Abstract
This paper is about the implementation of mobile technologies to improve teaching and learning. By mobile technologies is meant any wireless and transferable device which includes laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart devices and PDAs. Research on the use of mobile technology for educational purposes is relatively new. As a result various findings might not be either generalizable or valid as review of literature showed that some findings are contradictory. However, these contradictions in literature areacceptable for any new idea that deals with human phenomena like education. Since mobile technologies are part of the broader ICT their appropriate usage could contribute to the teaching and learning situation be it distance or face to face education (secondary or tertiary).
A study was conducted at the International University of Management in Namibia to discover the impact of mobile technologies in the teaching and learning in the field of Business Information Systems, using one undergraduate and one postgraduate group. Structured interviews were conducted and a questionnaire was completedby both groups. 2 Tests were written by anexperimental and a control group. The results, although not generalizable, were very encouraging as it indicated that there was a significant difference in performance in the tests between the two groups.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Amin, A., Roberts, J.: Knowing in action: beyond communities of practice. Res. Policy 37(2), 353–369 (2008)
Avgoustos, T.: State of mobile learning around the world. Global mobile leraning and trends. 4–44. China Central Radio and TV University Press (2013)
Borzillo, S., Schmitt, A., Antino, M.: Communities of practice: keeping the company agile. J. Bus. Strat. 33(6), 22–30 (2012)
Brown, J., Branon, R., Haag, J., Raasch, C.: Mobile Learning Technology: Strategy and Implementation workshop. mLearnCon, San Diego (2010)
Chena, P.D., Lambertd, A.D., Guidryb, K.R.: Engaging online learners: the impact of web-based technologies on college student engagement. Comput. Educ. 54(4), 1222–1232 (2010)
Coates, H.: The value of student engagement for higher education quality assurance. Qual. High. Educ. 11(1), 25–36 (2005)
Creswell, J.W.: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, 3rd edn. Sage, Los Angeles (2009)
El-Hussein, M.O.M., Cronje, J.C.: Defining mobile learning in the higher education landscape. Educ. Technol. Soc. 13(3), 12–21 (2010)
Davies, B.S., Rafique, J., Vincent, T.R., Fairclough, J., Packer, M.H., Vincent, R., Haq, I.: Mobile medical education (MoMEd) - how mobile information resources contribute to learning for undergraduate clinical students - a mixed methods study. BMC Med. Educ. 12(1), 1–11 (2012). http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3317860andtool=pmcentrezandrendertype=abstract. Accessed 23 June 2013
DeGusta, M.: Are smart phones spreading faster than any technology in human history?. In: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Review (2012)
Huang, Y.M., Huang, T.C., Hsieh, M.Y.: Using annotation services in a ubiquitous Jigsaw cooperativelearning environment. Educ. Technol. Soc. 11(2), 3–15 (2008)
Jimmy, B.: Mobile technology in the classroom. In: Cases on Inquiry Through Instructional Technology in Math and Science, pp.1–676. Hershey, PA:IGIGlobal. (2012). doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-0068-3
Johnson, R.B., Onwuegbuzie, A.J.: Mixed methods research: a research paradigm whose time has come. Educ. Res. 33(7), 14–26 (2004)
Lave, J., Wenger, E.: Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1991)
Lenhart, A.: Teens, social media and technology overview (2015). http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/. Accessed 8 April 2015
Nonaka Iand Takeuchi, H.: The knowledge-Creating Company. Oxford University Press, New York (1995)
Norris, C., Hossain, A., Soloway, E.: Using smartphones as essential tools for learning. Educ. Technol. 51(3), 18–25 (2011)
Phelan, C., Wren, J.: Exploring reliability in academic assessment. UNI Office of Academic Assessment (2005)
Pillay, F.R., Ramdeyal, P.K.: Student access to and use of ICTs and the implications for academic staff: views from a developing university of technology in SouthAfrica. In: 14th Annual Conference on World Wide Web Applications, Durban (2012)
Retna, K.S., Tee, N.P.: Communities of practice: dynamics and success factors. Leadersh. Organ. Dev. J. 32(1), 41–59 (2011)
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A.: Research Methods for Business Students, 5th edn. Financial Times/Prentice Hall, London (2012)
Schreurs, J.: Mobilee-learning course scenario model on PDA. Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organ 2(4), 358 (2008). http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=20688. Accessed 15 April 2015
Sharples, M., Milrad, M., Arnedillo, S.I., Vavoula, G.: Mobile learning: small devices, big issues. In: Balacheff, N., Ludvigsen, T., de Jong, T., Lazonder, A., Barnes, S. (eds.) Technology Enhanced Learning: Principles and Products. Springer, Berlin (2007)
Steinbacher, M.: On campus going mobile Universities moving to keep up with technology. Bloomington Ill, United States (2011)
Strydom, J.E, Mentz, M., Kuh, G.D.: Enhancing success in higher education by measuring student engagement in South Africa (2009). http://sasse.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/documents/SASSEinpresspaper_1.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2014
Tomasovic, N.: Advatanages and disadvatages of mobile phones: the smart phone generation (2014). https://blog.udemy.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-mobile-phones/. Accessed 10 April 2015
Tyler, T.: Mobile tech - defining mobile technology for legal professionals (2002). http://www.llrx.com/columns/mobiletech.htm. Accessed 20 November 2014
Van Weert, T.: Life long learning in knowledge society: implications for education. Educ. Knowl. Soc. 161, 15–25 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Giannakopoulos, A., Eybers, S. (2015). The Adoption of Mobile Technologies in a Higher Education Institution: A Mixed Methods Study. In: Brown, T., van der Merwe, H. (eds) The Mobile Learning Voyage - From Small Ripples to Massive Open Waters. mLearn 2015. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 560. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25684-9_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25684-9_21
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-25683-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-25684-9
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)