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Learner characteristics of m-learning preferences

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Abstract

Now, mobile devices extend learning to any location and time, where students adopt different preferences to learn effectively and efficiently through mobile devices. However, podcasting learning materials to mobile learners involves considerable challenge because of ongoing changes in the behaviour of learners in different contexts. This paper explores mobile learning (m-learning) preferences in tertiary education in order to suggest the best approaches to deliver digital learning materials (podcasts) in different contexts which are physical spaces (e.g. quiet, busy, or walking), and social spaces (e.g. alone, family, or with classmates). A total of 345 students completed a survey study to identify the role of mobile learners’ characteristics (gender, age, material status, nationality: Australians and Saudis, and prior m-learning experience) and their impact on podcast preferences in different physical and social spaces. Based on the survey results, in this paper, we shall present the impact characteristics on m-learning preferences for podcast length and types. We shall also summarise the affected contexts and their causes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Mazen Al-Ismail, Ying-Hsang Liu & Tom Gedeon

  2. Faculty of Economics and Admin, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Yamin

  3. School of Information Studies and Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Sydney, Australia

    Ying-Hsang Liu

Authors
  1. Mazen Al-Ismail
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  2. Mohammad Yamin
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  3. Ying-Hsang Liu
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  4. Tom Gedeon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Yamin.

Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Background and demographics

  1. 1.

    Would you please write down your email:

  2. 2.

    What is your age?

  3. 3.

    Which of the following best describes your current relationship status?

  4. 4.

    Have you ever listened to an educational podcast using your mobile device?

  5. 5.

    Have you ever watched to an educational video using your mobile device?

  6. 6.

    Have you ever read to an educational materials using your mobile device?

Questionnaire for preferences has the same structure scenarios based on podcast type, length, and context (a combination of physical space and social space) as shown below:

figure a
figure b
figure c
figure d

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Al-Ismail, M., Yamin, M., Liu, YH. et al. Learner characteristics of m-learning preferences. Int. j. inf. tecnol. 11, 493–505 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41870-019-00279-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41870-019-00279-w

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