Mobile Learning: Perspectives of Psychology Students at Athabasca University Dr. Linda Chmiliar Deborah Russell

Introduction This study was conducted with Athabasca University students who had completed courses in Psychology recently. Results of the study are intended to guide new course development incorporating mobile technologies.

Introduction Survey set out to discover: ▫ What mobile technologies students own ▫ How technologies are utilized ▫ Frequency of use ▫ Comfort levels ▫ Learning preferences (print vs. online) ▫ Interest in learning with mobile technologies

Respondents 294 psychology students 92% female 51% aged 18 – 35 49% aged % urban 37% rural/remote

Findings – Technology Ownership 91.8% (N=270)Mobile Phone 67% (N=197)Laptop 30.3% (N=89)iPod 8.8% (N=26) PDA 4.1% (N=12)Blackberry 1.7% (N=5)Pocket PC 1.7% (N=5)Tablet PC

Mobile Phone Comfort Levels Not Comfortable A Little Comfortable Somewhat Comfortable Very Comfortable Mobile Phone (N=270) 0%4.4%22.2%73.3% -with video (N=69) 7.2%14.4%27.5%46.3% -with wireless Internet (N=129) 13.1%17%33.3%34.1% -with camera (N=143) 1.3%13.2%22.3%61.5% -with text messaging (N=199) 9.5%12.5%20.1%56.2%

Mobile Phone Usage Levels Infrequently 1 – 2 times per week 0 to 1 hour per day Over 1 hour per day Mobile Phone 12.9%24%41.1%21.1% -with video63.7%15.9%5.7%2.8% -with wireless Internet 66.6%8.5%9.3%3.1% -with camera55.9%24.4%9%2% -with text messaging 43.2%21.6%20.6%9%

Laptop Comfort Levels Not Comfortable A Little Comfortable Somewhat Comfortable Very Comfortable Laptop (N=197) 0%1%5.6%92.9% -with wireless Internet (N=154) 0.6%2.5%6.4%88.9% -for downloading files (N=154) 1.9%4.5%14.2%76.6%

Laptop Usage Levels Infrequently1 – 2 times per week 0 to 1 hour per day Over 1 hour per day Laptop 5.1%5.6%15.2%72.6% -with wireless Internet 7.1%4.5%16.8%68.1% -for downloading files 14.9%24%17.5%35.7%

iPod (MP3) Comfort Levels Not Comfortable A Little Comfortable Somewhat Comfortable Very Comfortable iPod (89)2.2%11.2%19.1%66.3% -with audio (N=82) 9.7%14.6%20.7%53.6% -with video (N=26) 11.6%23% 42.3%

iPod (MP3) Usage Levels Infrequently1 – 2 times per week 0 to 1 hour per day Over 1 hour per day iPod 19.1%27%28.1%23.6% - with audio 41.4%29.2%13.4%7.3% -with video 42.3%30.7%11.5%3.8%

iPod Content Downloads 50.6% download content using desktop computers 48.3% download content using laptops

Podcasting Experience iPod Owners (N=89)Does Not Own (N=205) Podcast regularly 13.5%4.4% Tried a few times then stopped 18%7.8% No experience but interested in trying 29.2%40% No interest 13.5%15.6%

Other Technology Comfort Levels Not Comfortable A Little Comfortable Somewhat Comfortable Very Comfortable PDA (N=26) 3.8%0%34.6%61.5% Blackberry (N=12) 0%8.3%33.3%58.3% Pocket PC (N=5) 0% 40%60% Tablet PC (N=5) 0% 40%60%

Other Technology Usage Levels Infrequently1 – 2 times per week 0 to 1 hour per day Over 1 hour per day PDA19.2%11.5%38.4%26.9% Blackberry25%8.3% 58.3% Pocket PC20%40% 0% Tablet PC40%0%20%40%

How Technologies are Used ProfessionalPersonalAcademicEmergency Mobile Phone Laptop iPod05140 PDA4720 Blackberry3401 Tablet PC0120 Pocket PC0000 General Tech

Learning Preferences Print PreferenceOnline Preference Agree 43.2%26.5% Strongly Agree 32.7%15.6% Disagree 15.3%44.9% Strongly Disagree 7.8%11.9%

Interest in M-Learning Interest in learning anywhere/anytime Interest in using mobile technologies Agree 45.2%52.7% Strongly Agree 31.3%23.5% Disagree 18%17% Strongly Disagree 4.4%5.8%

Findings Compared to Literature Laptops function as hubs, mobile devices as peripherals Personal devices most promising for education Know your students (location, learning preferences, able/willing to use mobile technologies) Age – younger students more interested? Gender – differences in ownership/usage?