Abstract
Mobile technologies have rapidly grown over the past decade and have become ubiquitous in all sectors of education. This scenario has enabled mobile learning to grow – providing learners with more mobility to learn anywhere, anytime in a connected learning environment. Together with this growth, research in this field has expanded worldwide. This growth has also impacted Malaysia – with the upward trend of mobile learning research conducted by Malaysian researchers and educators. To illustrate the history of this research trend, the chapter reviews mobile learning research in Malaysia in four research waves: (1) the emergence of mobile learning research (year 2003–2006), (2) mobile learning early research (2007–2010), (3) growth of mobile learning research (2010–2013) and (4) mobile learning research extension (2014–2016). The chapter ends with implications and future directions for Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific for educators and researchers interested in the field of mobile learning in Malaysia and its potential application in the Asia-Pacific context.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abas, Z. W., Peng, C. L., & Mansor, N. (2009a). A study on learner readiness for mobile learning at Open University Malaysia. In I. A. Sanchez & P. Isaias (Eds.), Proceedings of the international conference mobile learning (pp. 151–157). Barcelona: IADIS.
Abas, Z. W., Lim, T. S. K., & Tai-Kwan, W. (2009b). Mobile learning initiative through SMS: A formative evaluation. ASEAN Journal of Open and Distance Learning, 1(1), 49–58.
Ali, A. (2004). Issues & challenges in implementing e-learning in Malaysia. Open University Malaysia. Retrieved January 18, 2008, from: http://asiapacific-odl.oum.edu.my/C33/F80.pdf
Alias, N., Rosman, F., Rahman, M. N. A., & Dewitt, D. (2015). The potential of video game in Malay language learning for foreign students in a public higher education institution. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176, 1020–1027.
Aliff, N. A. W. I., Hamzah, M. I., & Rahim, A. A. A. (2015). Teachers acceptance of mobile learning for teaching and learning in Islamic education: A preliminary study. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 16(1), 184–192.
Ally, M., & Samaka, M. (2016). Guidelines for design and implementation of mobile learning. In B. H. Kahn (Ed.), Revolutionizing modern education through meaningful e-learning implementation, (pp. 161–176). Hershey: IGI Global.
Alzaza, N. S., & Yaakub, A. R. (2011). Students’ awareness and requirements of mobile learning services in the higher education environment. American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 3(1), 95–100.
Ariffin, S. A. (2011). Mobile learning in the institution of higher learning for Malaysia students: Culture perspectives. International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology, 1(3), 283–288.
Bipinchandra, J. S., Shah, P. M., Puteh, S. N., Din, R., Rahamat, R., & Aziz, J. A. (2014). User needs analysis in learning argumentative writing via mobile platform. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 118, 198–205.
Chachil, K., Engkamat, A., Sarkawi, A., & Shuib, A. R. A. (2015). Interactive multimedia-based mobile application for learning Iban language (I-MMAPS for Learning Iban Language). Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 167, 267–273.
Chen, Y., & He, W. (2013). Security risks and protection in online learning: A survey. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 14(5), 109–127.
Chong, J. L., Chong, A. Y. L., Ooi, K. B., & Lin, B. (2011). An empirical analysis of the adoption of m-learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Mobile Communications, 9(1), 1–18.
DeWitt, D., & Siraj, S. (2010). Design and development of a collaborative mlearning module for secondary school science in Malaysia: Addressing learners’ needs of the use and perceptions of technology. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 471–475.
Diah, N. M., Ehsan, K. M., & Ismail, M. (2010). Discover mathematics on mobile devices using gaming approach. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 8, 670–677.
Embi, M. A., & Nordin, N. (2014). Mobile learning: Malaysia initiatives and research findings. Bangi: Academic Development Center, National University of Malaysia.
Gan, C. L., & Balakrishnan, V. (2016). An empirical study of factors affecting mobile wireless technology adoption for promoting interactive lectures in higher education. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 17(1), 214–239.
Hamat, A., Embi, M. A., & Hassan, H. A. (2012). Mobile learning readiness among UKM lecturers. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 59, 406–410.
Hanafi, H. F., & Samsudin, K. (2012). Mobile learning environment system (MLES): The case of android-based learning application on undergraduates’ learning. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 3, 63–66.
Hashim, H. A., Hamid, S. H. A., Wan Rozali, W. A. (2007). A survey on mobile games usage among the institute of higher learning (IHL) students in Malaysia. Paper presented at the Information Technologies and Applications in Education, 2007. ISITAE’07. First IEEE International Symposium on (pp. 40–44). IEEE.
