Evaluating mobile centric information access and interaction compatibility for learning websites

Abstract

Against the background of the global drive towards equal access to learning opportunities Open Distance Learning (ODL) institutions are challenged to optimize the use of technologies that provide usable, scalable and sustainable access. The remarkable mobile cellular growth together with the potential of mobile phones to be used as tools of communication, teaching and learning poses new challenges to educational institutions and specifically open-distance learning institutions. The aim of this article is to investigate the compatibility of mobile cellular phone web services that facilitate ubiquitous and sustainable information access and interaction in an open and distance learning environment in South Africa. The contribution of the paper is a proposed Mobile phone information access compatibility checklist extracted from literature and validated by its application on an ODL learning website.