Mobile Education Technologies: A Comprehensive Literature Review

This literature review examines the integration of mobile technology in education, focusing on its effective uses in the classroom, current technologies, and benefits for young children's reading skills. It assesses challenges in using mobile applications, including evaluation problems and adoption hurdles, while emphasizing the necessity of developing design standards. The review explores user-led education through mobile technology, its advantages, and implementation strategies, concluding with insights into the future of mobile technology-driven education. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and solved assignments for students.

Running head: ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
Literature Review: Aspects of mobile education and technologies work best and can be
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1ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
Table of Contents
1. Literature Review........................................................................................................................2
1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................2
1.2 Effective uses of mobile technology in the classroom..........................................................3
1.3 Current mobile education and technologies..........................................................................4
1.4 Benefits of reading application among young children.........................................................6
1.5 Assessment of issues in usefulness of mobile applications for young children....................8
1.5.1 Problems of evaluating learning application..................................................................8
1.5.2 Challenges to adopt mobile learning in classroom.........................................................9
1.6 Necessity of developing standards for mobile design and development.............................10
1.7 Introduction of ‘User-led’ education through the application of the mobile technology and
its advantages.............................................................................................................................12
1.8 Implementation of mobile learning.....................................................................................14
1.9 Future of mobile technology driven education system........................................................17
1.10 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................18
References......................................................................................................................................20

2ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
1. Literature Review
1.1 Introduction
The literature study investigates about the perceptions of teachers and young children
concerning the impact of employ of mobile devices for educational purposes. Sarrab, Elbasir and
Alnaeli (2016) stated that the mobile learning stands for a way to tackle number of educational
issues. The devices like smart phones, tablets are enabled for modernization furthermore helped
the young children and teachers to gain access to the digital content. The mobile devices are used
of 4G/3G connectivity which is required tools to get better teaching in addition to learning. The
mobile devices by means of cellular connectivity improve children learning and engage both
them along with teachers. Keengwe and Bhargava (2014) argued that mobile technology is a way
to offer innovative content along with ease informational access everywhere the children is
positioned. It facilitates and connects the mobile learning in a mode that can convert learning
environment for the young children in and out of the school.
This literature study is written to analyze the aspects of the mobile education and mobile
learning in educational field. The literature review has measured probable sources of the
available research on the chosen topic for the mobile teaching along with learning. The main
focus is on mobile technology on how it is being employed in the educational institutions. The
literature study is based on effective uses of mobile technology in the classroom, current mobile
education plus technologies, benefits of reading application among young children and
assessment of issues in usefulness of mobile applications for young children. It also analyzes
necessity of developing standards for mobile design and development.

3ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
1.2 Effective uses of mobile technology in the classroom
In present world of technology, it is critical to imagine the school without the computers
as well as internet. Various type of educational websites provide information to students help
them in exams. In the era of tech-savvy, the outcome of mobile learning is trendy as well as it is
powerful source of effective mobile learning. Katz (2017) shown that the mobile technology is a
tool for teaching and learning experiences increase efficiency among the young children towards
learning. The mobile device ownership is increasing in United Kingdom. This study analyzes
about the benefits to employ of mobile in education. The young children and educational
institutions are discovered benefits of employ of mobile technology within the classroom.
Domingo and Gargante (2016) stated that it is easier to employ of mobile device for improving
right to use the information. Whether the information is related to course, the mobile devices
help the teacher to gain access to the information faster. As per the teacher, usage of mobile
technology helps and allows for quicker and provides easier feedback. The young children are
agreed that there is faster communication among the lecturers as well as colleagues with use of
the mobile devices. Kearney, Burden and Rai (2015) discussed that technology can provide new
opportunity to do things in various ways. One of the major features of mobile technology is
creativity used to build work effective as well as achieve of higher results. The teachers are used
of technology to make learning more efficient, and there is creative use of the technology into
the classroom.
Zydney and Warner (2016) analyzed that technology is powerful and it is used to make
both teaching as well as learning powerful. The teachers are used of audio recording feature in
the Smartphone for offering personal as well as quality feedback to young children. This study is
based on proven that the young children are not liked feedback provided in traditional way, but

4ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
they are preferred to use of Smart technology for getting feedback (Keengwe and Bhargava,
2014). The teachers can exploit of chat features of the mobile devices for creating online
discussion forum to motivate the class participation on the contented topics. The children can
chat as well as discuss at home on the subject into the classroom to increase an understanding of
the concepts. Traxler and Crompton (2015) stated that quick response codes are one of the way
to employ of mobile technology into the classroom. Technology is powerful and benefits to
make the work effective. It can also raise productivity plus help to achieve better results in the
work which make the mobile learning more effective.
Ally and Prieto-Blázquez (2014) pointed that in regard to usage of mobile technology, the
types of learning through employ of mobile phones is done through sound, short text messages,
graphical display, information gathered from the data, internet search and video clips. According
to Voogt et al. (2017), sending of educational texts via the cell phones in the education has
positive effects on the educational field. The positive effects of the mobile phone are
improvement of learning plus rising an understanding of various concepts. Briz-Ponce et al.
(2017) stated that constructive is used of time which prevent the time for being wastage. Kim
and Shin (2015) said that recent development in the software as well as hardware, qualities will
let the teachers produce and patent the qualities of young children. The mobile phones are
cheaper; therefore interest of young children to use mobile phones will facilitate learning.
Communication with use of mobile phones is collaboration tool which can facilitate proper
social relationships with the learners.
1.3 Current mobile education and technologies
The mobile technologies are penetrated in the society in short period of time. The
technologies are referred to the Notebooks, iPods, PDA, tablets and Smartphone. Lee et al.

5ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2018) illustrated that advent of those technologies can consider an interest among the
educational institutions and mobile learning. Yoo and Lee (2015) argued that the mobile devices
can change pattern of learning because of its portability as well as support to access learning
materials. As per the below provided pie chart, it is seen that PDA is used for educational as well
as learning purposes. Smartphone is used devices which are mostly used into educational
institutions to provide support to learning. The devices are examined based on efficiency of the
information, satisfaction level and outcomes related to learning.
Figure
1:
Mobile
devices used for m-learning
(Zydney and Warner, 2016, pp-7)
The mobile learning is implemented in dissimilar educational contexts such as formal,
informal as well as non-formal. According to See (2017), scenery of mobile learning enlarges its
confines of the formal education towards informal education context. It is analyzed that
frequency of usage of mobile devices is higher in case of non-informal educational contexts as
compared to both formal as well as informal educational contexts. Keengwe and Bhargava
23%
16%
8%
15%
15%
14%
Mobile devices used for m-learning
PDA
Handheld
Pocket PC
Smartphones
Mobile phones
Notebooks

6ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2014) revealed that m-learning activities are superior engaged the students into the learning
processes. Access to the mobile devices through utilizes of handheld smart devices enables to
access into m-learning platforms. Into the m-learning environment, the total number of learners
are huge as well as access to data in real time may need to access networks by means of Wi-Fi.
1.4 Benefits of reading application among young children
According to Zydney and Warner (2016), there is a challenge for the teachers to get the
young children engaged in reading as well as getting them to enjoy. The teachers are used of
electronic and technology based strategies to develop learning plus interest in words. The
technology based strategy is based on digital tools as well as resources to evolve learning
impending which is probable when technology as well as media is division of the instructional
combine. Yoo and Lee (2015) analyzed that nearly 100% of the schools in United Kingdom have
internet access towards information along with communication technologies. The purpose of this
section is to analyze benefits of reading application and its reading and learning issues. With
increase in visual world, m-learning becomes primary means of the communication. Parsons
(2014) argued that one of the concerns to educators is development of the academic language.
Page (2014) stated that the mobile applications for the educational institutions have done
for the young children, and made learning process easier. In changing times, the young children
are driven towards utilize of the mobile phone. The world becomes at fingerprint plus the young
children can get access to the information from anywhere. It also reduces time to visit the library
and searches for the data. Ciampa (2014) concluded that the mobile based application is
therefore used for reading and learning purposes. Each of the mobile application has innovative
feature to offer set of services. Following show key significant role of reading and learning
application such as:

7ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
New learning methods: Introduction of the reading and learning applications in
education sector lead to introduce new learning methods. There are also fun games on the
application which indulge the young children throughout learning processes and helping them to
know things from a variety of perspectives (Glaser, 2018). The young learners are attached to
activities like crossword puzzles, world-building and others.
Enhance parent teacher communication: The application should help to build strong
parent teacher relationships beyond wall of the educational institutions. It facilitates the teachers
to respond to question from the parents concerning expansion of ward. It helps to maintain
simplicity amongst the educational sector (Zydney and Warner, 2016).
24-hour availability: For the schools, the young children can follow particular timetable.
The children can get access to the mobile learning application whenever they want regards to
time of the day (Ali et al. 2015). The mobile application is accessed by kid at anytime while just
needed a Smartphone or tablet with installed learning application.
Decrease into communication gap: Through the traditional method, the educational
institutions are not paying attention to the children (Katz, 2018). The reading and teaching
mobile based application makes possible to impart the information to each children, so that they
are informed about new schedules, conferences as well as social school activities.
Make tech-savvy children: According to Sánchez Prieto, Olmos Migueláñez and García-
Peñalvo (2014), children of 5 years become tech savvy due to mobile learning application. On
daily basis usage of the learning application makes the children confident as they can handle
same technology tools and gadgets.
It is seen that the mobile applications are used for various purposes which make easier for

8ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
institution to keep the young children informed about the activities related to the school. The
mobile applications can ease the problems related to children along with facilitate the learning
(Bannan, Cook and Pachler, 2016). The mobile applications are future of the educational sector,
leading towards educational development.
1.5 Assessment of issues in usefulness of mobile applications for young children
Bannan, Cook and Pachler (2016) stated that creating educational software for the
preschool as well as primary school children has preoccupied in the educational research, since
introduction of the personal computers in the classroom by early 1980s. With the interactive as
well as mobile technologies, the criteria to assess quality of the mobile products are targeted
children as young as age of 5 years. Oakley (2018) referred to usability issues of mobile
application which emerge interactive activities with the applications like lack of feedback
associated with use of soft buttons.
1.5.1 Problems of evaluating learning application
Boticki et al. (2015) stated that getting evaluation of mobile application becomes critical
problem because of enormous number of self-proclaimed educational application in Apple plus
Google digital stores. According to Deaton, Herron and Deaton (2018), in design analysis of
learning applications, there are issues related to visual design, interactive design, layout and
navigation, makes lack of quality plus adaption based on child development. The learning
application for preschoolers as well as kindergarten kids should provide priority to learning
process rather than the product which provides opportunities to motivate children and involve in
own learning. The applications are available for the young children to build the communicational
skills, pre-math skills, science skills and other.

9ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
1.5.2 Challenges to adopt mobile learning in classroom
Poore (2015) explained that the young children can access to the mobile device to use in
plus outside of the class. When the young children are getting distracted, the learning activity
keeps them engaged by use of mobile gadgets. Rapid pace of the change in adoption of mobile
devices in classroom has evaluated competence of the current mobile learning strategies. The
mobile learning is stand alone activity which is a challenge for the teachers to identify how to
use of the mobile devices within classroom has improved academic performance of the student.
Ellaway et al. (2014) illustrated that the mobile technology has potential to make sure that there
is learning experiences which add to higher academic outcomes for children. Following are
challenges which impose by implementation of mobile learning application in classroom for
young children:
Privacy issues: The mobile devices in the school can access to sensitive data, academic
results, professional data and managerial information. Sometimes, those data are not protected.
Sarrab, Elbasir and Alnaeli (2016) criticized that the learning management system prevent
unwanted online safety problems throughout automatic backup, protection of password and
strong setting to access level for the users. The educators should make sure that the mobile
application in classroom is not used for any other purpose other than learning.
Management issues: The management team of school is required to define policies and
technical support for widespread implementation of mobile application. Lack of management
support is cited as challenge (Kearney, Burden and Rai, 2015). Change among the management
level is an issue as it can change in attitudes, behaviors of managers in educational sector.
Design issues: Traxler and Crompton (2015) stated that design issues occurred due to not
proper design of application which is instructional design, interface design and screen design.

10ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
User interface design is a required factor for successful implementation of mobile learning,
therefore issues in this design type affects the implementation work.
Technical issues: Parsons (2014) analyzed that the technical complexities are a key
important feature in implementation plus combination of mobile technologies in school. Ali et al.
(2015) listed some of the technical complexities like installation, accessibility of technology,
faster web connection, and maintenance along with technical support. Those issues are resulted
as of speedy change in the mobile technologies, moreover devices. Boticki et al. (2015)
concluded that connectivity as well as bandwidth is required to consider at the time of
development of mobile learning. Ellaway et al. (2014) pointed that there is lack of application
quality, technological support and protection of the learning applications.
Cultural and social issues: Parsons (2014) stated that there are cultural in addition to
social concerns while getting of deployment of mobile learning. The ethical implications like
resistance to change among the lecturers, unease related to social practices, increase in time
required to store information, data security and cyber bullying are cultural and social issues
related to development of learning application in school. Zydney and Warner (2016) explained
that the cultural dissimilarities in relation to attitudes towards technology are key issue in support
of getting type of technology as well as future usage. The research study is reported that
resistance to change plays a key function in acceptance of knowledge in the educational sector.
1.6 Necessity of developing standards for mobile design and development
Keengwe and Bhargava (2014) stated that selection of mobile applications is an
importance s development of mobile learning application can support the young children in
learning. Kearney, Burden and Rai (2015) argued that quality of the mobile application can
target childhood based on two conditions like taking consideration for development stage of

11ASPECTS OF MOBILE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
children and employing interactive design towards children’s cognitive development. Ciampa
(2014) introduced some of the guidelines which are found in development of application like
applications are educational, interactive, encourage the child to remain in control and encourage
collaboration of teacher and parent. Oakley (2018) pointed that when the mobile application gets
uploaded to digital stores, and then there is high competition among the developers turns into
violent. It can also strengthen connections between home and school furthermore does not
contain any violence. With more than 80% of the mobile learning applications in the digital store
attractive to the children and parents are faced with choices regarding selection of right
application (BBC News, 2018). The following table shows examples for the mobile applications
which are used in mobile learning.
Aspect of
mobile
learning
Network Technology Technology
characteristic
Device Content Activities
Portable e-
learning
Cable It directs wired
connection and
it is least
flexible.
PDA,
Smartphone
and iPad
Instructional
materials
with the
audio and
video
lecturers
Tasks and
learning
assessment
Classroom Local area
GSM Global system
for the mobile
Laptop,
PDA, cell
phones and
computer
Regular
emails and
forum
discussion
Assignments
and
interaction
among
students and
lecturers,
Bluetooth Networking
standard found
in the devices.
It has no power
requirements.
Wi-Fi IEEE standard
802.11 wireless
networks
IR Infra red light