Barriers to the Embrace of Mobile Learning in the Company Setting.

O'Connell, Anne (2010) Barriers to the Embrace of Mobile Learning in the Company Setting. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

During the past two decades the topic of mobile learning has generated much interest. Academics and authors have explored the feasibility of using hand held devices in learning. Funded projects have researched the possibilities mobile learning would bring to learners and educators in all settings from an educational setting through industry
and corporations. Focus was given to the advances that mobile learning would provide across all economies and demographics from aid workers in developing countries to large financial institutions in first world countries.

This report investigates why mobile learning has not been better adopted as a learning delivery method in the company setting since its inception. The research analyses learning theories and instructional design methods to understand if gaps exist in requirements that mobile learning cannot fill. Mobile learning literature was studied to understand the conclusions prior research had drawn regarding scope and barriers to mobile learning. Suspected influencers such as location based services, service provider data plans and advances in mobile devices and technologies were investigated to determine what is happening today that may drive success or failure of mobile learning in the near future.

Surveys and questionnaires were used to collect data from company employees to determine success rates of mobile learning and user views and expectation about the scope within their organization to utilize this learning delivery method. An interview with a successful mobile learning provider was completed to understand their views of the requirements for success in the mobile learning market.

The research concludes that despite well over a decade of hype around the topic of mobile learning, few successes in mobile learning were evident prior to very recently. However an explosion in the availability of smart phones, together with 3G telecom networks to support internet access from handheld devices sets the scene to overcome many of the old barriers and finally allow mobile learning to complement other learning delivery methods in the company setting.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce L Education > LC Special aspects / Types of education > E-Learning > M-Learning (Mobile Learning) L Education > LC Special aspects / Types of education > Distance Learning > M-Learning (Mobile Learning)
Divisions:	School of Computing > Master of Science in Learning Technologies
Depositing User:	SINEAD CORCORAN
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2011 16:14
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2015 10:52
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/474

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