Author

  • Hannelie Van Rooyen

    • Vaal University of Technology, South Africa
    • South Africa
  • Walter Matli

    • Vaal University of Technology, South Africa
    • South Africa

Abstract

Teaching and learning in higher education must be transformed to give support to the new generation of “digital native” students. Students depend on their mobile phones to do almost everything. The purpose of this research is to determine the perception of students on using mobile phones as an educational supporting tool and discusses higher education challenges and benefits of using electronic communication as an educational supporting tool. Most students use their mobile phones daily and they enjoy the technology that mobile phones offer them. The research was conducted at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Ekurhuleni Campus. The findings of the research indicate that electronic communication will have a positive impact. Currently, more students have access to mobile phones than computers. Mobile phones can thus be considered an enabling technology in supporting learning and teaching. This research has provided a basis for VUT and other higher learning institutions’ academic leaders to start the discussion and the possibility of introducing the use of m-learning in adult education. With the increasing use of electronic communication, the traditional teaching approach and interaction between the lecturer and student(s) is changing and the adoption of friendly electronic communication has become more important.

Keywords

References

  • Alley, M. (2008). Foundations of educational theory for online learning. In Anderson, T (ed). The theory and practice of online learning . 2nd ed. Athabasca: Athabasca University.
  • Al-Fahad, F. N. (2009). Students’ attitudes and perceptions towards the effectiveness of mobile learning in King Saude University. Turkish online Journal of education technology , 8, 111-119.
  • Brown, T. (2005) . Towards a model for m-learning in Africa . International Journal on e-learning, 2(1).
  • Coates, S. (2005). The value of student engagement for higher education quality assurance. Quality in Higher Education , 11(1), 25-36.
  • Duff, S. (2013). An update on South Africa’s most popular Social Networks. [Online] http://www.blog.webafrica.co.za.
  • Duncan-Howell, J. & Lee, K. T. (2007). M-Learning: Finding a place for mobile technologies within tertiary education settings. In ICT: Providing choices for learners and learning. Proceedings ascilite Singapore 2007. [Online] http://www.ascilite.org.au/conference/singapore07/procs/duncanhowell.pdf.
  • Gilbert, J., Morton, S. & Rowley, J. (2007). E-learning: the student experience. British journal of education technology , 3, 141-152.
  • Goh, T. & Kinshuk, D. (2006). Getting Ready For Mobile Learning – Adaptation Perspective. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 15(2), 175-198.
  • Granic, A., Mifsud, C. & Cukusic, M. (2009). Design, implementation and validation of Europe-wide pedagogical framework for e-learning. Computer and Education , 53, 1052-1081.
  • Green, H. & Hannon, C. (2007). Their Space: Education for a digital generation. Online http://www.demos.co.uk/files/their%20space%20-%20web.pdf
  • Kantore, A. (2011). User-Interface Evaluation Metrics for a typical M-Learning Application. Magister Technologiae dissertation, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU): South Africa.
  • Kift, S., Nelson, K. & Clarke, J. (2010). Transition Pedagogy: A third generation approach to FYE- A case study of policy and practice for the higher education sector. The international Journal of the First Year in Higher Education , 1(1), 1-20.
  • Kuh, G. (2007). What matters to student success in the first year of university? Keynote address at the 10th Pacific Rim First Year Experience in Higher Education Conference, “Regenerate-EngageExperiment”. Brisbane, Australia. [Online] http://www.fyhe.com.au/past_papers/papers07/fullprogram2.html.
  • Ling, R. (2008). New tech, new ties: how mobile communication is reshaping social cohesion. Cambridge, MA: M IT press.
