The effects of the use of mobile devices on the E-learning process and perceived learning outcomes in university online education

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of using mobile devices, the pivotal element of a student-centered ecosystem, on the learning process and learning outcomes from a system’s view in which mobile technologies are considered a critical success factor to facilitate the dialogue and self-regulatory learning processes, thereby enhancing e-learning outcomes. We synthesize the disparate literature to develop an elevated model. A total of 323 valid and unduplicated responses from students who have completed at least one online course at a Midwestern university in the U.S. were used to examine the structural model, using SmartPLS v. 3.3.2. The results of this study show that the use of mobile devices positively affects student-instructor and student-student dialogues. It also facilitates the self-regulation process, which in turn positively affects the learning outcomes. Integrating mobile technology enables educational institutions to design and build distance learning systems that allow students to be highly flexible with their locations and schedules in the learning process. We discuss several implications of this research for educational institutions and distance learners in a student-centered higher education ecosystem.