Hashim, A. S., Ahmad, W. F. W., Rohiza, A. (2010). A study of design principles and requirements for the m-learning application development. In User Science and Engineering (i-USEr), 2010 International Conference on (pp. 226–231). IEEE.
Hashim, K. F., Tan, F. B., & Rashid, A. (2015). Adult learners’ intention to adopt mobile learning: A motivational perspective. British Journal of Educational Technology, 46(2), 381–390.
Hussin, S., Manap, M. R., Amir, Z., & Krish, P. (2012). Mobile learning readiness among Malaysian students at higher learning institutes. Asian Social Science, 8(12), 276–283.
Ibrahim, E. N. M., & Walid, N. (2014). Trust contributing factors in m-learning technology. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 129, 554–561.
Internet Society. (2016). Mobile internet usage trends in Asia-Pacific. Singapore: Internet Society – APAC Bureau.
Ismail, I., Idrus, R. M., Ziden, A. A., & Rosli, M. (2010). Adoption of mobile learning among distance education students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 4(2), 24–28.
Ismail, I. M. (2015). Pembangunan dan pengujian prototaip pembelajaran mobile berasaskan prestasi (MOBICAD) dalam kursus reka bentuk berbantu komputer (CAD). Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Jamali, S. S., Shiratuddin, M. F., Wong, K. W. (2015). Educational tools: A review of interfaces of mobile-augmented reality (mAR) applications. In K. Elleithy & T. Sobh (Eds.), Innovations and advances in computing, informatics, systems sciences, networking and engineering (pp. 569–573). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Karim, N. S. A., Darus, S. H., & Hussin, R. (2006). Mobile phone applications in academic library services: A students’ feedback survey. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 23(1), 35–51. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10650740610639723.
Kingsley, N. U., Mustaffa, N., Keikhosrokiani, P., & Azimi, K. (2016). Enhancing e-learning using Smart Mobile English Learning Tool (SMELT). In C. Y. Fook, G. K. Sidhu, S. Narasuman, L. L. Fong, & S. B. A. Rahman (Eds.), 7th International Conference on University Learning and Teaching (InCULT 2014) proceedings (pp. 493–509). Singapore: Springer.
Land, S. M., & Zimmerman, H. T. (2015). Socio-technical dimensions of an outdoor mobile learning environment: A three-phase design-based research investigation. Educational Technology Research and Development, 63(2), 229–255.
Lee, G. H., Talib, A. Z., Zainon, W. M. N. W., & Lim, C. K. (2014). Learning history using role-playing game (RPG) on mobile platform. In M. S. Obaidat & N. Y. Yen (Eds.), Advances in computer science and its applications (pp. 729–734). Berlin: Springer.
Lim, T., Fadzil, M., & Mansor, N. (2011). Mobile learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia: Equitable, effective, and sustainable. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 12(2), 122–137.
Mahat, J., Ayub, A. F. M., & Luan, S. (2012). An assessment of students’ mobile self-efficacy, readiness and personal innovativeness towards mobile learning in higher education in Malaysia. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 64, 284–290.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. (2015). Hand phone users survey 2014. Cyberjaya: Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Mobile Learning Association of Malaysia. (2016). About mobile learning association of Malaysia. https://mymlearning.wordpress.com/about/. Accessed on 29 Feb 2016.
Mohamad, M., & Woollard, J. (2010). Bringing change in secondary schools: Can mobile learning via mobile phones be implemented in Malaysia? Paper presented at the 4th International Malaysian Educational Technology Convention, Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved from http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/162555/1/mohamad%26woollard.pdf.
Mohammad, N. M. N., Mamat, M. N., & Isa, P. M. (2012). M-learning in Malaysia: Challenges and strategies. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 67, 393–401.
Nordin, N., Embi, M. A., & Yunus, M. M. (2010a). Mobile learning framework for lifelong learning. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 7, 130–138.
Nordin, N. M., Hamzah, M. I., Yunus, M. M., & Embi, M. A. (2010b). The mobile learning environment for the in-service school administrators. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 7, 671–679.
Norman, H., Nordin, N., Din, R., Ally, M., & Dogan, H. (2015). Exploring the roles of social participation in mobile social media learning: A social network analysis. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(4), 205–224.
Norman, H., Nordin, N., Din, R., & Ally, M. (2016). Modeling learning situation awareness in collaborative mobile web 2.0 learning. Malaysian Online Journal of Education Technology, 4(1), 32–56.
Oliver, B., & Goerke, V. (2008). Undergraduate students’ adoption of handheld devices and web 2.0 applications to supplement formal learning experiences: Case studies in Australia, Ethiopia and Malaysia. International Journal of Education and Development Using ICT, 4(3), 78–87.
