TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page

1. Introduction

-Definition

2-3

2

3. Past Study 4-5

4. A Recent Study

-Methodology

6

5. Finding

(i) Profile

(a) Section A

7-8

(ii) Result

(b) Section B

(c) Section C

(d) Section D

9

10

11-12

(iii) Summarize 12

6. Conclusion 13

7. Reference 14

1

MOBILE LEARNING READINESS AMONG WORKING ADULT LEARNERS IN

MALAYSIA

1.INTRODUCTIONS

Mobile learning is method of learning and educational activity when technology in use fully

mobile and when the users of the technology are also mobile while them learn. The learning

is through the use of wireless mobile technology allows anyone to access information and

learning materials from anywhere and at anytime. In Malaysia, the student has ability to use a

gadget as a mobile phones, laptop computers, and “i-pod". In the era of highly developed and

modern, we cannot escape the sophistication emerging technologies. It's new and distinct

educational format, needing to set its own standards and expectations, or it could be a variety

of e-learning, inheriting the discourse and limitations of this slightly more mature discipline.

DEFINITION

There are many definitions of e-learning, some of which are as follows:

M-Learning is a new concept in the learning process. It emphasizes the ability to facilitate the

learning process without bound over to the physical location of the learning process occurs

(Kukulska-Hulme & Traxler, 2005).

Attewell & Savill-Smith (2005) defining mobile learning or m-learning is learning by means

of wireless technological devices that can be pocketed and utilized wherever the learner's

device is able to receive unbroken transmission signals.

The scope of mobile learning includes enhance group collaboration among students and

instructors using a Pocket PC, learning with handheld or wearable technologies solves a

problem of classroom education, student can learn outdoors anywhere, anytime, personalised

learning. It's support informal or lifelong learning, such as using handheld dictionaries and

other devices for language learning and provides audiovisual support in order to enhance

training similar to a corporate business or other classroom environment. It's to raise self-

confidence and self-esteem by recognising uncelebrated skills, enabling non-threatening,

personalised learning experiences and enabling peer-to-peer learning and support.

2

Status mobile learning in Malaysia is every learner in higher education can be seen to have a

mobile phone. Most Malaysians consider mobile phones are necessity. M-learning is able to

improve performance of a student in all aspect to be achieved. In addition, they also can see

and use mobile technology with a wider perspective and multimedia elements that can

integrate audio and video to attract students in the use of M-Learning. Through teaching and

learning using audio and video, students will become more focused, active, constructive,

enthusiastic and able to brighten the role of work in a creative and critical thinking.

The relationship between the centrality of technological development in daily life and its

potential as a means of education, Mobile Learning charts the rapid emergence of new forms

of mass communication and their potential for gathering, shaping, and analyzing information,

studying their transformative capability and learning potential in the contexts of school and

socio-cultural change. The focus is on mobile/cell phones, PDAs, and to a lesser extent

gaming devices and music players, not as "the next new thing" but meaningfully integrated

into education, without objective the devices or technology itself.

3

3. PAST STUDIES

Five studies of mobile learning as reported in the journal that I can conclude is:

Based on case study by Undergraduate student, they have studying that perception

concerning satisfaction level of mobile learning. Data were collected from undergraduate

student from Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor Of Science, Bachelor Of social science and Bachelor

of Management at the School of Distance Education, University Sains Malaysia (USM). The

main focus of the mobile learning is to allow the learners experience the different approach of

learning process which issue in abroad. They convert the innovation from the traditional E-

learning to a mobile learning that the learner can receive and update the data any place at

anytime. Short message service (SMS) are popular and it send to learner were shortened and

brief but very powerful (straight to the point). Mobile learning is a new approach in delivery

and the additional learning. The feedback is useful to the school for future improvement to

meet the satisfaction level and quality of learning centre to increase the image of Malaysian

Education System.

From the studies they describe the educational opportunities of teaching in a real time

wireless classroom using mobile device. Studied made by Bt Multimedia (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

and Faculty of Science and Information Technology. Data were collected by Undergraduate

students on the problem faced in conventional classrooms. They were propose the use of a

Pocket PC to enhance the teaching and learning in a classroom and learning object in

extensible Mark-up Language to capture each learning event to allow students to retrieve

them effectively. From the studies they found the effective method of learning through the

use mobile learning in a wireless classroom. The lecture could monitor student’s progress

during classroom exercise and the students would able to interact better with their during

class. They currently are developing the learning objects using ASP.NET together with XML.

From this journal they from Massey University, New Zealand and Southampton Solent

University, United Kingdom were proposed a conceptual framework for mobile learning

applications that provides systematic support for mobile learning experience design. It is

based on a combination a game metaphor and several of mobile learning contexts. They

review these design concerns from four perspectives: generic mobile environment issues,

learning contexts, learning experience and learning objectives. It incorporated best practice in

M-learning design requirements base on Scwabe and Goth but providing a broader view to

4

take account of learning context and objectives beyond a single application domain. In the

future work will involve the development of a generic design process to enable the

application of the framework in a design context and the subsequent design and development

of a complete M-learning application.

