Mobile learning in Malaysian schools: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

This study established the emerging themes in implementing mobile learning via mobile phones to support English Language learning in Malaysian schools. The findings were gathered from English subject leaders, ICT subject leaders, head teachers and deputy head teachers from 4 schools in the United Kingdom. In addition, the study also gathered the perspectives from English subject leaders, ICT subject leaders, head teachers, deputy head teachers from 9 schools and the officers in the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

It has been established that there are opportunities and challenges to implement mobile learning via mobile phones in Malaysian schools. The opportunities to implement mobile learning are based on the following key points: mobile phone as a teaching and learning tool to support English subject, mobile phone as a common device among students, mobile phone as a future teaching and learning tool, mobile phone as a tool to support various learning activities, mobile phone as an affordable tool, mobile phone as an engaging and motivational tool and mobile phone as a tool to prepare students for their future.

With regard to the challenges to implement mobile learning in Malaysian schools, these are based on the following key points: issue with misuse, issue with current policy, issue with management and maintenance, issue with stakeholders, issue with digital divide and issue with personal space invasion.

This study contributes towards the body of knowledge of mobile learning in Malaysia as a developing country where mobile learning is still in its infancy. It adds value in understanding the situation of mobile learning in Malaysia, which could be replicated to other developing countries in embracing the potential of mobile learning in mainstream education

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ORCID for John Woollard: orcid.org/0000-0002-4518-0784

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