Mobile Devices for Learning in Universities: Challenges and Effects of Usage
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Abstract
Mobile devices are no longer playing the role of voice or short message communication but also in learning. These devices allow
students to interact with educational content and learning can occur regardless of their location. It is therefore important to establish the
factors hindering the use of Mobile devices for learning in Universities: A Case of Muni University. The study answered research questions such
as; (a) what are the negative effects of using Mobile devices during lectures for other activities not related to the Lecture? (b) what are the
reactions of lecturers towards the use of Mobile devices during lecture time? which factors are hindering the use of Mobile devices for
learning? Quantitative design was employed using questionnaires containing a Five (5) Point Likert scale items ranging from strongly agree,
agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree and open-ended items were utilized in this study to obtain quantitative information to answer the
research questions: A total population of 331 was considered and sample size of 181 was obtained using Krejcie and Morgan table. Stratified
sampling was used to collect data from each stratum and data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20. The reliability of the data collected was
tested using the Cronbach's reliability test coefficient were the overall value of all the options was on average 0.67 which was beyond
recommended Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient values 0.6 for an instrument to be declared reliable. In terms of ascertaining the negative effects of
using Mobile devices during lectures for other activities to the related Lecture, students agreed that it distract students' attention, disturb other
students, disturbs the instructors and the course of the lesson and reflects disrespect for the instructor. The findings also agreed that the
following were ranked among top five (5) factors hindering the use of Mobile devices for learning: Lack of mobile devices, Slow Speed of the
mobile devices, Power problems, Network Connections Issues and Battery problem but disagreed that the course is not suited for mobile
devices, lack of interest and complicated to use. This study recommended that mobile devices should be encouraged, allow students to use
Mobile devices according to lesson’s topics since students disagreed that lack of interest is not hindering the use of mobile devices, discourage
students from using Mobile devices in class for other activities not related to the topic and formulate the usability policy of mobile devices.
Description
Keywords
Challenges, Usage, Mobile devices, Learning and Muni University
Citation
Businge, P. M., Guma, A., Andogah, G., & Nkamwesiga, L. (2018). Mobile devices for learning in universities: challenges and effects of usage. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science