Based on these studies from Open University Malaysia(OUM) they has conducted to

determine the readiness of learners for mobile learning at OUM, Malaysia's first open and

distance learning university. Mobile learning or M-learning is set to be the next big wave in

education. The potential of mobile devices in enhancing learning is enormous and many

higher education institutions are expected to embrace M-learning soon. Technological

advancements have brought many positive changes in the way they learn. They found the

learners was readily to embark into M-learning and it is important that institution of higher

education form a smart-partnership with industry players such as a mobile telecommunication

operators, manufacturers of mobile devices and programmers who have interest in developing

the M-learning. They will ensure that its M-learning will be interwoven with daily activities

and blend with its current pedagogies to offer significant and more meaningful learning

experiences that learners will find useful.

From this studies they was defining mobile learning in the Higher Education Landscape and

clarify the meaning of mobile learning by applying it’s to learning experiences in post-school

education. The studies are from student Faculty of Informatics and Design, Cape Peninsula

University of Technology. They were concluded from that knowledge in the modern world is

transformed by development of revolutionary technologies in society. The emergence of

revolutionary technologies has had significant impact on educational technology. The authors

define mobile learning as “any type of learning that takes place in learning environment and

space that take account of the mobility of technology, mobility of learners and mobility of

learning”. The proper design of the technologies leads to greater effectiveness of mobile

learning. It's should consider multiplicity of meaning that are implied by the mobility of

educational delivery and the mobility of learners.

5

4. A RECENT STUDY

METHODOLOGY

This research examined is to explore the level of mobile learning readiness among working

adult learners in Malaysia. The research was conducted on a sample of 30 undergraduate

students from Bachelor of Nursing Science, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Management

and Master of Education using simple random sample method and the secondary data was

based on the online databases and past researches. Throughout the research, the

questionnaire was sent to Mobile learner via e-mail. After the email was sent out, the

respondents were being given an acknowledgement SMS. After 2 weeks, the completed

feedback of questionnaire was sent via e-mail. Dateline for this survey was on 15 Jun 2011

which is three week before their final to send the assignment. There are a total of 30

questionnaires being returned by learners with 100 percent of return. The questionnaire

consisted of 4 sections which is section A, section B, Section C and the last section D

6

5. FINDINGS

(i) Profile:

(a) Section A : Background information

This section is a background information from a respondent:

Frequency Percentage(%)

1.Current status:

(a) undergraduate

(b) post-graduate

20

10

66%

44%

2.Current employment:

(a) not employed/not

working

(b) working

-

30

-

100%

3. Year of study

(a) 1ˢ L year

(b) 2ᵑᵈ year

(c) 3O P year

(d) 4L Q year

20

10

-

-

66%

44%

-

-

4. Filed of study:

(a) education

(b) management

(c) health science

5

10

15

17%

33%

50

5. Age (years)

(a) 20-25

(b) 25-30

(c) 31-35

(d) 36-40

-

5

10

8

-

17%

33%

27%

7

(e) more than 40 7 23%

6. Ethnic :

(a) Indian

(b) Chinese

(c) Bumiputera

(d) Other

5

4

21

-

17%

13%

70%

-

7. Gender:

(a) Male

(b) Female

12

18

40%

60%

8. Nationality Malaysia

8

(ii) Result

(b) Section B

Handphone Facilities

3G /4G serviceMMS serviceMemory CardInternet accessOthers

The results of this analysis from section B is handphone Facilities. Following the statement

from the analysis made that’s all student have a handphone. The student has handphone 3G

and 4G service in the 40% and MMS service around 30%. Some Students have a handphone

with video call service but they did not use a video call, the respondent around 30% used the

video call. The students have a handphone with internet access 45%. Handphone have a

memory card that can store digital files are more than 40% they used and the others function

from the handphone are 30% in use.

9

(c) Section C

This section was analysis that some handphone owner was subscribe to the Internet line,

while others use Wi-Fi facilities to accessed the internet.

Never Rarely Sometime Often Always0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Internet Access

Axis Title

Perc

enta

ge

From the analysis some handphone owners subscribe to the Internet line while others use Wi-

Fi facilities to access the internet. The student never subscribe to the internet line using their

handphone the total is 15 students. The student who rarely used Wi-Fi facilities to access the

internet is over 12 students. Sometime sent and received email via handphone the total is 5

students. The student was sent 3G file, opened up, download file from the handphone the

total is 8 students. The always student use the other service in the handphone total student are

10 student.

10

(d) Section D

This section was analysis that mobile learning is becoming popular learning soon in Malaysia

as handphone is offering more mobile services are cheaper rate.

