Mobile learning in higher education: the case of Universidade Aberta (Portugal)

Abstract

This text aims to reflect on the importance of M-learning in the context of higher education, particularly regarding adult populations who attend formal, university-level courses, in a distance education regime, such as the Universidade Aberta (Portugal) students. The literature refers that learning with the use of mobile technologies can effectively replace the static technologies of desktop computers, which becomes more flexible; On the other hand, academic environments arise as ideal for implementing, testing and evaluating pedagogical and technological innovations, including the level of mobile devices, allowing to prove or refute the technical feasibility and pedagogical possibilities of these Devices (cf. among others: Traxler, 2009). Moreover, and how they recognize Abreu and Cardoso (2016:36), "M-learning has the potential to bring learning to individuals, communities and isolated countries, offering students the possibility to take control of their learning in a different way. Thus, students will have the ability to engage in information and discussion activities, as an integral part of real life, constituting themselves as instruments of social policy. " In this sense, it is important to deepen the studies around m-learning, investigating aspects such as, for example, the motivational levels generated either from the macro or miso, institutionally, or micro-scope, in the classroom (in our case, virtual). In particular, it interests us identify how students of Universidade Aberta (Open University) use digital tools and devices for their learning and how they evaluate those tools considering the learning context. To this end, we developed a survey with 6 sections, based on a Likert scale and a semantic difference. We will present and discuss the results obtained with the survey. The preliminary findings of the pre-test are also analyzed and discussed. It is noteworthy that this work is enrolled in a European project, co-funded by the Erasmus + Program of the European Union, which will allow this data collection instrument to be applied to other students, from other higher education institutions, enabling the Conducting studies, and thereby broadening comprehension of how students use digital tools and devices for their learning.