Do Students Wish to ’Go Mobile’?

Abstract

Handheld devices are increasingly powerful items in terms of both hardware and software. They have ceased being merely tools of mobile telephony, and are now powerful, multi-purpose, mini-PCs. Technology provision within higher education was via clusters of tethered PCs in designated rooms, but an increasing number of universities are trialing the use of handheld devices to deliver mobile learning. The present research study provides a detailed review of the mobile learning literature, and profiles student usage of PCs and cell phones. Student preferences for a homework vehicle are identified. The results demonstrate that students express a clear preference for the cell phone over the PC as a tool of choice, and state a readiness to ‘go mobile’ with their learning.