Abstract
The Pacific Island communities face challenges such as digital divide, shoestring budgets, and escalating costs in the delivery of quality education to their people. In addition, the widely scattered nature of islands and communities requires proper communication infrastructure for learners to access education. This chapter heralds the emergence of mobile learning (mLearning) initiatives in higher education in the Pacific region. As a case study, the study focuses on the introduction of mLearning at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in the Pacific which developed a fit-for-purpose mLearning infrastructure that primarily utilized the short message service (SMS) for its delivery and services. The USP hosts an in-house setup open-source SMS gateway that facilitates its custom-made SMS services such as course notifications, exam timetable information, and online quizzes. More recently with the proliferation of smartphones in the Pacific, USP has invested largely on web-based services and mobile apps. The chapter presents the recent journey into the use of smartphones and tablets to access education and promotes lifelong and life-wide learning in the Pacific.
References
Aksakal, N. 2015. Theoretical view to the approach of the edutainment. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 (2015): 1232–1239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.081.
Alexiou, A., and F. Paraskeva. 2010. Enhancing self-regulated learning skills through the implementation of an e-portfolio tool. Elsevier- Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2: 3048–3054.
Bakardjieva, T., and B. Gradinarova. 2012. Wikis and blogs in e-learning context. In Methodologies, Tools and New Developments for E-Learning. InTech.
Blurton, C. 1999. New directions of ICT-use in education. UNESCO’s World Communication and Information Report. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/lwf/dl/edict.pdf
Brown, J. 2005. New learning environments for the 21st century. Retrieved February 23, 2017, from: www.johnseelybrown.com/newlearning.pdf
Butler, M. 2004. The use of games engines to create practical learning environments. Information Technology: Research and Education, 2004. ITRE 2004. In 2nd International Conference Information Technology: Research and Education, 29–33. IEEE.
Commonwealth of Learning. 2015a. A baseline study of technology-enabled learning in the Commonwealth Pacific Island Countries. Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Commonwealth of Learning. 2015b. Economic and social impact of ICT in the Pacific. Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, Sydney, Australia.
Corona, F., C. Cozzarelli, C. Palumbo, and M. Sibilio. 2013. Information technology and edutainment: Education and entertainment in the age of interactivity. International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence 4 (1): 12–18. https://doi.org/10.4018/jdldc.2013010102.
Georgouli, K., I. Skalkidis, and P. Guerreiro. 2008. A framework for adopting LMS to introduce e-learning in a traditional course. Educational Technology & Society 11: 227–240.
Graham, C. 2004. Blended learning systems: Definition, current trends, and future directions. In Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs, ed. C. Bonk. San Francisco: Wiley.
Groff, J. 2013. Technology-rich innovative learning environments. In OCED CERI Innovative Learning Environment project, 1–30.
Hande, S. 2014. Strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats of blended learning: Students’ perceptions. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research 4: 336–339.
IGI Global. 2017. What is Flexible Learning. Retrieved from iga-global.com: http://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/flexible-learning/11249
International Telecommunication Union. 2015, June. ITU/Regional Presence. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from itu.int: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/AsiaPacific/Documents/Events/2015/June-Pacific-Ministerial-Meeting/USP.pdf
Internet Society. 2016. Mobile Internet Usage Trends in Asia-Pacific. Retrieved from https://www.internetsociety.org/sites/default/files/Mobile%20Internet%20Usage%20Trends%20in%20Asia-Pacific.pdf
Internet World Stats. 2016. Internet Usage and 2016 Population in Oceania. Retrieved 20 Mar 2017, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats6.htm
Kumar, B., and B. Sharma. 2016. Development of an online orientation tool for first year science students: Transitioning for success. Student Transitions Achievement Retention & Success, 1–8. Perth.
Mehdipour, Y., and H. Zerehkafi. 2013. Mobile learning for education: Benefits and challenges. International Journal of Computational Engineering Research 3 (6): 93–101.
Meleisea, E. 2008. ICT in teacher education: Case studies from the Asia-Pacific region. UNESCO
Mirri, S., and P. Salomoni. 2011. Adaptation technologies in Mobile Learning. Retrieved 28 June 2015, from cs.unibo.it: http://www.cs.unibo.it/~mirri/paper/adaptationtechnologiesinmobilelearning.pdf
Moodle. 2017. Moodle Mobile. Retrieved from Moodle downloads: https://download.moodle.org/mobile/
Niace. 2013. Family learning works: The inquiry into family learning in England and Wales. Leicester: Niace.
Oller, R. 2012. The future of mobile learning. Research Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/ecar
Parry, M. 2010. Online, Bigger Classes May Be Better Classes. Retrieved 22 Mar 2018, from The Chronicle of Higher Education: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Open-Teaching-When-the/124170
Pegrum, M., C. Howitt, and M. Striepe. 2013. Learning to take the tablet: How pre-service teachers use iPads to facilitate their learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology 29:464–479. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.187.
