As society allows itself to be dictated by the updates and advancements of technology, it forces people to manipulate their environment to keep up with the latest developed trends. This is because the utilization of obsolete products or services has a negative connotation, gives a bad impression, and incites untoward negative criticism from others. This reality is applicable in both the worlds of education and business. For example, a company that uses manual methods for partner collaboration is considered inefficient and wasteful, while a company that uses web-based software solutions is valued as an important partner or investment. Another example is that a school that does not have upgraded computers and internet access is least likely to attract applicants as compared to that of a school that offers wifi connection to the entire learning community.

Elearning is one of the most popularly used technological trends of today because of the ease, efficiency and convenience it provides for corporations, organizations and schools to carry out functions and provide services. Various popular gadgets and applications used by society at large are being transformed into elearning tools that truly appeal to hi tech sensibilities of people, both young and old, in all parts of the world.

In fact, a research project based on the idea of using technology in a learning environment was conducted in London wherein 30 secondary school students were supplied with iPhones with the objectives of determining and understanding how mobile devices can be applied to or facilitate learning. In this study, the students used the phones during their classes for a period of seven months. The iPhone was chosen for the study since it is the best mobile device in the market today offers 3G internet connectivity, and a wide range of useful, yet fun applications that can be harnessed to support educative purposes.

Ever since the emergence of mobile phones, they were considered and viewed as distractions in the classroom, and are thus strictly monitored and even banned. However, the inescapable truth, that educators must understand is that technology has integrated itself more deeply into the daily lives of people than ever before and has transcended into a necessity.

The students in the study, with permission from their teachers, were encouraged to use the iPhones as often as they can, and were monitored throughout the duration of their use. Examples of the applications downloaded by the students were the kinds for document management, anatomy, chemistry, mathematics and language translation, and were then used during their lessons. The feedback was tremendously positive. The students claim that the use of the mobile device was enjoyable, and at the same time extremely useful, making studying so make easier and convenient.

The help of elearning tools will give rise to the ability of students and trainees alike to produce blogs, podcasts and DVD presentations to supplement their learning experiences. Education and training will be taken onto an entirely different level. Taking advantage of gadgets such as the iPhone and using it as tool for learning is proof that forefronting technology can bring about advantageous changes to operations and function in the classroom and workplace. In today’s culture, the best way to go about things is to embrace technology and encourage people to use them as aids, as opposed to its outlawing, particularly in schools where students are limited by a culture of “texting-under-the-desk”.