Can cellphones help learners to learn better?

Time to read this article again in view of a comment that was received. The article appeared for the first time on 28 February 2016.

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I have just listened to a very interesting programme on RSG (Radio Sonder Grense; 100-104 FM) about "mobile reading" (mobiele lees). It is also called digital reading and online reading.

Dr Donovan Lawrence of the Department of Afrikaans at the University of Johannesburg talked about mobile reading and how this phenomenon can motivate learners to read more

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 and how it can assist better learning. Those of you who understand Afrikaans can download the podcast here and listen to it. 

We know data is still very expensive in South Africa, but everybody also knows that people are using their cellphones more and more as the other functions of cellphones, apart from calling and sending text messages (sms), become available. We have to take notice of this. Dr Lawrence has pointed out the following:

• There are more cellphones and active sim cards than people in South Africa.
• People are reading more and more on their cellphones.
• Even in the most remote areas of our country people have cellphones.
• Cellphones get people in contact with knowledge where libraries, books and magazines cannot.
• Researchers have found that when learners read online on cellphones, tablets and computers, they are more motivated to read.
• Learners' attitudes are better when they read online; why don't we utilise this opportunity to avail educational material on cellphones, etc.?
• The mobility of cellphones make it possible to learn anywhere and anytime.

This brings me back to my requests in the past, also during our most recent round of start-up meetings, to make our documents available to learners on their cellphones; documents such as the examination guidelines, question papers, etc.

I am so interested to know whom of the teachers have started to do it? Does it work? What have you made available? What did learners download themselves? Do they know about this blog and where they can download the examination guidelines, etc? What percentage of learners have cellphones who can display pdf files? Have you created material that learners can access through their cellphones?

It would be so nice if you comment on this in the comment section below. Let us know where it works and - especially - what type of problems and obstacles you have.