What is mobile learning?

According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, reported in the New York Times (Lewin 2010), young people aged 8-18 spend more than 7.5 hours per day accessing media via different sources such as TV, computers, mobile phones etc. This figure excludes the time they spend texting and talking on their mobile phones.

Further, it discovered that on average 2 hours of this time was spent accessing media from an mobile device and that often users are multi-tasking; texting while listening to music, watching video while talking.

This increase in the use of mobile devices to access and/or create and share information has been highlighted and discussed in the education community. Questions such as 'how can we harness this change?" have been topics for debate and the potential for engaging learners through these devices and channels has lead to the rise of 'm-learning'.

In the article, "More than just Mobile + Learning" several reasons for the rapid increase in the adoption of mobile learning are suggested:

• The increase in number of content distribution channels (such as App stores)
• Rapid evolution of wireless handheld devices
• Growing number of mobile learning tools and platforms
• The sharp increase of new learning content and apps
• Growing number of buyers and users

The m-learning trend is currently a 'buzz' word in education and features as 'hot' on many educator blogs and discussions about the future in education for 2012.

So how is m-learning defined?

According to Sanchez-Terrell (2011) m-learning is "..on-the-go" (p4). It is where participants have access to a portable, handheld device which can be carried with them and accessed while moving.

Examples of m-learning devices:

smartphones, mobiles, iPods, iPads, ebook readers, media players etc 

The e-Learning Guild define m-learning as:

"Any activity that allows individuals to be more productive when consuming, interacting with, or creating information... through a compact digital portable device that the individual carries ..., has reliable connectivity, and fits in a pocket or purse."

Traxler (2005) defined m-learning as "any educational provision where the sole or prominent technology are handheld or palmtop devices" (p262). 

However, it is then pointed out that this definition centres on the devices and technology and not on the pedagogy. As Traxler explains, this limited definition "...draws attention to its technical limitations rather than promoting its unique pedagogic advantages and characteristics" (p263).


Traxler (2005) offers a list of characteristics that help separate and redefine m-learning from e-learning:

• Spontaneous
• Private
• Portable
• Situated [learning takes place in same context in which it is applied]
• Informal
• Bite-sized
• Light-weight
• Context aware

As Claire writes in her article 'More than just Mobile + Learning':

"By focusing on the advantages mobile learning provides, we can begin to think proactively about how to leverage mobile learning to capitalize on these benefits."

Brooks-Young. S (2010) Teaching with the tools kids really use: Learning with the web and mobile technology. Corwin Press

'Claire' (2012) Mobile Learning: More than just Mobile + Learning. http://dashe.com/blog/mobile-learning/mobile-learning-more-than-just-mobile-learning

Lewin. T (2010) If your kids are awake, they're probably online. New York Times online: nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html (last accessed 03.03.2012)

Sanchez-Terrell. S (2011) Effective mobile learning: 50+ quick tips and resources. http://scribd.com/mobile/documents/67369598  

Traxler. J (2005) Defining Mobile Learning. IADIS International Conference on Mobile Learning.  http://iadis.net/dl/final_uploads/200506C018.pdf