Teaching Digital Natives: Identifying Competencies for Mobile Learning Facilitators in Distance Education

Exploration of the affordances of mobile devices in integrating theory and clinical practice in an undergraduate nursing programme

“…Effective learning depends on the abilities of educators to encourage and support collaborative learning (Makoe 2012 :94).Affordability and accessibility to m-learning could afford educators a platform to encourage and support collaborative student learning.…”

Implications of the University of South Africa's (UNISA) shift to Open Distance e-Learning on Teacher Education

“…Not being supportive of the use of modern electronic technologies can only deprive Unisa students of an opportunity to engage in the digital world. Makoe (2012) highlights the importance of the need for academics to embrace the digital learning habits of their students. She uses the term 'digital natives' to describe modern technology users who have 'hypertext minds…leap around…function best when they are networked…thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards' (Prensky, 2001:2).…”

“…She uses the term 'digital natives' to describe modern technology users who have 'hypertext minds…leap around…function best when they are networked…thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards' (Prensky, 2001:2). Makoe (2012) argues that at Unisa, as in other higher education institutions, the lecturers tend to be digital immigrants who are not socialized into learning through different tools but only through engagement with structured courseware.…”

“…Research shows that most of Unisa students are comfortable with the use of social media tools like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mxit, and other synchronous platforms (Makoe, 2012). Not embracing these tools would deny Unisa lecturers and students the opportunity for interaction and instant feedback through easily accessible mobile technologies like cell phones, smartphones, MP3 players, Tablets, iPads and others (Rao, 2011;Prensky, 2004).…”

“…Not embracing these tools would deny Unisa lecturers and students the opportunity for interaction and instant feedback through easily accessible mobile technologies like cell phones, smartphones, MP3 players, Tablets, iPads and others (Rao, 2011;Prensky, 2004). Global learning trends are such that lecturers have to change from being knowledge banks to being a learning process design experts (Makoe, 2012). This approach to teaching and learning is not only becoming universal, but it also encourages authentic learning (Reeves, Herrington & Oliver, 2004;Ralabate, 2011), promotes higher order thinking skills and active learning (Laurillard, 2004) and cultivates a sense of responsibility to learn and self-development (Seymour & Fourie, 2004:5).…”