Education for most of the 20th century depended on physical classrooms. There was no e-learning and computers were very basic. However, fortunately, the technological revolution brought with it very powerful tools for education. In this context, it was possible for ubiquitous learning to emerge.
This type of teaching encourages active and autonomous individuals. If you want to know more details about ubiquitous learning, we will show you what it is, what its characteristics are, and what advantages it has.
Ubiquitous learning: what it is and its characteristics
This type of learning is one that allows access to information from anywhere and at any time. It is also known as u-learning , a term that comes from the English ubiquitous learning.
Among the most outstanding characteristics are the immediacy in the access to tasks and information . The ability to instantly access answers and sustain two-way communication is made possible by information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Interactivity is also essential in u-learning . In this there is a constant communication between the students and the tutor; this, through chats or forums. It also allows people greater freedom: they decide when and where to learn. They only need an Internet connection and a mobile device, computer or tablet.
Application contexts
One of the advantages of this learning is its versatility, since it can be applied in many contexts. In this way it has been possible to adapt both in primary and higher education. In turn, it can be implemented in any area of knowledge .
At the Escuela Politécnica de Madrid , for example, it was used to teach some concepts of microeconomics. The students developed an application; This process contributed to self-learning and as a tool to complement what was explained by the teacher.
Another area in which it has been applied is in mathematics. One of the known cases is the implementation of virtual store simulations to help elementary students understand addition and subtraction. Language teaching has also been strengthened by ubiquitous learning. There are many programs to teach English that are supported by ICT.
Now, this type of learning today is key. Undoubtedly, digital natives have unique digital skills. For them, technology does not represent any mystery. They are permanently interconnected and have close knowledge of all the resources offered by the cloud. Therefore, they access them and solve any problem instantly.
What would be the benefits of this type of learning both for digital natives and for the rest of the population? Next, we will detail the most important ones.
Benefits of ubiquitous learning
Thanks to the technological revolution of recent years, society has instant access to all kinds of information. This facility has been used by the educational sector , how? Supported by ICT, which improved the forms of teaching in order to democratize knowledge.
These new spaces generated in education bring benefits such as:
Promote autonomy in students. Not only because it establishes when to study, but also which resources are the most relevant to achieve your goals.
Save time. When knowledge is accessed from a mobile, time is saved. It is not necessary to go to any classroom or library to do research that can take hours.
Develop competencies. In some countries, students have used their mobiles in this type of learning, which has allowed them to develop various skills. Among these we can mention: mechanical, communication, digital skills, as well as analysis and synthesis of information.
Collaborative work. Ubiquitous learning drives teamwork. People have at their disposal various platforms and social networks through which they interact. These spaces are ideal for encouraging collective intelligence, as students share knowledge, give their opinions, and discuss, and reflect.
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