Mobile Learning (mLearning) Based on Cloud Computing: mLearning as a Service (mLaaS)
Mohssen Alabbadi · Ubiquitous Computing Systems · 2011
Despite its hype, cloud computing, with its dynamic scalability and virtualized resources usage, is being widely deployed for several applications in many organizations. It is envisioned that, in the near future, cloud computing will have a significant impact in the educational and learning environment, enabling its own users (i.e., learners, instructors, and administrators) to perform their tasks effectively with less cost. On the other hand, mobile handheld devices are being lately used in the learning arena, creating mobile learning (mLearning), due to the quality of users' experiences employing them in banking, health, and other aspects of life. However, the existing mobile devices suffer some weaknesses that may hinder the future promotion of mLearning. Some of these weaknesses can be addressed using cloud computing. In this paper, the use of cloud computing for mLearning is discussed, creating mLearning as a Service (mLaaS), with focus on its potential benefits and offerings. Furthermore, user-centric service-focused system architecture of mLaaS is proposed. The proposed architecture has the major added features: transparency; collaboration, extended into intra-organizational sharing of educational and learning resources; personalized learning; and users' motivational effects. This last feature is a user-system interactivity, aiming to establish a new kind of relation between the learners and mLaaS. Keywords— Cloud Computing; Cloud Computing Services; Education Technologies; Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Education; Mobile Learning (mLearning); Personalized Learning; Web Services.