The Role of Mobile Phone Learning in Escalating Access to Open Educational Resources (OER) in Developing Countries

Abstract

Open educational resources (OER) are digitized materials offered freely and openly for educators, students and self-learners to use and reuse for teaching, learning and research. In view of the fact that the mobile phone is a device that is used more than any ICT device in developing world, mobile phones are considered to be the most suitable tool for moving forward education in developing countries. Different studies have shown the potential of mobile phone in supporting formal and informal learning. What mobile phone has in common with OER is the flexibility and can be accessed anywhere anytime. This paper will look into OER, the current trend of mobile phone learning, and how mobile phone can be used to increase access to open educational resources for disadvantaged groups especially those in Sub Saharan Africa.

Key words: open educational resources, e-learning, mobile phone learning