Mobile learning, as defined by Ambient Insight, is learning content used on and for handheld devices. (Burger, 2006) The medical profession is one of the few professional that has embraced this technology. Medical professionals are busy individuals and seem to appreciate anything including using mobile learning that will make their everyday work lives easier. The profession has seen a growth of web and mobile-based continuing education and a decline in traditional meetings. Ambient forecasts a continued decline of traditional meetings over the next 5 years.
The Elements Driving Change
Ambient identified six elements driving the change in the healthcare profession:
- Improved wireless networks
- New conversion and creation of learning content
- Better devices and web browsers
- Improved applications and operating systems
- Improved user interfaces
- Improved cellular networks
The Untapped Market
Over 60% of U.S. workers use mobile devices for work everyday. (Burger, 2006) For education professionals, this represents a large potential market for creating non-device dependent mobile learning content. The healthcare industry is a time critical and already mobile profession. Most managers in the healthcare profession support the increase in productivity mobile learning offers. If these same critical factors for mobile learning readiness can be identified in other professions, you will see a surge in content development, distribution, and use.
Burger, J. P., Greer, T., (2006). The Next Generation of Mobile Learning - Healthcare Shows the Way. (MLearn 2006 Conference Presentation)
3 comments:
Healthcare has embraced mLearning and technology in general partly out of necessity and partly out of convenience. The every changing healthcare environment has forced educators to have the ability to continually update/inservice on new information. Thus utilizing mLearning was a great fit to a large issue...If the updates don't get out to the clinicians as quickly as possible, patient safety may become a concern!!
The convenience issue is cost driven, healthcare agencies are quick to jump behind technology that will ultimately save time and $!
Although I was glad to see that medical professionals have embrased alternate forms of learning to keep thier information current, I have to say I was not suprised. Medical technology seems to be created, replaced, and updated each week so why wouldn't the professionals who use state of the art technology all day not demand the same for their educational opportunities? Good article to share overall, though. Thank you.
Whatever the reason that Healthcare has embraced mLearning, I say good for you. Whether it is out of necessity or convenience, I am glad they did. I'd like to hope that this trend will trickle down into all aspects of education. I think future teachers would definitely benefit from this if for no other reason, they would learn it so they can use it in their own teaching style.
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