From Constructivist Educational Technology to Mobile Constructivism: How mobile learning serves constructivism?

Abstract

Constructivist theory of learning suggests that individuals construct meaning through authentic experiences and social interactions. Thanks to the ample learning experiences and opportunities for unlimited interaction anywhere, anytime, mobile technologies have given birth to a concept called mobile learning. However, there seems a need to ground mobile learning on constructivist learning principles, i.e. define a new scope for constructivism: “mobile constructivism.” This paper aimed to explore the relationship between constructivism and mobile learning and how they serve each other. To this end, articles which have based mobile learning activities on constructivist learning principles were reviewed systematically. Results were synthesized and discussed under four major themes: the expansive potential of constructivist educational technology, integrating different kinds of constructivism in mobile learning, social consequences of mobile learning; and elemental principles of “mobile constructivism”