Altc 2010 paper_0188_cb_dh
12
An analysis of first-year business students’ mobile phones and their use for learning Dr Debbie Holley Principal Lecturer Learning and Teaching London Metropolitan University Business School [email protected] Claire Bradley Research Fellow Learning Technology Research Institute [email protected] ALT-C 2010
Transcript of Altc 2010 paper_0188_cb_dh
An analysis of first-year business students’ mobile phones and their use for learning
Dr Debbie HolleyPrincipal Lecturer Learning and TeachingLondon Metropolitan University Business [email protected]
Claire BradleyResearch Fellow Learning Technology Research [email protected]
ALT-C 2010
Structure of talk
Background to research
Student cohort Report on
longitudinal study Student attitudes Use for learning
Background to research
Ongoing research into mobile learning with year one ‘new entry’ students
Survey over 5 years Timely: New Horizon Report 2010 - mobile computing one
of six ‘technologies to watch’ 16 million people in the UK accessed the internet from
mobile phones in December 2009 (Guardian Report) Mobile devices – can be defined around mobility of device,
mobility of the learner, facilitation beyond the confines of the classroom (Laurillard 2007; Sharples et al 2007; Wali et al 2008)
Mobile technologies – can help to engage some students into taking part (Bradley et al 2009)
Student cohort
Date No. of students in
sample
Gender No. of
females
Age range
18-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36+
2005 69 67% 60% 25% 10% 3% 2%
2006 101 71% 45% 37% 10% 3% 5%
2007 65 69% 53% 36% 8% 3% 0%
2008 91 68% 49% 45% 4% 2% 0%
2009 76 72% 61% 33% 5% 1% 0%
Report on longitudinal study
Features of students’ mobile phones
%
Features of students’ mobile phones
Colour screen standard for 97% Capture and generate content
now possible: 96% have camera 86% can record video 84% can record audio/voice
Access data: 80% Internet 50% WIFI 91% Bluetooth 46% 3G 50% GPS
Attitudes to using phones for learning
Attitudes to using phones for learning
Pattern in data of score 1 – extremely important
Some undecided or unsure
Very low number of ‘not at all important’ responses
Further data we have in our paper
How useful would it be to access learning materials via your mobile 25% keen, others more reticent – our follow-up interviews should unpack this further
How would you view university contacting you…Around a third every year keen, growing over time, others unsure, early interviews indicate university tutors = yes, admin = no
Do you currently use your mobile phone for learning?Significant increase to 29% this year, citing 34 different uses n=76
Uses for learning (Autumn 2009)
Category Mobile phone use Total usesper category
Communicating Email (4 students) 6Contacting group assignment membersFashion facebook group
Using tools/ Calculator (3 students) 4 applications Microsoft OfficeOrganising Putting reminder alarms for meetings 3
Check my examsOrganiser
Generating content/ Take pictures/photos (3 students) 4artefacts Voice recordingConducting research/ Internet (4 students) 12getting information Google (3 students)
Research / search info. (5 students)Note-taking Write notes 1Other Accessing learning materials 4
Presentations / record presentations (2 students)Transport files (PDF, Word, PowerPoint …)
Uses for learning
Category showing most growth ‘conducting research/getting information
Rise in ‘generating content/artefacts’
Other – presentations, new uses ‘accessing learning materials’ and ‘transporting files (pdf, word, powerpoint)
Conclusions
At start of survey, aim was to ensure no student disadvantaged by mobile phone pilots
Can now assume they will all have a device and research focus switched to how they are using their mobile phones for learning and the associated tasks
Survey may not be indicative of all students, but does provide an insight, and some baseline data for future work
Have individual material now from students capturing their mobile learning on flipcams and a project website:http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/learningonthemove
