Smartphones and Laptop Making Learning Fun and Easy

3 Simple Ways Mobile Learning Makes Education More Fun

By Breno Masi, General Manager at PlayKids

For the last three years, I've been engaged in developing the most complete app for kids all while thinking about what my little ones need. As a father of three girls who are now between 18 months and 6 years, I take their needs for a fun and educational childhood while at the same time, their experiences enrich my knowledge to my job every day. My PlayKids co-founders feel the same way.

Most of us parents have a way to enrich our child's learning right in our own pockets: our cell phones. It may seem like the easy way out to let our kids play on a phone or tablet while we're out running errands or on a trip, but incorporating learning into our mobile lives actually increases children's skills and knowledge. It also encourages them to interact with their environment. Using these tools helps kids develop visual and spatial skills and prepares them for school and work, where computers and other technologies are essential. By encouraging children to connect their screens to the worlds around them, we can make learning fun and ultimately, foster growth and learning. That's why at PlayKids, we believe that the most important thing in the learning process for kids is their connection to real life through their parents and teachers. We believe that technology is a complement but it should never be the main driver to educate our children. Our vision is aligned with the American Education Department best practices on using technologies in education.

#1 Connecting with others

We live in an era where we're more connected than ever, and mobile learning offers a lot of opportunities for kids to connect with others around the world, learning about other places, cultures and beliefs as well as finding common ground and collaborating on tasks and problem-solving. Since mobile devices are usually cheaper and more accessible, more people everywhere are likely to have them. Plus, apps often incorporate the ability to play with others, teaching skills in collaboration and shared problem-solving, skills which many experts identify as critical for 21st century careers. Additionally, experts have long known that the earlier a child is exposed to a language, the easier it is to learn, and now there are many apps and games that will introduce even the youngest children to a foreign language, making it easy for them to pick it up before they've started formal schooling. They can learn languages in simple ways like: changing devices language, apps languages and listening to music in other languages. My wife and I frequently expose our three little girls to other languages to make it more natural for them.

#2 Using the world around us

Whether you are on a family road trip or out running errands, tablets and cell phones can make screen time both educational and engaging for your child. One of the benefits of using learning apps and games is that any place you go can be an opportunity to learn something new. On trips, everyone can learn more about places they visit by using a wide variety of apps and online resources to find, navigate, and gain information about new places. One e-learning blogger suggests that you can have kids take pictures of flora and fauna, then search out information on them to learn more about the natural world.

My kids are very interested in searching and discovering new things. They are used to asking us to help finding animals pictures and this complements their school learning. Interactive maps can also teach kids map-reading and navigation skills while also helping you when you need to pay attention to the road. Having your child do simple math, such as adding up your purchases on your phone while you're shopping, will not only keep children busy but will also encourage them to build key academic skills that are connected to the real world.

#3 Individualizing learning

The more specific and individualized learning can be tailored to a child, the more likely they will be able to learn. A 2015 study showed that students were actually spending more time studying when they used mobile devices. Mobile learning is well-suited for individualized learning and makes it fun, because it offers so many ways to interact. Mobile devices can provide kids a variety of resources depending on their learning styles and abilities since the availability of videos; interactive resources and references; e-books; audio materials; study guides; study apps that help kids keep to a schedule; and opportunities for collaborating with others, not to mention ways to communicate with teachers.

By using a mobile smartphone or tablet, we can also share learning with our child anywhere. It's possible to both teach them while also attending to all the demands of the modern world. Waiting in a doctor's office? Making dinner? Driving in the car? All of these activities are opportunities to make screen time learning time by playing a game or sharing an e-book. The nice thing about that is you'll be available to ask or answer questions and reinforce concepts and language skills.

Cell phones and tablets are widespread, and kids see parents using them every day. If you take advantage of a child's natural curiosity and the advantages offered by mobile learning, you'll find that your kids are having so much fun that they might not even notice that they're learning something.

Looking for some apps to get you started? Check out Common Sense Media for their lists of recommendations based on age as well as PlayKids, the #1 platform of services for kids' entertainment and education.

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Source: https://movile.medium.com/3-simple-ways-mobile-learning-makes-education-more-fun-8eed68130163

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