Mobile Learning: Perspectives of Psychology Students at Athabasca University presented at the 1st International Conferfence of the New Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) in Banff, AB, April 27-30, 2008

Abstract

This presentation will report on a survey of 285 Athabasca University undergraduate psychology students to determine their readiness to particpate in mobile learning environments. Students reported on the mobile technologies they own, their comfort levels in using these technologies, how they utilized these tools, their preferred mode of study (print vs. online), and their interest in utilizing mobile technologies for learning. Findings indicate that nearly all students possess cell phones and nearly 2/3 own a laptop computer, but other mobile technologies such as IPods, personal digit assistants, and Belackberries are not as widespread. Print remains the dominant mode of learning. But despite this finding and the low ownership rates of popular modile devies over 70% of the respondents expressed an interest in utilizing these technologies for learning anytime/anyplace. Findings will be of itnerest to distance education researchers, educational media technologists, instructional designers and others who have an interest in M-learning technologies.