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The perceived usefulness of mobile phone technology for learning by distance education students at the University of Eswatini

Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The use of mobile phone technology for learning is currently quite topical in higher education systems, globally.The current Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant restriction on gatherings have occasioned rapid transition of higher education programme offerings from face to face to online delivery.Mobile phone technology contributes to the flexibility and convenience of online learning, as students are able to learn on the go.The present study sought to establish the perceived usefulness of mobile phone technology for learning by distance education students at the University of Eswatini.The Technology Acceptance Model informed the study, which was located within a positivist research paradigm.A quantitative research approach was followed, and a descriptive research strategy was utilised.A stratified random sample of 337 students was selected to respond to a structured questionnaire that was administered online.Data were analysed using the SPSS software.Descriptive statistics were utilised in analysing data to respond to the main research question.The Chi-square test was used to respond to the research hypotheses.Results of each one of the six different sections of the questionnaire, with the six identified learning attributes, were presented.In the first section on communication, respondents were generally agreeable that mobile phone technology was useful for learning.On the issue of accessing content on the Moodle LMS, respondents were generally agreeable on most items except on the usefulness of mobile phone technology in allowing the respondents to join live lesson streaming through Zoom, and for games in learning.Overall, mobile phone technology was perceived as useful for accessing content on the Moodle LMS.On the issue of accessing information on the internet, the respondents were generally agreeable on most of the issues except that mobile phone technology enabled storage of information online using Google drive/Cloud.However, mobile phone technology was perceived as useful in accessing information on the internet.Most of the respondents perceived mobile phone technology as useful in interaction with the course instructors and with fellow students.Mobile phone technology was also perceived as useful for enabling students to learn collaboratively.The mean response provided for all the constructs led to the conclusion that mobile phone technology was perceived as useful for learning.Results on the four tested hypotheses revealed that there was no association found between gender and perceived usefulness, but there was an association between students" age and perceived usefulness.There was no association found between students" programme of study and perceived usefulness, and there was an association found between students" level of study and perceived usefulness.
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3201137188
Cites: 163
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Related to: 10