Reddy, P., and B. Sharma 2015. Effectiveness of tablet learning in online courses at University of the South Pacific. In 2015 second Asia-Pacific World Congress on Computer Science and Engineering (APWC on CSE), 1–9. IEEE.
Reddy, E., P. Reddy, B. Sharma, K. Reddy, and M. Khan 2016. Student readiness and perception to the use of smart phones for higher education in the Pacific. In Asia-Pacific World congress on computer science and engineering, 1–14. IEEE.
Ruiz, J., M. Mintzer, and R. Leipzig. 2006. The impact of e-learning in medical education. Academic Medicine 81 (3): 207–212.
Sacramento County Office of Education. 2011. For adult educators: California distance learning project. Retrieved 9 Oct 2015, from cdlponline: http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=whatis&pg=8
Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. 2014. Education for All 2015 National Review Report: Samoa. Retrieved May 2017, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002298/229876E.pdf
Sharma, B., and A. Jokhan. 2010. Teaching science at a distance. In Accessible elements: teaching science online and at a distance, 235–246. Edmonton: Athabasca University Press.
Sharma, B., and A. Jokhan. 2015. Handbook of mobile teaching and learning. Crown Copyright.
Sharma, B., A. Jokhan, and A. Prasad. 2011. Online learning environment in mathematics via a pedagogical progression model of Moodle. In Global learn Asia Pacific 2011, 2241–2251. Melbourne: AACE.
Sharma, B., A. Jokhan, R. Kumar, R. Finiasi, S. Chand, and V. Rao. 2015. Use of short message service for learning and student support in the Pacific Region. In Handbook of mobile teaching and learning, ed. Y. Zang, 199–220. Suva/Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.
Sharma, B., F. Lauano, S. Narayan, A. Anzeg, B. Kumar, and J. Raj. 2018. Science teachers accelerated programme model: a joint partnership in the Pacific region. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education 46 (1): 38–60.
StatCounter. 2016. Mobile and tablet internet usage exceeds desktop for first time worldwide. Retrieved from statcounter.com: http://gs.statcounter.com/press/mobile-and-tablet-internet-usage-exceeds-desktop-for-first-time-worldwide
Sung, H., and J. Blatchford. 2014. Supporting family learning and interaction through information and communications technology in public libraries in Taiwan. Journal of Librarianship and information science 47 (4): 294–302.
The Fiji Time Online. 2016. The Fiji Times Online/Tablets for students. Retrieved 2 Mar 2017, from fijitime.com.fj: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=369864
The University of the South Pacific. 2013. Strategic plan 2013–2018. Suva. Retrieved from https://www.usp.ac.fj/strategicplan2013-2018
The University of the South Pacific. 2017. USP stamps its technological mark on the region. Connections 22 (1): 10.
The World Bank. 2017a. Fixed broadband subscriptions. Retrieved 10 Mar 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.BBND.P2
The World Bank. 2017b. Internet users. Retrieved 10 Mar 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2?start=2005&view=chart
The World Bank. 2017c. Mobile cellular subscriptions. Retrieved 10 Mar 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS
Tinio, V. 2003. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from unpan.1.un.org: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unpan/unpan037270.pdf
Traxler, J., and Kukulska-Hulme, A. (2005). Evaluating mobile learning: Reflections on current practice. In mLearn 2005: Mobile technology: The future of learning in your hands. 25–28 Oct 2005, Cape Town.
Tsinakos, A. 2014. State of mobile learning around the world. In Global mobile learning implementations and trends, ed. A. Tsinakos and M. Alley, 4–44. Beijing: TV University Press.
USP. 2017. Dashboard and business intelligence system. Retrieved from planning.usp.ac.fj: https://planning.usp.ac.fj/pnq/Web/Login.aspx
Vallurupalli, S., H. Paydak, S.K. Agarwal, M. Agrawal and C. Assad-Kottner. 2013. Wearable technology to improve education and patient outcomes in a cardiology fellowship program-a feasibility study. Health and Technology 3 (4): 267–270.
West, M. 2012. Turning on mobile learning global themes. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Crown Copyright
About this entry
Cite this entry
Sharma, B. et al. (2019). Use of Mobile Devices for Learning and Student Support in the Pacific Region. In: Zhang, Y., Cristol, D. (eds) Handbook of Mobile Teaching and Learning. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_9-2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_9-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-41981-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-41981-2
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Publish with us
Chapter history
-
Latest
Use of Mobile Devices for Learning and Student Support in the Pacific Region- Published:
- 29 October 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_9-2
-
Original
Use of Short Message Service for Learning and Student Support in the Pacific Region- Published:
- 14 April 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_9-1