M-learning: desafios aos docentes no contexto escolar

Abstract

Mobile technologies advance by leaps and bounds. They make changes in social interactions. Consequently, teaching-learning processes that occur in school environment change as well. Such devices’ inclusion as teaching tools are among the consequences of advances in mobile technologies, which are understood as M-learning – or learning mobility. M-learning allows quick access to a greater number of information, either through networking or visual supplies, which would lead to further interaction between student and knowledge (information) and between teachers and students as well, who belong to the same virtual environment from now on. Despite information supporters and communication technologies’ consensus that M-learning is the most promising way to school nowadays, there are few papers that exploit it effectively. Literature review on the subject shows that empirical studies confirm its effectiveness in improving learning. Besides, it also makes teaching process easier. The most common obstacles to M-learning effective use with positive results for learning are: school infrastructure, socioeconomic conditions and teachers’ resistance by lack of expertise. Moreover, mobile devices used in M-learning are constantly improving and changing. This fact leads to a necessary knowledge renewal in conjunction with “devices exchange”. Intrinsic mobile devices transience scares teachers somehow, who need to update on how to handle the equipment as fast as it evolves. Thus, this research aims to find out what are the main difficulties for M-learning implementation for lack of teachers. Literature review on M-learning, analysis of the work already done on the subject and a survey with students and teachers from a Brazilian public school have identified teachers’ doubts and obstacles. Based on such results, Guide which aims to facilitate mobile devices’ school use was prepared. It is expected that this research meets its target audience - teachers - and that it allows to imbed M-learning as part of teaching-learning process at school environment.