Application of PDA in mobile learning

Abstract

Using computing technology in education is not a new issue. Many researches on e-learning and e-teaching have been done already. Recently, educators are increasingly aware of how mobile technology can be used in new generation of education and how they can be beneficial for learning and teaching. Several mobile learning projects are carrying on right now and many of mobile learning projects documented in the literature aimed to find out what advantages and limitations are on mobile learning. However, few previous studies have reported on mobile learning issues such as learning languages through practicing reading, writing, listening and speaking, and the possibilities of transforming a web e-learning system to mobile learning system. The aim of this project is to determine what and how PDAs can be used by the students in primary schools to assist their English language learning and to discussion the approach to transform an existing web learning system to mobile learning system. The study emphases on how learners can improve their reading, writing and listening skills through practice. A prototype system – Pocket WELS (PWELS) which models a study room that provides exercise to learners is developed for this purpose. The result of this study could help educators to plan on how they can apply mobile technology to learn English and to provide a prototype to aid students to learn. It also provides an approach for computer specialists to produce an error prone and sophisticated mobile learning system based on e-learning system.