Conceptualizing Factors that Influence South African Students’ Intention to Choose Mobile Devices as Tools for Learning

Abstract

South African students use mobile devices as information access and interaction tools in their daily lives but seldom use them for learning. The question is why online students minimally choose to use mobile devices for learning despite empirical case study evidence that supports m-learning. To get an answer to this question, this study investigated the factors that influence students’ intention to choose to use mobile devices for learning. The study adopted the Procedure for Conceptual Framework Analysis to carry a literature analysis of selected South African m-learning case studies, ICT policies, educational ICT policies, and grey ICT reports. The result of this study is a proposed conceptual framework that categorizes factors that influence students’ intention to choose to use mobile devices for learning into Country Mobile Phone Environment Factors, Educational Institution Factors, Educator Factors and Student Factors. The categories are valuable for they inform strategic planning and implementation of mobile learning services whilst ensuring the needed cooperation with students at educational institutions.