Top Reasons Why Mobile Devices Double up as Skill Set Builders for Students
Introduction
There were times in the past when bringing mobile devices to schools and universities was strictly prohibited. Educators and parents considered smartphones and tablets to be a mere source of distraction for students. However, the educational landscape has evolved greatly since then. Today educational institutes rely on mobile devices to engage their students in immersive learning. Mobile devices, that were once considered purely harmful to students have now gained a place in the field of education. In fact, they play a rather vital role in helping students hone their skills and gain access to immense knowledge.
How can your mobile devices help you to hone your skills? Let’s understand.
Building Skills with Mobile Devices
Mobile devices powered by the internet open the doors to an unlimited source of knowledge. Most schools and universities hand out mobile devices such as tablets and laptops to their students to improve their learning outcomes.
Whether you use smartphones or tablets within the classroom or beyond the university premises, you can use your smartphones, tablets or laptops to your advantage in the following ways.
- Access Online Libraries & Dictionaries
The internet is full of useful websites and resources. Once you have learned to maneuver your mobile devices and use the internet to your benefit, you can browse several online libraries to explore a range of novels and guides. You can also improve your language skills by accessing online dictionaries, most of which are freely available over the internet.
- Enroll in Distance Learning Programs
One of the best outcomes of digitalization of the educational sector is the distance learning programs that are offered by several universities around the globe. You can enroll yourself in the numerous distance learning courses offered by some of the world’s most prestigious universities and gain valuable certifications and degrees of your interest. These certifications and skills play a great role in carving your career path. It need not be subject-specific, you can take music, painting, dancing, yoga lessons or anything you want.
- Subscribe to Educational Podcasts
Podcasts have gained traction recently as they allow people to multitask while allowing them to catch up on the happenings of the world. There are millions of interesting podcasts available online. All you need is to identify your field of interest and subscribe to the podcast of your choice. This is one of the best ways for students to brush up on their general knowledge, as it does not require dedicated time. You can listen to podcasts on the go using your smartphones.
- Enhanced Research
Physical libraries are a great source of information. But students can gain access to thousands of research papers written by researchers from all over the world via the internet. Simply browsing websites of well-known publication houses or subscribing to world-famous journals such as Nature, Science, The Lancet, etc. can help students acquire top-notch information, be it for your thesis, or for any project that you are working on. The internet offers instant access to the latest information, something that physical libraries take time to deliver.
- Build Connections With Professionals & Researchers
It is uncommon in today’s world for anyone to not be using social media. Smartphones of most people, ranging from kids to adults have at least one social media app on their devices. While these apps offer a plethora of content for viewers of all ages, they also act as platforms for socializing. You can get in touch with a researcher whose work you really like, or simply have your doubts resolved by a professor who has expertise in your field. You can make endless connections and strike insightful conversations with professionals all around the world using social media.
- Better Conceptual Clarity With Visual Aids
Research suggests that incorporating audio-visual aids can make the learning process more effective for students. Schools and universities can explain concepts better with audio-visual content, videos and motion graphics. It is true that when you perceive things better when you see colorful and 3D models, compared to reading plain text. The internet has an abundance of such engaging educational content and mobile devices are the easiest means to access this content.
- Participating in Online Forums
The internet has brought the world closer. There are several online open forums where people discuss topics of all kinds. Participating in online forums and group discussions of your choice can go a long way in enhancing your conversational skills. Most schools and universities that offer online education too have implemented online forums to encourage students to participate in discussions, even on topics beyond the classroom. This not only helps students gain knowledge but also helps in understanding different perspectives and gaining a greater hold of the language, vocabulary and debating skills.
- Online Career Consultations
Most university students are in the common dilemma of making the right career choice. Thanks to the widespread use of mobile devices, students can book online consultations with career counselors from all around the world. It is not just about honing your skills, but also about being aware of the right opportunities available for you.
Secure Use of Mobile Devices: What Students Must Know
We’ve already established that mobile devices are a great learning tool for students. Several schools that are implementing mobile devices for digital education reaffirm this fact. However, it is equally important for you to know the dangers that the internet presents when using these devices. Mobile technology has become sophisticated with time, but so have hackers.
Cyber attacks are real. You can lose all your personal data, including your bank passwords, information contacts, etc. simply by clicking on one wrong link. Most universities that allow their students to use mobile devices generally take precautions to secure their devices from such threats with the help of various software such as MDM solutions for education. But if you are planning to use your personal smartphones or laptops to browse online content, make sure to be thorough on your internet browsing best practices.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read this article, chances are you already own a smartphone or a laptop, or both. Simply using your mobile devices for gaming or entertainment purposes defeats the purpose of the device. Mobile devices combined with the internet are powerful tools that are generally underestimated. You can make the most of your mobile devices and hone your skills using the above-mentioned ways.
Author Bio
Shambhavi is a Senior Content Writer at Scalefusion with prior experience in commercial writing, creative planning, product cataloging, and content strategizing. She is a “Biotechnologist turned writer” and believes that the inception of great ideas happens over coffee.
