An Analysis of the Education Category in App Markets

1.1. Education and Mobile Devices

Educational establishments have a new fact that ubiquitous mobile devices are rapidly become an important devices for learners. Therefore those establishments need to evaluate their implementation performance and adaptation process on mobile learning (Pachler, Bachmair, & Cook, 2010; Keengwe, Scnellert, & Jonas, 2014). According to Traxler (2007), the role of education changed and challenged, because of the fluid, active and dynamic relationship between education, technology and society. Figure 1 illustrates a model for framing mobile learning.

Figure 1.

A model for framing mobile learning (Koole, 2009)

Mobile devices become an accepted, integrated and ubiquitous part of daily life (Johnson, Levine, Smith, & Stone, 2010). In this study mobile applications under education category will be evaluated by mobile learning, desire for mobile devices and concepts of application markets.

1.2. Mobile Learning

Many theories for learning were suggested for providing more efficient and effective learning environments. Some of those theories based on different type of learning that occur out of classroom (Sharples, Taylor, & Vavoula, 2005). The theory of mobile learning is more than being out of any type of educational establishments. It is related to educational processes and outcomes and ubiquitous use of personal and shared technology. Because of providing real-time information to learner in anywhere and anytime access (Wagner & Wilson, 2005; Traxler, 2007; Lai, Yang, Chen, Ho, & Chan, 2007) mobile devices create very dynamic learning environments. According to Keegan (2005) focus of mobile learning is mobility. That mobility concept can be divided into mobility of technology, mobility of learner, and mobility of learning (El-Hussein & Cronje, 2010).

1.3. Informal Learning with Mobile Devices

Informal learning is typically defined the learning that occurs the outside of classroom. It has a broad spectrum that hidden in everyday activities and come up experientially and spontaneously (Berth, 2006; Ainsworth & Eaton, 2010). After the invention of touchscreen technology, mobile devices become more and more important part of individuals’ life. In 2014, mobile devices and connections increased to almost half a billion. Smartphones had a share of 88 percent of that increase (CISCO, 2015). Thus those devices have undeniable potential, not only for formal learning but also informal learning with internet connections and applications markets.