The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on mobile learning (mlearning)
in order to achieve the primary objective of the study which is to develop a general
framework to implement and manage mobile technologies in a higher education
environment.
The focus of the literature study was to research the state of mobile technologies and their
relevance to teaching and learning. The literature study investigate the implications of mobile
technologies for students, lecturers and thus for the institution and provided an overview of
frameworks found in literature with the emphasis on the management of m–learning within
the higher education institution.
M–learning is part of a new mobile conception of society, with the mobility of the
technologies impacting on the mobility of the students, the lecturers and ultimately on the
mobility of higher education. Literature suggests that, while m–learning is proving to be
innovative, the factors that most strongly impact on the ultimate success or failure of mlearning
will depend on human factors, the balancing of technological ideals and
pedagogical imperatives, and the successful management of the interface between human
educational systems and technology systems. The proposed general framework focuses
on addressing key issues related to m–learning from the perspective of the student, the
lecturer and thus the institution. In order to remain competitive higher education needs to be
diligent in maintaining the complex technology infrastructure that supports a thriving
mobile culture that will meet and exceed the expectations of both lecturers and students.
The empirical research conducted had as objectives to investigate the mobile technology
assets of respondents with regard to the hardware and the software that they own, the mobile technology actions of respondents in regard to what they do with the mobile
technology that they own and to investigate the respondent's attitude towards mobile
technologies. A survey was designed and distributed to a sampling of the academic staff
and students of the North–West University (NWU) in South Africa, specifically the
Potchefstroom Campus.
There is ample proof from the empirical study that there is a gap with regard to the level of
accessibility, usage, and attitude with regards to the different interest groups in the higher
education environment. Higher education institutions should invest in investigating these
gaps further and in leveraging off the benefits of the effective management of these
technologies to improve teaching and learning.
The final chapter concludes with a summary of the secondary objectives researched in the
literature (Chapter two) and empirical research (Chapter three) chapters in order to support
recommendations towards the primary objective of this study. The rapid pace of adoption
and advancement of mobile technologies creates opportunities for new and innovative
services provided through such mobile devices. Higher education finds itself in the early
innings of the mobile Internet pulling both lecturers and students towards the same place:
smaller, faster, cheaper devices working together in a web of connectivity.
Recommendations were made in this final chapter on how higher education institutions can
leverage the benefits of the effective management of mobile technologies to improve
teaching and learning. M–learning has the potential to increase the capacity of higher
education through improving efficiency and productivity of teaching and learning. Mlearning
could address challenges related to quality of teaching such as continuous
professional training, lifelong upgrading, connecting with academics worldwide and
communicating effectively with students. Higher education is discovering the potential of mlearning
to promote student engagement and improving the quality of learning.
Management of higher education institutions and systems, management of policymaking
including storage and analysis of data, construction and assessment of policy scenarios, and
tracer studies or academic tracking systems can be improved through the use of m–learning.
Mobile technologies will continue to increasingly become an integral part of students' and
lecturers' private and day to day lives and m–learning will be integral in educational content
delivery. Additional research is required to study the effective and optimal implementation of
m–learning. A better understanding of the benefits and leverage thereof is required and
additional research should provide answers to these questions. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/7297 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Olivier, Vanessa |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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