Mobile Learning and Indigenous Education in Canada: A Synthesis of New Ways of Learning

Introduction

This article provides an analysis of existing research knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps relating to mobile learning (m-learning) technology and its applications to urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities and learners in Canada. It begins by providing a brief global context for m-learning initiatives, and then ties this context into an emerging global discussion relating to mobile learning and Indigenous peoples. This discussion provides a benchmark from which to consider Canada’s adoption of mobile learning; more specifically, the potential applications, and associated challenges, of mobile learning for Indigenous learners in Canada. This analysis concludes with some discussion on specific challenges and constraints related to the adoption and innovation of these new and emerging educational technologies in support of Indigenous learners and education in Canada.

The inspiration for this research came in 2012 when the author was conducting field research in Canada’s North, documenting three case studies related to successful Indigenous Youth Wellness programs (Pulla, 2014). During the course of this research he was struck deeply by a comment made by a respected member of the Yellowknives Dene Community. This member of the community acknowledged that even though today’s Indigenous youth in Canada’s North have many more options for education and work than their parents and grandparents ever did, it is increasingly hard for these youth to put their “gadgets and gizmos” away “to stop and look at Nature, at wildlife, and just relax.” This raised the question: what if it was possible to leverage the use of these “gizmos and gadgets” by youth as an educational strength and not as a distraction? What if smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices could be used as powerful tools to facilitate further interactions between Indigenous youth, their Elders and their cultures?

Research suggests that, in fact, mobile technologies do provide powerful learning affordances (Lai et al. 2007; Cochrane & Bateman 2010; Dalgarno & Lee 2010). These include mobile connectivity to education resources for learning communities disadvantaged by traditional educational curriculum delivery (Malisuwan, Settapong & Sivaraks, 2008; Keegan 2005, p. 53); and supporting positive student achievement outcomes in populations who typically struggle with traditional approaches to learning (Gray 2011; McFarlane et al. 2008; Wallace 2011). Within the context of Indigenous education in Canada, mobile learning technologies (MLTs) may allow for learners and educators to build on the successes of e-learning and virtual high school initiatives such as Sunchild Learning, Wapawskwa Virtual Collegiate, and Keewaytinook Internet High School. While these e-learning initiatives have successfully substituted the traditional delivery of education curriculum for Indigenous learners through the use of technology, they are not necessarily able to augment or innovate the delivery of education to align with the diverse array of indigenous epistemologies and pedagogies within Canada.