A Study on Knowledge and Awareness of M-Learning among the Teachers of Higher Education

Abstract

Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completion of secondary education. It represents levels 6, 7 and 8 of the 2011 version of the International Standard Classification of Education structure. Tertiary education at a non-degree level is sometimes referred to as further education or continuing education as distinct from higher education. Nowadays, m-learning services are interesting and very recent addition as a new vital platform for the higher education environment. This study explored the requirement for utilizing m-learning services in the higher education environment. Moreover, it provided the knowledge base about the current state of students’ awareness about m-learning services. Both of the environment and the infrastructure are appropriate to diffuse m-learning in the higher education environment. The results indicate that the higher education environment has the required infrastructure to utilize m-learning services. Furthermore, the results show that the teachers have adequate knowledge and awareness to use such technology in their education environment. However, the barriers and obstacles that could be faced during the actual use of mobile learning should be considered. Literature shows that while the limitations of mobile technology are reducing over time, the capabilities are going on increasingly. This study shows that the limitations of m-learning for education are well concerned by teachers. However, Mobile wirelesses technology use in higher education will keep growing and will become the choice of the learning environment. This study is part of research to investigate adoption and diffusion of m-learning services among teachers in the higher education environment.