How Can Kids & Students Learn and Grow While Using Mobile Devices?
Mobile devices have become powerful learning tools for kids. Previously, students relied on oral and written channels, such as tests and handwritten notes, to track their progress. Now, technology shapes the educational experience in new ways.
In the 21st century, children have access to the latest technology, including computers, desktops, mobile phones, and tablets. Children use all of these devices to conduct research, communicate with teachers, peers, friends, and various online portal forms to submit their assignments.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, students are relying most on online tools, such as Google Classroom or Zoom, to attend virtual live classes. The new lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic has taught students how to rely on distance learning and remote work with updated technology.
Here, we will discuss in detail how kids can learn from mobile phones and why it is beneficial for their long-term academic success and growth.
10 Ways Kids & Students Can Use Mobiles as Learning Tools
There are several ways to utilize mobile devices as a learning tool, leveraging various Google apps, authoritative websites, and assignment-helping websites. Here, we have listed a few ways to make productive use of a mobile phone.
– Know the Assignment
Students can use a mobile phone to update themselves on assignments that teachers have uploaded to the LMS system or to an online dedicated social media group. Not every student has to visit the teacher’s room for detailed information. Teachers can update kids through a proper online communication channel.
Many schools, colleges, and universities use Learning management systems, such as Canvas LMS, Moodle, Blackboard Learn, Google Classroom, and Brightspace, to communicate assignments and engage students. Students receive regular updates about tests, assignments, and report submissions with a single click on their mobile phone.
– Access to Recorded Lecture
One of the key benefits of using a mobile phone is that live lectures can be recorded online and listened to later. It happens with students as the lesson is not picked up during the professor’s session due to the lecture’s difficulty or being unattended for any reason. The lectures can be recorded if the teacher allows it.
Some LMS systems have already recorded lectures, which students can view later. Recorded sessions enable lectures to be watched repeatedly, facilitating learning and consistent growth.
– Store Online Notes Safely
As a student, you will have numerous PDF files containing assignments, online notes from the internet, and e-books on your mobile phone, which can create distractions during mobile operation. Numerous apps enable students to stay organized and take notes for specific subjects.
Apps like Google Drive and Dropbox offer online storage, allowing kids to upload files online. With a mobile phone, they can access the notes anywhere, without needing to open a laptop or a desktop. During the exam, they can revise notes outside of the classroom, either standing or sitting.
According to RJ Jacquez, “The thing is ‘Mobile Sets Learning Free’ and we can now learn virtually anything, anywhere and anytime, and that’s amazing.”
Students need to be fully equipped with the latest technology to stay current with the world.
– Get Information through a Podcast
A podcast is the best way to get yourself informed. Speakers with question-and-answer sessions convey lots of information, and students can take advantage of it.
Podcasts are gaining popularity due to the sharing of ideas, information, and stories that spark more interest in learning. Students can find podcasts on virtually any topic, and a wealth of information is available on the internet.
Whether it is a health-related, gaming, educational, legal, business, or scientific niche, one can easily find it on the internet. You can find a quality podcast on various platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Castbox, and YouTube. Now the information is only one click away.
– Record Presentation with High Quality Video
During online classes, teachers often assign a presentation as an assignment. In an online session, students must record themselves to submit as a presentation.
Kids can use mobile phones to record for presentations along with PowerPoint slides. Many laptops lack a camera or have a low-quality one, so that children can use their smartphones for recording.
Usually, smartphones have a high-quality camera, allowing you to record quickly, easily, and submit a video in no time. For creating a presentation, they can use an existing template in Microsoft PowerPoint or design one with online PPT creation tools like Canva, Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi, and Beautiful.ai.
Using an online presentation tool teaches children how to learn new tools and helps them create presentations. It is a fundamental skill that every company demands. An invaluable skill that benefits children in higher education and in the workforce.
– Learning through Online Word Games
Students are keenly interested in playing games. They can easily improve their learning with puzzle games. Unlike traditional games like flashcards or worksheets, students can now play online word games, which offer more interactive and fun challenges. Simply with one click on mobile phones.
Students find Strands Unlimited an exceptionally exciting game that improves vocabulary. It is a themed-based word search game, in which students learn new words.
Kids can play daily or for unlimited time for endless excitement and fun. Other popular word games among students are Wordle, Connections, and Words with Friends, which improve their memory recall, critical thinking, and encourage creativity.
Students can play it daily as a morning routine to refresh their brains. Winning a puzzle gives a sense of accomplishment and helps set the positive tone for the rest of the day. All you need to do is open your mobile phone and spend a few minutes a day playing a word game.
– Track the Calendar
If you are a student doing a part-time job, an online calendar would benefit you the most. For a paper calendar, you have to take it everywhere to see what appointments, classes, and meetings are marked. An online calendar app can benefit you in many ways. You can
- Mark events with alarm clock options, remind you of meetings
- Can access anywhere with a single tap on a mobile phone
- Never makes you lag or fall behind
Students can learn how to use online calendar apps like Google Calendar, schedule meetings, which would be helpful in their jobs.
– Read Books Online
Reading a book is a great habit that can lead to success. Nowadays, many people use the online e-book format to read books. Children can read online academic books by downloading them to their mobile phones.
They can read and revise anywhere, whether traveling on a bus or sitting in a park. They don’t need to carry heavy books in bags. With e-book options, it is easy to download heavy files in one click.
Children can read other entertainment books online. Reading will improve their word processing speed and information retaining ability. It will help build knowledge and lead to success in a career. Kids can read books by downloading them in PDF form.
Many online websites and resources, such as EPIC, offer over 40,000 ebooks specifically for kids that not only provide access to various books but also track their reading performance.
– Use Timer
Children need to learn time management skills, as they must find a balance between their studies and playtime. On their mobile phone, kids can set a time using a timer app to specify a specific task.
Even in subject studies, if a child gives more time to a particular subject that is not needed, he can set a timer for it. The mobile app is a state-of-the-art technology that allows students to manage their timetables fully.
With the stopwatch feature, kids know their time will be managed effectively, and they feel less stressed. Keeping their mind active and sharp.
– Keep in contact with Alumni
A mobile phone can store a large number of contacts. If your mobile storage is low, you can synchronize and save contacts in Google Drive. A student should stay in contact with professors and alumni to stay updated on industry practices.
As a student, you should also keep your current teachers in contact. If you have a question about an assignment or will be missing a night of class, you should contact your professor as soon as possible.
In such instances, a smartphone proves particularly useful because one of its primary functions is communication. Depending on the teacher’s preference, you can contact them via phone, email, or text message. Clarify the concept.
Final Thoughts
A mobile phone is a must-have device for students for educational purposes. Through a mobile phone, kids can access various learning platforms, educational word games, time-tracking, and management apps, such as calendars and timers.
From updating assignments to recording lectures and organizing notes, students with smartphones can accomplish almost anything. They are now able to use their time productively.
The device teaches children valuable life skills, including time management, reading, vocabulary building, networking, presentation skills, and modern online tools. Kids are turning their screen time to productive use with lifelong learning opportunities.