4g technology promote mobile learning

8/8/2019 4G Technology Promote Mobile Learning

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4G Technology Promote Mobile Learning for New Development

Libin He, Chengling Zhao

Department Of Information Technology HuaZhong Normal University,Wuhan,Hubei 430079,China

[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract

Mobile learning is a new learning model following

the e-learning. How to assist mobile learning with new

mobile communication technology effectively has been a

hot spot in the modern educational research.In this

paper the author introducted fourth-generation mobile

communication technology and mobile learning

briefly,then made some mobile learning models which

based on 4G technology,and gave some examples for

these models. At last, the author summaried the

advantages for 4G technology in the development of

mobile learning. All of above would be hoped to provide

some helpful references for the educators working in

mobile-learning.

1. Introduction

In the past few decades,The mobile communication

technology has been reached rapid development stage

and wide application stage.From the first time of mobile

communication technology to be used,there has been for

three generations.At present the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) has begun to

formulate the standards of fourth-generation mobile

communication,and has reached a consensus:With the

mobile communication system and other systems (such

as wireless LAN,WLAN etc.)combined,The 4G

technology was produced, so that before 2010 the data

transfer rate will reach 100Mbp/s,which can provide a

variety of business more effectively. Thus 4G

technology not only can offord convenience for people

but also can bring a learning revolution.

The development of education and the progress of

technological have deep relationships.With the

development of the network technology and information

technology,The modern distance education developed

rapidly which based on internet and multimedia

technology,and the learning models changed a lot.The

mobile learning has became a hot spot.

2. The fourth-generation mobile

communication technology (4G)

introduction

2.1. What is fourth-generation mobile

communication technology

The fourth-generation mobile communication

technology can be used widely known as the band

(Broadband) access and distribution networks with the

data transmission’s speed faster than 2Mb/s.It can also

provide 150Mb/s high-quality video services for the

global mobile users.Fourth-generation mobile

communication system includes wide band fixed

wireless access, broad band wireless LAN,

mobile-systems and interoperability with the broadcast

networks.It not only can provide wireless services in the

fixed wireless platforms and across different frequency

bands in the network,but also can access broadband

Internet and provide the targeted time, data collection,

integrated remote control functions Anywhere without

information or communication.[1]

2.2. Features of fourth-generation mobile

communication technology

We communicate with each other freedly by the

2008 International Symposium on Knowledge Acquisition and Modeling

978-0-7695-3488-6/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE

DOI 10.1109/KAM.2008.151

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fourth-generation mobile communication technology.It

will change our way of life completely and even social

patterns. The followings are the 4G’s characteristics.

(1) Faster spread rate

As the initial purpose why people research on the

fourth-generation mobile communications is to enhance

the rate which cellular phones and other mobile devices

wireless visit Internet, So the most important character

of 4G is its faster speed wireless communications

rate.The highest rate which the Third-generation mobile

communication system can reach is up to 2Mb/s,

experts estimate,the speed which the fourth-generation

mobile communication system can reach is up to

10-20Mb/s,maybe even 100 Mb/s,which is 10,000 times

as "i-mode" service.

(2) More flexible communication

Strictly speaking, the functions of 4G mobile phones

has beyond the general mobile phone, because

transmission of voice data is only one of 4G mobile

phone’s functions. Furthermore,The form and

appearance of 4G mobile phones will be more amazing,

You can imagine that glasses, watches, powder box,

gym shoes all you can imagine may become 4G’s

terminal.

