An introduction to current capacity for mobile learning
- Michael Baker
- Jan 20, 2017
- 3 min read
My interest in the topic of ICT for Education policy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is fueled by the huge push for "online learning" and alternatives to current education models in the region. According to the e-learning Africa Report (2015) and their survey, 95% of those surveyed believe ICT's are the key to improving education in their countries. Whether supported by NGO's, local development, the government, or some combination of many of those factors, online education is being preached as a potential savior to the regions education development problems.
However, this is not anything new. My research into scholarship regarding the matter has shown articles dating back to the late 90s--concurrent with the online boom here in the States. However, it is easy to see that that has not turned out as well as hoped.
A lot of the research I have seen is divided into two time periods--in the mid-late 2000s, and just recently. Part of the divide can be traced to 2 trends in the region--1) the initial "output" of online learning systems after years of development, and their subsequent results (hint: mixed reviews) and 2) the recent push for mobile learning.
Part of the issue with online learning has been cost. Not only are computers more expensive than mobile devices, but the cost of broadband internet is also much higher than a mobile subscription. Consistent and not-spotty access is also an issue. Despite the massive investment in undersea fiber-optic cables, which has greatly increased access, internet service providers (ISP's) are few and far between, or controlled by the government. While there are a lot of great open educational resources (OER's) out there that have greatly assisted educators and students regionally and worldwide, the problem remains the initial cost of a computer and internet access.
Given that, the push for mobile learning has come up as an alternative. According to a report by GSMA (2015) mobile penetration is up to 80% over the continent, with mobile services generating 6.7& of the continent's GDP. Overall, usage of mobile broadband is low (28%), it is accelerating rapidly. While students and teachers alike are more likely to have access to mobile devices, The eLA 2015 report distinguishes that most of the time it is just being used for standard calls/texts--i.e. no internet. According to Firoze Monji, even the penetration rate listed above is misleading. He says (paraphrasing here) that many networks have inconsistent coverage because of infrastructure, and middle-class citizens will often have more than one cell phone just to stay connected. Therefore, the "penetration rate" may actually be skewed.
However, that won't stop entrepreneurs. E-learning businesses are cropping up everywhere, claiming to have a great solution. The main issue causing problems, however, is still cost. According to the GSMA report, the average cost of subscriptions and mobiles in general has decreased dramatically. However, consistent quality coverage is something else. As stated before, ISPs are restricted or highly regulated, funneling access into monopolistic entities. When Kenya allowed more mobile service competitors, penetration rates increased dramatically in the region.
This leads to one of the biggest questions for the region overall--is SSA truly ready for online/mobile learning systems as an alternative or supplement to education? I don't know. Many countries seem to be almost there, and some regions within countries already are there. However, the lack of consistent data for verification is astounding. Despite positive reports on development throughout the region, truly accurate data is hard to come by, especially from organizations dedicated to the topic (i.e. UIS/UNESCO). Hopefully, over the next few weeks, updated reports will come out providing a little bit of a better glimpse into what is currently working in the region.
In the meantime, I hope to dive a little deeper on those specific numbers of E-learning businesses mentioned already. While products may be coming out, what are they doing about access to those products? What companies out there have met with success? That, I hope to find out.
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