mLearning launched in Lanka

The Faculty of Graduate Studies(FGS) of the University of Colombo (UoC) together with Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel and Microsoft created history last week by launching mLearning in Sri Lanka.

The course curriculum is developed by the UoC, the communication is provided by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel while the platform was developed by Microsoft.

'mLearning' also known as Mobile Learning is the teaching and learning process through the use of mobile and hand held devices such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), laptops and tablet Personal Computers.

Country Manager Microsoft, Sriyan De Silva Wijeryaratne said though many areas have undergone change in the last 100 years in the country learning and teaching was no different from 100 years ago. But with mLearning the future has just landed in Sri Lanka and it is a paradigm shift for teachers and students.

Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo Prof. S. S. M. K. Kshanika Hirimburegama said that she is keen on this project due to the tremendous potential it carries which could be even extended to rural areas or any part of the country.

This is an ideal solution to the problem of limited capacity and resources within Universities. She has had discussions with CEO of SLT Mobitel to prepare a method to send the daily prices of agri products to the agri businessmen of Hambantota. Chairperson, Sri Lanka Telekom and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Leisha De Silva Chandrasena said, "Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest literacy rates in the region, but still, our youth gets limited opportunities in higher education.

As a developing country, we have limited capacities in our university system and as a result, only a fraction of those who qualify at the A/Level examination gain admission to the universities. Higher education will be unaccessible for the rest, the geographical barriers keeping them at bay.

mLearning will be able to overcome these and is set to redefine the dynamics of higher education in Sri Lanka. "

CEO, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Suren J. Amarasekera said, "mLearning is defined to deliver quality education and acts as a catalyst which fosters a knowledge economy where traditional barriers are overcome.

The ability to access faculty from all over the world makes it a unique mode of education enriching and exceeding traditional classroom experience. This would be a welcome mode for all busy executives to pursue their higher education without being physically present at the university yet listen to lectures live in time shifted mode, as so opted by the individual.

While the University of Colombo will provide the rich material and Microsoft being the solution platform, Mobitel - with our fullfledged Super 3.5G/2G network can take it towards the farthest corners of the country."

Initially "m-Learning" will be an option available for students following the "Executive Diploma in Marketing" (EDM). This diploma will provide students with an intermediate level of knowledge to be applied in the field of marketing.

The curriculum is designed to mirror the challenges in the marketing industry. It adopts problem based learning as the primary teaching methodology to promote student directed learning, enabling the better equipment of specialist marketing knowledge and techniques in marketing management.

Students who are selected for the EDM will receive a laptop, a dongle as well as a free data package which will include Voice, a SIM and 3G services for an year at a fee.

SG