Evaluation of a mobile learning organiser for university students

TLDR

The study conducted a 10‑month trial of a mobile learning organiser for university students to identify the most‑used tools, usage patterns, and problems. The organiser was implemented on a wireless‑enabled Pocket PC, integrating existing mobile apps and student‑specific tools to manage learning. Students used the organiser mainly for communication, time‑management, and content access; no single application dominated, but wireless connectivity was essential, and hardware/software usability issues significantly affected usage and satisfaction, highlighting a demand for institutional support of mobile learning.

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes a 10‐month trial of a mobile learning organiser, developed for use by university students. Implemented on a wireless‐enabled Pocket PC hand‐held computer, the organiser makes use of existing mobile applications as well as tools designed specifically for students to manage their learning. The trial set out to identify the most‐used tools for such a learning device and their patterns and problems of usage. The primary uses of the organiser were communication, time‐management and access to content. No single application took precedence. The results from an analysis of questionnaire surveys and focus groups indicate that there was a demand for institutional support of mobile learning, in particular to provide course content and timetabling information. Wireless connectivity was crucial to the usefulness of the organiser. Usability issues relating to the hardware and software had considerable impact on the students' usage and satisfaction with the system.