  Learn more at www.tomorrow.org.

About Qualcomm and the Wireless Reach Initiative

Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator and a driving force behind the development, launch, and expansion of 5G.  When we connected the phone to the internet, the mobile revolution was born.  Today, our foundational technologies enable the mobile ecosystem and are found in every 3G, 4G and 5G smartphone. We bring the benefits of mobile to new industries, including automotive, the internet of things, and computing, and are leading the way to a world where everything and everyone can communicate and interact seamlessly.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business.

Wireless Reach invests in sustainable programs that demonstrate innovative uses of wireless technology to strengthen economic and social development globally. Our programs foster entrepreneurship, aid in public safety, enhance the delivery of health care, enrich teaching and learning, and improve environmental sustainability. Since 2006, Wireless Reach has benefitted more than 20 million people.