How Do Students Use Their Mobile Devices to Support Learning? A Case Study from an Australian Regional University

Authors

Helen Farley University of Southern Queensland
Angela Murphy University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Chris Johnson Australian National University, Canberra
Brad Carter School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Michael Lane School of Management and Enterprise, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Warren Midgley School of Linguistics, Adult and Specialist Education, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Abdul Hafeez-Baig School of Management and Enterprise, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Stijn Dekeyser School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Andy Koronios School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide

DOI:

Keywords:

mobile learning, m-learning, smart mobile technologies, BYOD, e-learning, higher education

Abstract

Though universities are eager to leverage the potential of mobile learning to provide learning flexibly, most balk at the cost of providing students with mobile hardware. The practice of ‘bring your own device'(BYOD) is often mooted as a cost-effective alternative. This paper provides a snapshot of student ownership of mobile devices at a regional Australian university. Our research shows that students do have access to and use a wide range of devices. However, the delivery of learning is challenged when students try to access materials and activities using these devices. Course materials are rarely optimised for use on smartphones, navigating websites and learning management systems becomes a scrolling nightmare, and interacting with other students is often impractical using prescribed systems. Most concerning is that none of the students surveyed were participating in educator-led mobile learning initiatives. The paper concludes with the proposal of some practical, low-cost tactics that educators could potentially employ to begin engaging with mobile learning, leveraging what students already do.

Author Biographies

Helen Farley, University of Southern Queensland

Helen Farley is a Senior Lecturer (Digital Futures) at the Australian Digital Futures Institute at the University of Southern Queensland. She is currently leading the USQ-led Collaborative Research Network (CRN) project with ANU and UniSA to develop a Mobile Learning Evaluation Framework. She is also the project lead of the OLT-funded ‘From Access to Success’ project which will develop Stand Alone Moodle that will enable electronic access to course materials and activities for those students without internet access. This project has been so successful that Helen and ADFI were recently awarded $4.4 million through the Australian Government’s Higher Education Participation and Pathways Program to take Stand Alone Moodle and tablet computers to Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarcerated students across Australia. Helen has many years’ experience as an educator in Higher Education and as a researcher of educational technology. Her research interests are focused around the use of mobile technologies, virtual worlds and using technology to promote participation in Higher Education. Visit her webpage at: http://www.usq.edu.au/adfi/team/helen
Angela Murphy, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba

Angela Murphy is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba. She is currently working on a three-year USQ-led Collaborative Research Network (CRN) project with ANU and UniSA to develop a Mobile Learning Evaluation Framework. This project will develop resources to support leaders and practitioners implement sustainable and transferable mobile learning initiatives within multiple higher education contexts. Angela has more than eight years’ experience in project management, research design and analysis and has managed a number of large scale projects across multiple industries in the corporate, government and academic sectors.

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Published

2015-08-18

Issue

Vol. 2015 No. 1

Section

Articles

Collections

Ideas in Mobile Learning

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