Understanding students' learning practices: challenges for design and integration of mobile technology into distance education

• Published in: Journal of educational media : the journal of the Educational Television Association Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 357 - 377
• Main Authors: Viberg, Olga, Grönlund, Åke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Routledge 01.01.2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Applications programs; CAI; College Faculty; College Students; Complex Systems – Microdata Analysis; Computer assisted instruction; Design; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education; Educational Technology; Focus Groups; Foreign Countries; Handheld Devices; Higher Education; Informatics; Informatik; Information and Communication Technology; Informations- och kommunikationsteknik; Interviews; Komplexa system - mikrodataanalys; mobile applications; Mobile computing; mobile-assisted language learning; Pedagogik; Portable computers; Russian; Second Language Instruction; Second language learning; structurational analysis; Students; Technology Integration; Technology Uses in Education; technology-in-practice; Telecommunications; Use Studies; Sweden
• ISSN: 1743-9884; 1743-9892; 1743-9892
• DOI: 10.1080/17439884.2016.1088869

This study explores the design requirements for mobile applications for second language learning in online/distance higher education settings. We investigate how students use technology and how they perceive that these technologies-in-practice facilitate their language learning. Structuration Theory is used for the analysis. Results show that design needs to consider that (i) students use their private mobile technologies frequently when conducting self-initiated learning tasks, (ii) students' mobile technologies-in-practice are important, and course designers should design materials and tools for such use practices, and (iii) students prefer to work on their own due to the limited time they want to devote to their learning. Consequently, in regard to the pervasive nature of mobile technology integration in society and into students' habitual use, they need various software tools on such devices to support individual learning.