Demographic variables do not affect the use of mobile devices for study and learning purposes.

Abstract

The use of mobile devices has become an everyday occurrence, and more and more higher education institutions have started adopting this technology in their interactions with students. Previous research has confirmed that mobile devices are becoming more widely used in learning. The sphere of formal education is not static but dynamic and evolving all the time, and central to this are developments in the technologies of teaching and learning. Educational institutions, which are seen as the bastion of new thoughts and thinking, need to ensure that these innovations and developments are incorporated in their teaching philosophies and mode of delivery – mainly to be able to accommodate the new generation of learners in the Industry 4.0, which impacts on their social and personal domains. Central to this, where the focus at tertiary institutions has shifted to, is the implementation of mobile learning technologies. This study investigates the views of learners regarding the use of mobile learning devices in their study and learning environments. In order to explore this aspect, the study aimed to determine the significance of age, gender and year of study in the use of mobile learning devices. No statistically significant differences were found between the identified demographic variables (age, gender and year of study) and uses of mobile devices in a study and learning environment.