Mobile Learning

No.

Statements 1 2 3 4 5Strongl

y disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Not applicabl

e1. I know what mobile learning

is all about.- 10% 43% 47% -

2. I want to know more about mobile learning.

- - 40% 60% -

3. I don’t think I want to be involved in mobile learning.

- 70% - - 30%

4. I prefer conventional learning than mobile learning.

- 40% 35% 30% -

5. I think mobile learning is good for working adults who are pursing their higher education.

- 20% 50% 30% -

6. I don’t mind paying extra money for mobile learning.

- - 60% 40% -

7. Mobile learning will make my life difficult.

40% 40% 10% 10%

8. I am not ready for mobile learning if the university implements it now.

60% 30% - - 10%

9. I would like my lecturer to integrate mobile learning in my class in addition to face-to-face meetings in the class.

- - 40% 60% -

10. I am afraid I will spend more money on my handphone bill because of mobile learning.

10% 10% 40% 20% 20%

11. I will be ready for mobile learning after 2 years.

- 10% 30% 40% 20%

12. I don’t know how to use 3G facility in my handphone.

20% 20% 30% 10% 20%

13. I would like my lecturer to integrate mobile learning in my class besides online forum in my course

15% 20% 30% 45% -

14. Mobile learning will save my learning time.

- 10% 35% 45% 10%

15. Mobile learning is an alternative to web based

- - 40% 60%

11

learning.16. I need to learn how to use my

handphone for mobile learning.

- - 40% 60%

17. I am looking forward to engage in mobile learning.

- - 30% 60% 10%

18. I will upgrade my handphone if mobile learning is going to be implemented in my course.

- 10% 50% 40% -

19. Mobile learning is an alternative to conventional learning.

- 10% 40% 50% -

20. I think my university is not ready for mobile learning using handphone facility.

70% 30% - - -

21. Some of my lecturers are already integrating mobile learning in their teaching.

- - 40% 50% 10%

Based on the studies mobile learning is good for working adults who are pursuing their

higher education. The lecturer was integrated mobile learning in the class besides online

forum. Many students will be upgrading the handphone when the mobile service was a

cheaper rate. Many students are strongly not agreed regarding mobile learning will make my

life difficult. They were thinking mobile learning is good for working adults who are

pursuing their higher education. The students are like their lecturer to integrate mobile

learning in my class besides online forum in my course. Mobile learning will save time for

the working adult learning and many students was strongly agreed that mobile learning is an

alternative to web based learning.

(iii) SUMMARIZE

From these findings, I can conclude that the availability of mobile learning among working

adult learners in Malaysia is better than conventional learning. This is because it can enhance

better knowledge about the use of mobile learning and is also used as motivation and that is

the key to success will be realized. Mobile learning will also produce students who are

competitive and can conquering the generic skills that should be in every university and

college graduates in Malaysia. In addition the role of all parties, especially the lecturers are

necessary to fully ensure the success of mobile learning.

12

6. CONCLUSION

Working adult learners in Malaysia can readily choose from a unlimited quantity of data. The

Internet has ushered in an era in which information has become easy to access and easy to

publish. Now, learners must acquire the skills and tools to navigate through this growing

body of information. Mobile learning enables learners to interact using additional tools such

as text messaging, mobile Internet access, and voice communications all through wireless

networks. Multimedia elements in an addition it’s can integrate audio and video to attract

students in the use of mobile learning. Through teaching and learning using audio and video,

students will become more focused, active, constructive, enthusiastic and able to brighten the

role of work in a creative and critical thinking. Developments like this are needed in

producing graduates who are competitive.

Total word: 2524

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7. REFERENCE

El-Hussein., Mohamed, O. M., & Cronje, J. C. (2010). Defining Mobile Learning in the

Higher Education Landscape. Educational Technology & Society, 13 (3), 12-21

Mlearning From Wikipedia. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mlearning (accessed

Jun,13 2011)

Issham, I., et al., (2010). Satisfaction of Distance Learners towards Mobile Learning in the

University Sains Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Educational Technology, 10(2), 47-54

Singh, D., Zaitun, A.B.,(2006). Mobile Learning In Wireless Classrooms. Malaysian Online

Journal of Instruction Technology (MOJIT), 3(2), 26-42, Available:

http://pppjj.usm.my/mojit/articles. Accessed Jun 13, 2011

Parsons, D., Ryu, H., & Cranshaw, M., (2007). A Design Requirement Framework for Mobile

Learning Environments. Journal Of Computer, 2(4), 1-8, Available:

http://www.academypublisher.com. Accessed Jun 15,2011

Zoraini, W. A., Chng, L.P.,& Norziati, M., (2009). A Study on Learner Readiness for Mobile

Learning at Open University Malaysia. IADIS, pp 151-157

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