(3) Complete integration of business

The personal communications,information

systems,broadcasting, entertainment and so on,These

business seamless connectivity as a whole to meet the

various needs of users.4G can integrate different modes

of wireless communications-from wireless LAN and

Bluetooth,and other indoor networks,cellular

signals,radio and television to satellite

communications,mobile users can freely roam from one

standard to another standard.All kinds of business

applications, systems platform are more convenient,

safe and they can meet users’ kinds of requirements.4G

technology can provide a variety of standard business

communications to meet a variety of business needs.[2]

(4) High intelligent network

4G communication system which use intelligent

technology will be a high degree of autonomy, adaptive

network. It has a good reconstruction of the scale

variability, self-organization.It can be used to adapt the

different environment,and meet different users.4G

technology use signal processing technology to access

different conditions of the various complex environment

with the normal transmission and reception,It is strong

intelligence, adaptability and flexibility. Can be adaptive

to carry out the allocation of resources, the

communication system can be adjusted in the course of

changing business-size accordingly deal with

communications and meet the requirements of terminal

equipment in the design and operation is also

intelligent.[3]

(5) Stronger compatibility

In order to be acceptable as soon as possible,

Developers should consider that how to let more users

to use 4G technology.Therefore, from this perspective,

4G communications systems should have many

functions such as global roaming,open interfaces

ineterconnect with a variety of network,and the

diversification of terminals from 2G,3G smooth

transition and so on.

(6) High-quality multimedia communications

4G can meet the coverage,quality

communications,telecommunications prices on the

support of high-speed data and high resolution

multi-media services.Multimedia communication

services provide by 4G wireless communications will

include voice,data,images and so on,A lot of

information through broadband channel sent out,So the

fourth-generation mobile communication system also

known as "multimedia mobile communications."

(7) Cheaper communications costs

4G communication solved the compatibility issues

between 4G and 3G.So that more communications users

can easily upgrade to the 4G communications,and 4G

communications has introduced many cutting-edge

communications technology,So compared to other

technologies, 4G communications when be deployed it

is easy and quick.Simultaneity,when building 4G

communications network systems,Telecommunications

operators will consider that 4G should be build on the

3G telecommunications network infrastructure directly,

and if use this gradually introduce method ,Operating

costs can effectively reduced.

3. Mobile learning Introduction

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3.1. What is mobile learning

M-learning, or "mobile learning",now commonly

abbreviated to "m-learning", has different meanings for

different communities.Although related to e-learningand distance education,it is distinct in its focus on

learning across contexts and learning with mobile

devices. One definition of mobile learning is: Learning

that happens across locations,or that takes advantage of

learning opportunities offered by portable technologies.

In other words, mobile learning decreases limitation of

learning location with the mobility of general portable

devices.Alexzander Dye and others in the paper

"Mobile Education a Glance at Future" made a more

specific definition M-Learning: "Mobile Learning is a

kind of study which based on mobile computing

devices,You can study at any time,any place.Mobile

computing devices which mobile learning used must be

able to provide learning content effectively,and to

provide two-way communication between teachers and

students. "[4] Renowned scholars Chabra and Figueiredo

combined with the idea of a long-distance

education,They defined mobile learning : "Learners can

use any device, at any time, any place for study".[5]

3.2. Characteristics of mobile learning

(1) Mobility of learning forms

In the mobile learning environment,the learners no

longer subject to time,space and cable network

restrictions.They can learn flexibly,convenient and at

anytime, anywhere for different purposes, in different

ways.Learning institutions,learning tools,learning

resources, learning supporters of the learners can be

mobile.

(2) Interactive learning processMobile learning technology is based on network

communication technology and mobile computing

technology. The digital learning information,resources

and services of the transfer can be used by these

technologies to achieve two-way communication.This

learning process will help learners improve their grades

and confidence,form learner's optimistic about the

treatment of learning, train learner’s ability to

communicate, develop learner’s personality.

(3) Integration of learning technology

Mobile learning integrated multiple technologies,such

as personality,multimedia,smart context, tactile

interaction, mobile devices ect.It implement some

changes for example from the virtual learning

environment to a wireless virtual learning

environment.So mobile learning is different from

network learning and digital learning which based on

cable network and desktop computer.

