Abstract

The potential and use of mobile devices in higher education has been a key issue for educational research and practice since the widespread adoption of these devices. Due to the evolving nature and affordances of mobile technologies, it is an area that requires ongoing investigation. This study aims to identify emerging trends in mobile learning research in higher education in order to provide insights for researchers and educators around research topics and issues for further exploration. This study analysed the research themes, methods, settings, and technologies in mobile learning research in higher education from 2011 to 2015. A total of 233 refereed articles were selected and analysed from peer reviewed journals. The results were compared to three previous literature review-based research studies focused between 2001 and 2010 to identify similarities and differences. Key findings indicated that: (a) mobile learning in higher education is a growing field as evidenced by the increasing variety of research topics, methods, and researchers; (b) the most common research topic continues to be about enabling m-learning applications and systems; and (c) mobile phones continue to be the most widely used devices in mobile learning studies, however, more and more studies work across different devices, rather than focusing on specific devices.

Highlights

  • Many higher education institutions are implementing mobile learning to provide flexibility in learning

  • Research Trends in Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Articles (2011 – 2015) Krull and Duart use of the definition by O’Malley et al (2005) as “any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies.” (p. 7)

  • This paper provides a systematic review of mobile learning research in higher education from 2011 to 2015

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Summary

Introduction

Many higher education institutions are implementing mobile learning to provide flexibility in learning. Research Trends in Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Articles (2011 – 2015) Krull and Duart use of the definition by O’Malley et al (2005) as “any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies.” The development and usage patterns of mobile technologies in education change quickly. This means that regular analysis is required of “trends in mobile device types and functionality, along with learner types and the use of mobile devices in various disciplines and courses” Understanding the trends in research studies can help higher education policy makers in making decisions regarding technology and teaching and learning (Wu et al, 2012)

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