  • Matli, W., Conradie, P. & Sibiya, P. (2013). The use of Social Network Applications as an Educational supporting tool at Vaal University of Technology Ekurhuleni Campus, RSA. Proceedings of the 18th World Conference on Co-Operative & Work-Integrated Educated. Durban, South Africa. [Online] http://www.waceinc.org/durban2013/NonRefereed%20Papers/South%20Africa/Walt er%20Matli%20Vaal%20University%20of%20Technology.pdf.
  • Nicholson, S., Maclaod, H. & Haywood, J. (2005). E-learning; who is leading whom, and where might the road be going? 3rd International Conference on Universal Access in Human Computer Interaction (UAHCI).
  • Oblinger, D.G. & Oblinger, J. L. (2005). Education The Net Generation: Educause e-book publication. [Online] http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/pub7101.pdf.
  • Ramanau, R., Hosein, A. & Jones, C. (2010). Learning and Living Technologies: A longitudinal Study of First Year Students’ Expectations and Experiences in the Use of ICT. 7th International Conference on Networked Learning.
  • Resources, I. (2006). Industry resources: Text messaging. [Online] http://www.corporate.smsac/industryresources/text_messaginng.htm .Accessed 08 March 2013.
  • Robertson, C. (2001). What’s the outcome? LINK 2, October. LTSN for hospitality, Leisure, sport and tourism.
  • Schroer, W. J. (2013). The social librarian: Generation x, y, z and others cont’d. [Online] http://www.socialmarketing.org/newsletter/features/generation3.htm.Accessed 07 February 2013.
  • Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age, [Online] http://www.elearnspace.org/articles/connectivism.htm .Accessed 08 March 2013.
  • Simuth, J. & Sarmany-Schuller, I. (2012). Principles for e-pedagogy. Social and behavioural sciences , 46, 4454-4456.
  • Strydom, J. F., Basson, N. & Mentz, M. (2010). Enhancing the quality of teaching and learning: using student engagement data to establish a culture of evidence. Publisher: Council of higher education SA.
  • Tapscott, D. (2009). Growing up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
  • Torii-Williams, E. (2004). Incorporating the use of E-mail into a language program. Computer assisted language learning , 17(1), 109-122.
  • Traxler, J. (2007). Defining, discussing and evaluating mobile learning. International review of research in Open and Long learning, 8(1), 1-12.
  • Traxler, J. (2009). Current State of Mobile Learning. In M. Ally (Ed.), Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training (pp. 9-24). Athabasca: AU Press. [Online] http://www.aupress.ca/books/120155/ebook/99Z_Mohamed_Ally_2009-MobileLearning.pdf.
  • UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2009). Guide to measuring Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education. Montreal: UNESCO-UIS. [Online] http://www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/cscl/ICT/ICT_Guide_EN.pdf.
  • Wagner, E. D. & Wilson, P. (2005). Disconnected T+D, 59(12), 40-43.
  • Walton, M. (2009). Mobile literacies & South African teens: Leisure reading, writing, and MXit chatting for teens in Langa and Guguletu. Cape Town: Shuttleworth Foundation. [Online] http://m4lit.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/m4lit_mobile_literacies_mwalton 20101.pdf.
  • Winters, N. (2006). What is Mobile Learning? In Big Issues in Mobile Learning: 'Introduction: Mapping the landscape of Mobile Learning.' University of Nottingham, Learning Sciences Research Institute. Nottingham: Learning Sciences Research Institute. [Online] http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/msh/Papers/BIG_ISSUES_REPORT_PUBLISHED.pdf.
  • World Wide Worx. (2010). Mobile internet booms in SA. [Online] http://www.worldwideworx.com/2010/05/27/mobile-internet-booms-in-sa/.

Downloads

No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.

How to Cite

Van Rooyen, H., & Matli, W. (2014). Using Electronic Interaction as an Educational Support Tool in Higher Education: Students’ Perception on using M-Learning and the Lecturers’ Reflections. Journal of Education and Vocational Research, 5(2), 33-42. https://doi.org/10.22610/jevr.v5i2.150

Share this article

Section

Research Paper

Published

2014-06-30

Submissions

Have research to publish? Journal of Education and Vocational Research welcomes submissions.

Make a Submission