Limitations of mobile phone learning

Wang Shudong,Michael Higgins

doi:10.29140/jaltcall.v2n1.18

Abstract

In this paper, we will describe the weaknesses inherent in, and some non-viable factors of mobile phone learning (PDA and other mobile devices are not included). Our conclusion is that while e-learning has only just been accepted by educators and is increasingly being put into extensive and effective use for learning, m-learning, especially its main delivery system, mobile phone learning, will have a long way to go to before it can or will be effectively, extensively used or accepted for learning purposes, by either educators or the general public, unless the problems raised in this article are solved.

Highlights

Wang & Higgins: Limitations of Mobile Phone Learning more every year
In this paper, from the psychological, pedagogical and technical standpoints, we have analyzed the limitations of mobile phone learning
People have not become used to mobile phone learning; pedagogically, mobile learning results are not easy to evaluate or follow-up; and, technically, small screen size, inconvenient input, small memory, and the lack of common standards are hindrances that keep people away from learning using mobile phones

Summary

Limitations of Mobile Phone

We discuss weaknesses inherent in mobile phone learning, and factors that limit its viability. (We do not discuss other m-learning devices such as PDAs.) We conclude that, while e-learning has met with some acceptance among educators and is increasingly being implemented, it will be necessary to solve the problems that we discuss before m-learning can become effective, accepted and widely used. Even in Japan, students, who are the group of people most likely to use mobile phones for learning, seldom use their mobile phones for educational purposes (Thornton & Houser, 2005). Students could turn to the use of portable folding computer keyboards that can be connected to a mobile phone for input, but this would force them to sit down or stand still to focus on inputting At this point, mobile-learning will have lost some of its mobility. Because of the problems of small screen size and inconvenient text input (even if there is a QWERTY keyboard, it is still extremely small and difficult to use as quickly as a full-size keyboard), editing office files on a smart phone or mobile phone is hard.

Feedback from Japanese University Student Mobile Users

Findings

Conclusion