Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia

Distance learners often face what is known as transactional distances in terms of geographical, time, psychological and communication spaces (Moore, 1997). More often than not, compared to full time students, these adult learners who mostly hold full time jobs and have family commitments face a d...

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Main Authors: Lim , Tina Swee Kim, Zoraini Wati Abas, Mansor Fadzil
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Published: 2011
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Online Access:https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/1/Paper_28_-_Helping_Distance_Learners_Stay_Connected.pdf
https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/
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author Lim , Tina Swee Kim
Zoraini Wati Abas,
Mansor Fadzil,
author_facet Lim , Tina Swee Kim
Zoraini Wati Abas,
Mansor Fadzil,
author_sort Lim , Tina Swee Kim
building OUM Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Open University Malaysia
content_source OUM Knowledge Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description Distance learners often face what is known as transactional distances in terms of geographical, time, psychological and communication spaces (Moore, 1997). More often than not, compared to full time students, these adult learners who mostly hold full time jobs and have family commitments face a daunting task when it comes to juggling between studies, work and family. They often struggle to find that extra time and space to fit in their studies and frequently need to exert extra effort to ensure that they remain connected to the university, their tutors and their peers. This paper describes Open University Malaysia’s efforts in actively supporting learners in their studies through the use of text messaging technology, the simplest and most widely used of all mobile technology applications available. Further, it illustrates how mobile technology enhances the blended approach to instruction and lends more flexibility and ubiquity to the learning process. It also examines the effectiveness of the initiative in terms of helping learners to (1) review/locate/remember course facts easily, (2) discuss online, (3) manage their learning, (4) persevere in their studies, and (5) remember important dates and actions to be taken related to the course. Both quantitative and qualitative data are presented.(Abstract by authors)
format Conference or Workshop Item
id my.oum.722
institution Open University Malaysia
publishDate 2011
record_format eprints
spelling my.oum.7222013-05-16T07:07:40Z Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia Lim , Tina Swee Kim Zoraini Wati Abas, Mansor Fadzil, LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education Distance learners often face what is known as transactional distances in terms of geographical, time, psychological and communication spaces (Moore, 1997). More often than not, compared to full time students, these adult learners who mostly hold full time jobs and have family commitments face a daunting task when it comes to juggling between studies, work and family. They often struggle to find that extra time and space to fit in their studies and frequently need to exert extra effort to ensure that they remain connected to the university, their tutors and their peers. This paper describes Open University Malaysia’s efforts in actively supporting learners in their studies through the use of text messaging technology, the simplest and most widely used of all mobile technology applications available. Further, it illustrates how mobile technology enhances the blended approach to instruction and lends more flexibility and ubiquity to the learning process. It also examines the effectiveness of the initiative in terms of helping learners to (1) review/locate/remember course facts easily, (2) discuss online, (3) manage their learning, (4) persevere in their studies, and (5) remember important dates and actions to be taken related to the course. Both quantitative and qualitative data are presented.(Abstract by authors) 2011 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed text https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/1/Paper_28_-_Helping_Distance_Learners_Stay_Connected.pdf Lim , Tina Swee Kim and Zoraini Wati Abas, and Mansor Fadzil, (2011) Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia. In: 24th AAOU Annual Conference, Hanoi Open University, Vietnam. (Submitted) https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/
spellingShingle LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education
Lim , Tina Swee Kim
Zoraini Wati Abas,
Mansor Fadzil,
Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title_full Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title_fullStr Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title_short Helping Distance Learners Stay Connected: The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning via SMS at Open University Malaysia
title_sort helping distance learners stay connected: the effectiveness of mobile learning via sms at open university malaysia
topic LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education
url https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/1/Paper_28_-_Helping_Distance_Learners_Stay_Connected.pdf
https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/722/
url_provider http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/