Implementation of Mobile Learning at the Open University Malaysia

Definition

There are many definitions of mobile learning. Mobile learning means differently to different groups of people. It can be defined as either learning that happens across locations or learning opportunities that are offered by portable devices that typically overcomes physical and geographical barriers of learning. Those found in the literature often overlap.

Geddes (2004) defined mobile learning as the acquisition of any knowledge and skill by using mobile technology; anywhere, anytime that results in an alteration in behaviour. Lehner and Nosekabel (2002) refer mobile learning as a facility that supplies a learner with general electronic information and educational content that aids in acquisition of knowledge regardless of location and time. In another definition of mobile learning, O'Malley et al. (2003) defined it 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 and Smith (2008) refers to it as learning activities made possible by lightweight handheld device that are easily transported from place to place. According to Nyiri (2002), mobile learning is fundamentally delivered through mobile devices such as Pocket Digital Assistance (PDA), smart phones and any other handheld devices. Mobile learning is seen as the next generation of e-learning and an important instrument for lifelong learning (Sharples, 2000). Traxler (2009) defined mobile learning in terms of its technology and hardware such as PDA, smart phones or wireless laptop computers, which are portable. If the characteristics of mobile learning were considered, words to describe mobile learning would include personal, spontaneous, opportunist, informal, pervasive, situated, private, context aware, bite-size, portable and ubiquitous learning.