Parhizkar, B., Gebril, Z. M., Obeidy, W. K., Ngan, M. N. A., Chowdhury, S. A., Lashkari, A. H. (2012). Android mobile augmented reality application based on different learning theories for primary school children. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems (pp. 10–12). IEEE. doi:10.1109/ICMCS.2012.6320114.
Pendit, U. C., Zaibon, S. B., & Bakar, J. A. A. (2014). Mobile augmented reality for enjoyable informal learning in cultural heritage site. International Journal of Computer Applications, 92(14), 19–26.
Poon, W. C., & Koo, A. C. (2010). Mobile learning: The economics perspective. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 7(4), 412–429.
Ramayah, T., & Suki, N. M. (2006). Intention to use mobile PC among MBA students: Implications for technology integration in the learning curriculum. UNITAR e-Journal, 1(2), 1–10.
Sabri, F. N. M., Khidzir, N. Z., Ismail, A. R., & Mat, K. A. (2016). An exploratory study on mobile augmented reality (AR) application for heritage content. Journal of Advanced Management Science, 4(6), 489–493.
Safie, N. (2004). The use of short messaging system (SMS) as a supplementary learning tool in Open University Malaysia (OUM). Paper presented at the 18th Annual Conference Association of Asian Open Universities (AAOU), Shanghai, China. Retrieved from http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/72/1/The_use_of_SMS.pdf
Seong, D. S. K. (2006). Usability guidelines for designing mobile learning portals. In Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on Mobile technology, applications & systems (pp. 25). Bangkok, Thailand: ACM, 1–8.
Shiratuddin, N., & Zaibon, S. B. (2009). Mobile game-based learning with local content and appealing characters. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 4(1), 55–82.
Singh, D., & Bakar, Z. A. (2006). Mobile learning in wireless classrooms. Malaysian Online Journal of Instructional Technology, 3(2), 26–42.
Siraj, S. (2003). M-Learning curriculum for the future. Keynote address 2. In Proceedings of the International Conference on M-Learning (ICML), 25–27 March, 2003, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
Siraj, S., Siraj, S., & Norman, H. (2011). mLearning: A new dimension of curriculum advancement. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press.
Soleimani, E., Ismail, K., & Mustaffa, R. (2014). The acceptance of mobile assisted language learning (mall) among post graduate ESL students in UKM. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 118, 457–462.
Suki, N. M., & Suki, N. M. (2007). Online buying innovativeness: Effects of perceived value, perceived risk and perceived enjoyment. International journal of Business and Society, 8(2), 81–93.
Suki, N. M., & Suki, N. M. (2011). Users’ behavior towards ubiquitous M-learning. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 12(3), 118–129.
Tan, G. W. H., Ooi, K. B., Sim, J. J., & Phusavat, K. (2012). Determinants of mobile learning adoption: An empirical analysis. The Journal of Computer Information Systems, 52(3), 82–91.
Tayebinik, M., & Puteh, M. (2012). Mobile learning to support teaching English as a second language. Journal of Education and Practice, 3(7), 56–62.
Traxler, J. (2005). Defining mobile learning. Proceedings IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning (pp. 261–266), Malta.
Traxler, J. (2007). Defining, discussing and evaluating mobile learning: The moving finger writes and having writ. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 8(2), 1–12.
WMTE. (2002). IEEE’s International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Technologies in Education. http://lttf.ieee.org/wmte2002/
Yeap, J. A., Ramayah, T., & Soto-Acosta, P. (2016). Factors propelling the adoption of m-learning among students in higher education. Electronic Markets, 26(4), 323–338.
Yussof, R. L., Anuuar, W. S. W. M., Rias, R. M., Abas, H., & Ariffin, A. (2016). An approach in teaching reading for down syndrome children. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 6(11), 909–912.
Zukafly, N. A., Koo, A. C., Shariman, T. P. N., Zainuddin, M. N. (2011). Educators’ perceptions towards mobile learning. Paper presented at the Artificial Intelligence Workshop (AIW) at UNITEN Putrajaya Campus, Malaysia, July 18–19. Retrieved from http://ktw.mimos.my/aiw2011/paper_id_16/paper.pdf .
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nordin, N.M., Embi, M.A., Norman, H., Panah, E. (2017). A Historical Review of Mobile Learning Research in Malaysia and Its Implications for Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Region. In: Murphy, A., Farley, H., Dyson, L., Jones, H. (eds) Mobile Learning in Higher Education in the Asia-Pacific Region. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 40. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4944-6_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4944-6_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4943-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4944-6
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)