DOI: 10.4018/IJMBL.2019070103
International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning
Volume 11 • Issue 3 • July-September 2019
Copyright © 2019, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited.
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How Biomedical Science Students Use
Their Mobile Devices for Learning
Sanjay Vasudeva, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Kay Colthorpe, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Hardy Ernst, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Kai Wei Lam, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
ABSTRACT
Learning occurs in many forms, and learning through mobile devices is becoming increasingly
common in higher education. Potentially, there are many ways students may implement mobile
learning to enhance learning, and this may be influenced by students’ confidence and preferences.
To identify mobile learning behaviours, biomedical students (n=189) were asked in meta-learning
assessment tasks to report on self-initiated ways they used mobile devices for learning. Thematic
analysis of responses showed students were confident using mobile devices for learning, but students
of all confidence levels had similar usage levels. Students most commonly reported using laptops for
note-taking, watching lecture recordings, and planning, and using phones for looking up concepts
and using applications. This contributed to their self-regulation primarily by aiding students’ keeping
of records and information seeking behaviors. Students also implemented many new ways of using
devices during semester, demonstrating adaptability. Surprisingly, they rarely reported seeking social
assistance via mobile devices.
KeywoRDS
Adaptability, Biomedical Science, Metacognition of Learning, Mobile Devices, Mobile Learning, Self-Efficacy,
Self-Regulated Learning, Technology Acceptance Model, Undergraduate
INTRoDUCTIoN
Learning occurs in many forms, and learning through handheld mobile devices is becoming
increasingly common in higher education (El-Hussein & Cronje, 2010). Mobile learning creates a
greater degree of flexibility for the learner as it allows a seamless and ‘anywhere-anytime’ learning
experience (Ernst, Harrison, & Griffin, 2013; Mockus, Dawson, Edel-Malizia, Shaffer, An, &
Swaggerty 2011). Potentially, there are many alternate ways in which students may implement mobile
learning to enhance their learning experiences. However, exactly how students utilise their mobile
devices to assist their self-regulated learning formally and informally, the factors which influence
the choices regarding mobile device use, and the impact these have on academic achievement remain
unclear. Given the increasing focus on utilising mobile devices for course content delivery, identifying
why students may or may not adopt mobile technologies and their preferences regarding mobile device
use will provide insights that may aid the design of more effective curricula.