UNESCO trains UNN staff on mobile teaching
A new era in the application of science and technology in teaching and learning has dawned in Nigeria, as more than 100 academic staff of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, are currently undergoing training on the use of Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) and Android-enabled mobile phones to generate instructions and deliver lecture to students. The programme is under the auspices of UNN-UNESCO collaboration.
In one of the presentations, a UNESCO facilitator from the University of West Indies, Dr Permanand Mohan, guided participants on what he called Mobile maths, which, according to him, was the use of Mobile phones to generate Mathematical equations and also pass instructions to students without having a classroom setting. The title of his presentation was, “Building Scientific M-learning Application using J2ME and Android”,
On the health implication of using Mobile Phones, the Research Head for Mobile and Communication Advancements, GC University-Lahore (Pakistan), Dr Fareeha Zafar, explained that human skin magnates electromagnetic radiations from phones the way television antenna attracts visual signals.
She warned that such radiations could have adverse effect on the brain and genital organs of phone users, especially those with low defence system and low level of calcium and magnesium in their blood.
Further, Dr Zafar cautioned that as the 10th country in the world that use highest number of mobile phones, Nigerians could be vulnerable to mobile problems if adequate precautionary measures were not taken. She added that such dangerous trends were already prevalent in Pakistan that has 118 percent phone users against 70 percent in Nigeria.
She therefore advised Nigerian to keep phones far from their heads while making or receiving calls. She suggested the use of ear piece and headsets as safety devices.
Meanwhile some participants at the training had started counting their blessings; “My name is Omeje Edwin Ogechukwu, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, so far the workshop has improved my lecture delivery skills. I now understand a better way to use my mobile phone, and the safety precautions I need to take. What we are learning today is an improvement on the traditional method of learning. I am going to systematically apply the knowledge I have acquired in lecturing my students”.
“My name is Dr Nicolas Obike, the workshop is a great one and very rewarding. It is a great move by the University authority to improve on the pattern of lecture delivery; I have benefitted a lot and hope to still benefit from other presentations that will be made. When we apply what we learnt here, learning will be easier for our students because they will have the materials in their phones. Instead of playing games or watching movies, our students can use their phones to revise their lectures”.
Scientific Mobile-Learning Workshop is part of the multi-activity of the University of Nigeria one week “Science Fair”, which started on Monday with more than 18 facilitators from UNESCO
Inya Agha E.