4. Mobile learning format based on 4G

technology

4.1. Mobile learning based on the short

message

Mobile learning based on the short message can not

only provide voice service,but also can provide short

message service.Through the short message,we can

transmit limited characters not only among learners,but

also between learners and the Internet server.By 4G

technology we can provide high-quality multimedia

communications.Mobile phones can send and receive

multimedia messaging including text,sound,images and

video.Learners sent text message to internet servers of teaching by mobile phone terminals,teaching server

analysis the user's text message then change it into data

requests,and then make a data analysis,processing,At

last it sents to learners on mobile phones.Use of this

property, students can complete a teaching and learning

activities through a wireless mobile networks and the

internet between the communications.

Using of a downloadable Java games and Short

Message Service text messages.BBC Bitesize is in the

vanguard which via mobile phones to provide a revised

version of the material.In view of the limited screen

space,The text messages and revised version of the

material is "one byte size". Since 2000,When the project

began, many people have been favored, especially with

the Java-enabled mobile phone has a number of

case-by-plus, The project will become more and more

popular, and its impact mainly due to the number of

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users.More than 650,000 students who received the

british general certificate of secondary education and

many adult learners.[6]

4.2. Mobile Learning based on the link browse

As the performance of communications chips and

DSP (Digital Signal Processor) improved, and the new

communication protocol introducted. Mobile

communications agreement will be greatly improved,

communications speed will greatly enhanced,The

mobile learning based on the way to connect mobile

learning will be widely applied.This approach is learner

use of mobile learning terminal,through the gateway of

the telecommunications then access the Internet,visit

teaching sever through WAP,then browse,query,

real-time interaction, similar to ordinary internet users.

With the improvement of communications chip and

DSP (Digital Signal Processor),the performance of

mobile communication protocol will be a great

improvement,the speed of communication will be

greatly enhanced.At present,many mobile phone

manufacturers have been or are being developed to

support the high-end mobile phone browser,such as

WAP phones, imode phone,GPRS mobile phone,They

can support browser.Now the mobile learning will have

large change in convenience and service

quality.Learning activities won’t be limited by time,

space but can receive high quality assurance.

Mobile learning based on the link browse can help

learners escape from the constraints of time and

space.They can access the internet at any time to find,

browse, download the necessary information. Moreover,

the fundamental advantage of downloading information

can be stored for a long time in the mobile terminals,

Offline learners can learn any time,meanwhile also can

alleviate the financial burden on students.It should be asuitable learning model for all mobile learners. Beijing

Mission Impossible wireless technology developed by

Limited-English mobile platform is more successful

cases.

4.3. Mobile learning based on 4G video

services

Because 4G technology is more mature than 3G

technology,It can provide more rapid dissemination

speed,higher-quality multimedia communications.

Therefore,We can use 4G technology to develop some

softwares for students to watch,simulation learning

course content.To some extent,4G technology-based

mobile learning will impact the traditional distance

education,tele-education tremendously.The reason is

that 4G-based video services for mobile learning is

more flexibility,more suitable for modern fast-paced

learners.

"Skills arena" is a video game about Mathematics, it

make up for the traditional teaching methods and

curriculum deficiencies. Students can choose to play a

role in their names according to physical characteristics.

and then as a role of design they play with the

computer opponents in the "race".The competition level

is measured by the difficulty level of questions. and the

degree of difficulty increases by raising the issue on the

screen. Compared with traditional exercises, "the skills

arena" can provide faster feedback,and allow students to

choose the level of difficulty of the exercise,and be able

to continue to stimulate students motivated.[7]

5. The advantages of mobile learning

which based on 4G technology

4G mobile technology-based learning model will be

the emergence of a strong impetus to mobile

communications and the integration of the internet and

mobile communications and education combined to

make full use of educational resources,improve people's

learning, in addition to its advantage of fixed distance

learning owned by the Interactive,Shared the advantages,

This kind of mobile learning also has the following

characteristics:embodied in portability, efficiency, andindividual, low-cost.

5.1. Portability

The main terminals of mobile learning include mobile

wireless laptops, smart phones, PDA, and so on.They all

have some features such as the portability wireless and

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4g technology promote mobile learning

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