Examining Usability in English Language Mobile Learning Materials for Technical Students
Mobile computing technology enables accessibility of internet and the content of world wide web on mobile devices such as mobile phones. Inevitably, this triggers massive opportunities for learning. Almost all learning disciplines benefit from this technology and language learning is no exception. Nonetheless, language learning has its own properties that need to be adhered to. The four skills in language learning which are reading, listening, writing and speaking might not be equally emphasized when delivered through mobile devices. Content may be impeded by mobile features such as small screen and limited download capacity. This in turn could frustrate learners and retard understanding of learning points. Hence, the objective of this paper is to examine learners response towards mobile learning through usability analysis. Using English for Technical Purposes as the subject, the research was conducted on forty-three students pursuing technical courses in four polytechnics in Malaysia. Students were asked to access the materials designed using their mobile phones of various brands. In order for them to be able to access the materials, they are required to have an internet-able phone. Internet connection was made using the technology available on their mobile phone. Hence, some mobile phones required only GPRS whilst others utilized the wi-fl services available at the learning premises. After testing the materials, students answered twenty-eight usability items. The summary of items statistics showed that the means of the items are at 5.640 and Cronbachs coefficient alpha reliability statistics stood at. 984. This showed that the items used were reliable. The results of this study further instigate the production of a much more comprehensive English language learning materials.
mobile learning usability technical usability and English language learning
Yusma Yusof Mohamed Amin Embi Norazah Mohd Nordin Ooi Kien Bee
Polytechnic Education Department Ministry of Higher Education,Malaysia Faculty of Education Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia General Studies Dept. Politeknik Kuching Sarawak
国际会议
10th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning(第十届移动学习国际会议)
北京
英文
330-337
2011-10-18（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）