There is a rapid rise in the number of digital learners today showing us how the delivery of education has evolved. This is hardly surprising when we look at how mobile devices and applications have taken over businesses and consumers alike and it was only a matter of time before educational institutions adopted technology to engage students.

First there was e-learning, which used smart boards, PCs and CD ROMs. This extended to web conferencing and Web 2.0 when the Internet got popular. Learning can be enhanced and supported with different kinds of technology like video content, digital movies, laptop computing, hand-held technologies and podcasting.

Today, e-learning has evolved into m-learning or mobile learning with wireless internet connectivity making it easier for technology to be leveraged in education. What was once confined to a class room now knows no geographic boundaries and the latest upon the scene, mobile devices, are being viewed as a natural addition to e-learning.

The benefits of using technology in education

Here is a quick overview of how technology can be leveraged for education:

• Quick access to information leading to better performance .
• Ability to manage a variety of learning requirements, enabling students learn at their own pace, personalising the learning experience.
• Promotes two way interaction.
• Caters to special education needs for students with learning disabilities.
• Wider reach, taking learning to students who do not have the advantage of a regular education.
• Easy access to experts in a cost effective way.

One school plans to use the iPad to support its curriculum and is moving away from expensive printed text books that get outdated quickly. It plans to use mobile applications to keep its students interested and enhance their learning. They intend to use apps to simulate biology dissections, doing away with the need to buy related equipment for these. Using mobile technology will save them thousands of dollars in investment. Another school plans to use a one-to-one computing program pilot where each child will have a personal learning device that will enable them to have instant access to a huge database of information, web based resources and peers – regardless of geographic location.

The fall 2010 Campus Computing Survey indicates that more than 70 % of the participants concur that mobile apps will play a vital role in enhancing instructional resources. There is a strong market for mobile apps in higher education with students expecting educational institutions to make app-based resources and services available to them. The fact remains that even though many schools have not yet adopted it, technology is critical in education because it brings so many benefits. Schools may not allow cellphones for good reason, but it is possible to take advantage of its uses. Certain apps such as voice memos enable students to record notes for later review. The notes app on the iPhone allows students to email notes to themselves.

Different types of technologies bring different types of content and add value in the classroom, both conceptually and in terms of practice. Technology empowers both the student and the tutor, making the learning experience enjoyable and meaningful.

Technology makes learning dynamic. What are your experiences and views about using technology in education?

QR codes are one of the latest online marketing tactics being used to drive traffic to websites. A word about QR codes first:  QR codes, or Quick Response codes, are a type of 2D barcode with encrypted text and URLs that can be decoded by any mobile phone with a QR code reader.

QR codes are an amazingly cost-effective technology that businesses can use to fire up their marketing efforts since these codes create a bridge between their website and offline product.

QR codes – all set to grab the market

Considering the popularity of mobile ecommerce with consumers and the prediction that its value will increase to approximately $50 billion by 2014, there is no doubt that there is a massive audience for QR codes waiting to be leveraged. QR codes are easy to generate and embed in marketing materials, providing businesses a highly cost-effective and more importantly, a measurable marketing tactic.

How can online marketers use QR codes as a marketing super-tactic?

QR codes are visible everywhere these days on company marketing material including promos, flyers, restaurant menu cards, store fronts, newspapers, business cards – just about everything. Even individuals can generate a QR code for free and attract people to their blog or social media profile, business web pages and much more. A QR code can also act as someone’s business card. All one needs is a mobile phone with an Internet connect and a QR code scanner to connect with anything online. There is no limit to the amount of data QR codes can contain.

QR codes are also used by businesses on their business cards, making it easy for potential clients to access their contact details and save it to their mobile phone. They can also be used on promotional materials in marketing and advertising incentives such as discounts and coupon.

Some restaurants use QR codes on their menu and if someone orders a particular item, they can scan the relevant QR code and see how the dish will be prepared.  Luxury marketers use QR codes creatively to make exclusive offers to their elite clientele. Some brands use QR codes in their store windows next to products where customers can scan them with their mobile phones to see these offers and purchase what they want via their smartphones. Better still, these customers can share it with their friends, triggering word-of-mouth marketing and referrals for the business.

Mobile phones are a fantastic platform allowing users to connect with products easily. Combined with a call to action, marketers can benefit in a big way.  QR codes can help with customer attraction and retention, while bringing significant cost savings for a business. The list of benefits is endless and limited only by the business’s imagination.  Do you use QR codes as an individual or for your business? Do share your experiences.

With the sale of smartphones and tablets skyrocketing and competition increasing among brands to woo the consumer with apps galore, the rise – and rise – of mobile payments is quite apparent.

The future of mobile payments

Mobile Marketer recently quoted a PayPal executive who said that “PayPal’s mobile payment transaction volume has grown from $24 million in 2008 to $140 million in 2009 to $750 million last year. It is projected to top $2 billion this year and is expected to reach $7.5 billion in 2013”. Creditnet.com’s report predicts that by the end of 2015, the mobile payment industry could be worth up to $22 billion. Aite Group, a research group focused on the financial services industry reports that the adoption of NFC technology by wireless carriers and cellphone manufacturers could boost mobile payments in the U.S. to $214 billion by 2015.

With figures like that, it is clear that mobile payments are going to become a preferred method of payment.  Add to this location-based social networking sites offering mobile users incentives to shop and at the same time enabling businesses to target their local consumers. As marketers are figuring out ways to connect with their mobile customers and convert them to loyal users, they are also trying to offer real value through relevant offers.

Mobile payments: The benefits

As people become more dependent on their cellphones and with evolving technology, it is only natural that cellphones are used for more than just phone calls. Besides the standard features like messaging, organisers, cameras and internet browsing, mobile phones are now being used to transfer and receive money and making bill payments via secure gateways among others.

For consumers, mobile payments are beneficial because they can be used to make payments securely, conveniently and easily from any location. They can also be used in stock transactions and to manage one’s finances.  For businesses, the facility of mobile payments opens up a whole new channel to reach their local and global customer base through different marketing methods.

Small businesses, which were a little wary about the extra fees being charged for processing credit card payments and preferred check or cash, are open to accepting mobile payments, thanks to mobile payment companies offering cost-effective tools. Some premier mobile payment tools are Obopay, Intuit GoPayment, PAYware Mobile, Swipe and Square, which not only enable businesses accept mobile payments easily, but also provide sales analytics to help track net sales.

In the meantime, as the number of consumers opting to make mobile payments increases, there is the question of who will regulate mobile payments since there are no existing laws that apply to this payment mode. Activist groups contend that the sensitive financial data stored on mobile phones could be accessed by the unscrupulous.

Do you use your mobile phone to make payments? Do you run a business that accepts mobile payments? Share your experiences in the comments section!