Towards a mobile learning curriculum framework

Abstract

The rapid spread and penetration of mobile devices to every layer of society has confronted the educational community with many new opportunities and responsibilities. As mobile computing and its disruptive aftermath enter the education arena, the challenge becomes how to harness the potential in ways that are beneficial to the educational community at large and the learners in particular. This paper outlines the initial conception, design research methodology followed and the development of the definitive Mobile Learning Curriculum Framework as a first attempt to systematically and comprehensively explore, where and how mobiles could appear within educational provision. The curriculum framework is underpinned by three broad learning objectives; to acquire domain knowledge, to develop sufficient and appropriate skills to enable mobile learning practice and to understand the role and impact of domain knowledge in the relation to the application context. To this end the curriculum framework is presented as a modular solution for adaption to accommodate differing contexts.