Mobile Learning: Small Devices, Big Issues

Our normal has changed. What was once looked at as a luxury, is now a necessity. Technology has become such an integral part of lives that it is now expected in every aspect. Computers, once big and bulky slimmed down to laptops. Mobile phones once carried in a briefcase are now the size of your hand. Technology is so ingrained in our everyday lives we often lose track of just how much we depend on it. Society, as consumers, demand information at the push of a button. Receiving an education is no different.

Education, once only received while sitting in a brick and mortar building, can now be obtained through a mobile device starting as early as infancy. It has allowed consumers to obtain degrees from universities from around the world. It has opened the communication channels between people, who otherwise, would have had no chance of ever crossing paths. Employers can now provide professional development and training courses to their employees worldwide.  With all good things in life, there are always adverse effects not far behind.

Learning, by nature, is a social process. People learn through communication, interacting, as well as collaborating. Traditional learning provides an environment for such activities to occur, mobile learning, on the other hand, hinders such an environment. “Learning is an internal process, involving the creation of a network of relations by which the transforming it into knowledge. Although internal, this process occurs in social interaction; the construction of knowledge occurs during collaboration and cooperation among individuals.” (Saccol, Barbosa, Schlemmer, Reinhard, 2011., p. 12).

Technology is a rapidly changing market. M-Learning must be able to keep up with the pace of these changes. An additional challenge faced by m-learning is the technical constraints of their intended users. Capabilities of devices can vary significantly, and developers must ensure their content can be accessed and interacted with on multiple platforms.

Motivation, focus, and participation among m-learning participants are reasons plaguing online learning programs. High attrition rates are a concern as universities research ways to prevent the numbers from growing. Chen & Jang (2010) report that contextual support, as well as instructor competency, had a positive effect on learner motivation.

While m-learning is a great technological advancement, there are still many areas where issues arise. This post only briefly covers a few of many. While it can be enticing to new students, one must prepare themselves for the challenges that come along with m-learning.


Chen, K.-C., & Jang, S.-J. (January 01, 2010). Motivation in online learning: Testing a model of self-determination theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 4, 741-75

Saccol, A. Z., Barbosa, J. L. V., Schlemmer, E. L. V., & Reinhard, N. L. V. (January 01, 2011). Mobile Learning in Organizations: Lessons Learned from Two Case Studies. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education (ijicte), 7, 3, 11-24.