Learning tools in resource constrained environments : learning from e-learning in the time of m-learning
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Developing countries such as South Africa have underdeveloped human resources. Teaching with information \ncommunication technology (ICT) as enabling technology has often been proposed as an approach to maximize the \ndevelopment of human resources. Mobile phone features such as limited dependence on permanent electricity \nsupply, easy maintenance, easy to use audio and text interfaces, and affordability has made the mobile phone the \nmost important networked knowledge exchange technology in the developing world. Due to this accessibility, \nusability and universality mobile phones have unmatched potential for innovation of education delivery in the \ndeveloping world. Unfortunately the potential to address human resource development through ICT is restricted by \nthe level of technology adoption and resource constraints in the South African tertiary education context. Firstly, the \nlevel of technology penetration in Africa is low compared to other developing countries and this lack of \ntechnological development has a detrimental effect on the education sector. Secondly, students at Higher Education \nInstitutions (HEIs) are often constrained in terms of financial resources and academic preparedness for entering a \nHEI. The financial and educational constraints that hinder the adoption of ICT and specifically mobile technology \nin developing countries need to be prioritized for resolution rather than accepted as inevitable. \nThis highlights the importance of proper planning to ensure the selection of appropriate technology for teaching and \nlearning in resource constrained environments. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ actual use and \npreferences of e-learning tools as a point of departure for predicting students’ preferences for m-learning tools and \nfunctions. The study was done at the Tshwane University of Technology where most students come from formerly \ndisadvantaged population groups. The research strategies include lecturer observations, interviews with students and \nan online survey. The contribution of the study is to propose a set of usage spaces for m-learning based on the \nopinions of students who have had all had the same minimum exposure to the technology. The findings should be of \nvalue to researchers, policy-makers and practitioners in the fields of e-learning and mobile technologies towards \nrethinking approaches to information access and dissemination in Development Informatics.
Authors: Judy van Biljon, Evan Dembskey
Institution: University of South Africa
Language: English
Topic: Mobile Learning in Education
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2244951789