Mobile learning readiness among Malaysian students at Higher Learning Institutes
Supyan Hussin, Mohd Radzi Manap, Zaini Amir & Pramela Krish
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Introduction
Mobile learning in getting its place in education today but it is still at an early stage

The speed of m-learning development is faster an access to the telephone line is easier, cheaper, and faster; communication gadgets that are available at reasonable prices.

2009, there were 100.8 mobile phones per 100 Malaysians; 1 person:2 phones

m-Learning
m-“  or “mobile” in m-learning, is only a mode of learning, and a mobile phone or tablet PC is only a tool to enhance the learning process. 

The major focus of m-learning is the learning itself rather the technology represented by the mobile phones. 

Smart phones: communication facilities and computing facilities which allow the users to communicate and create documents, read data files, as well as access the Internet. 

Past Studies
In Malaysia, studies on m-learning are very few.  
Issham Ismail et al. (2010a) a study on learners’ perception concerning the satisfaction level of m-learning and (2010b) learners easily get any information that they need at anytime anywhere via SMS

Norazah Nordin et al. (2010) reported mobile-learning activities are effective ways to motivate students and to foster interaction

This study took place in three weeks in April  2011

Online survey, using google doc 

The self-report survey is divided into four sections: 
Section A. background information; 
Section B:  handphone facilities; 
Section C:  internet access; and 
Section D:  mobile learning. 

Sample: 91 students from UKM and UiTM
They were contacted by lecturers to participate voluntarily in the survey

Methodology
Analysis of data
Demographic data
Basic readiness
Skills readiness 
Psychological readiness, and 
Budget readiness.

Results: demographic analysis
51 (56%) = undergraduate students 
41 (44%) = post-graduate students. 
(49%) working adult students
(51%) ordinary students


All respondents own a mobile phone
68% have a 3G service that is necessary to receive a 3G format for class notes, 
88% have MMS service that is required to read multimedia files, and
76% have Internet access via their mobile phone that is a pre-requisite for m-learning participation

Results: Basic Readiness Analysis
These high percentages indicate that the respondents are familiar with the following activities, and therefore, if they were to engage in m-learning, they might find m-learning activities as nothing new.

71% sending/receiving e-mails via their mobile phones, 
73% downloading files from the Internet using their phones, 
77% sending 3G files to other people, 
76% receiving 3G files from others
69% opening up their 3G files, 
93% sending MMS
80% accessing social networking sites like Facebook, Friendster, Twitter
74% reading online news, and
68% sharing their Internet connection from mobile phone to their computer

Results: skills readiness analysis
75% respondents know about m-learning, 
92% want to know more about e-learning, 
84% want to be involved in m-learning, and 
84% agreed that m-learning is good for working adults who are pursing their higher education. 
79% disagreed they did not know how to use 3G facility

Results: psychological readiness analysis
Over 75%, positive responses to m-learning :
Mobile learning will save my learning time. 
Mobile learning is an alternative to web based learning
I need to learn how to use my handphone for mobile learning. 
I am looking forward to engage in mobile learning.
I will upgrade my handphone if mobile learning is going to be implemented in my course.
Mobile learning is an alternative to conventional learning.	

..cont.
They still preferred conventional learning (84%) over m-learning (14%) 
79% agreed that they would like their lecturers to hold online forum and m-learning, in addition to face-to-face meetings
Only 46% agreed that their university is ready for m-learning and 
Only 38% of their lecturers are already integrating m-learning in the teaching. 

…cont.
Respondents are uncertain to spend extra money for m-learning 
53% disagreed and 45% agreed
Yet, in another question, 68% disagreed that they are afraid to pay more money for their phone bill due to m-learning engagement
In m-learning, students have to pay for the phone line and Internet line beside software and hardware requirements. 

Results: Budget analysis
Less than 50% said : 
they are ready for m-learning
they are not ready for m-learning now 
they will be ready after two years

Overall
Students who participated in this study are highly familiar with computing and communicating activities using their mobile phone.
A half of the sample population expressed they were not ready for m-learning at the time when this small scale study was conducted. 

Discussion
As m-learning is still at the early stage in Malaysia, respondents are not certain as how best to engage in m-learning. 
They also perceived that blended learning which involves face-to-face, web-learning and m-learning should be maintained in a course at this moment.  

…cont.
This study does not give a bigger picture readiness, looking at one group of responses, i.e., student group. 
Two other groups i.e., administrators and educators or teachers, whose responses need to be analysed too. 
Students might be ready, but the other groups may not

…cont.
Respondents welcome idea of integrating m-learning into future courses as they were already familiar with computing and communication activities that m-learning may require. 

However, they were quite reserved when it comes to financial issues.
 
More data are needed from two other groups (university administrators and teachers) to complement the findings in this study.

Conclusions
Thank you
radzi_manap@yahoo.com
supyanhussin@yahoo.com