Call for papers: Special Issue on “Current Mobile Learning Technologies and Applications”

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation (IJMLO)

Call for papers: Special Issue on “Current Mobile Learning Technologies and Applications”

Guest Editors: Dr. Hokyoung Ryu, Dr. David Parsons and Professor Tony Norris, Massey University, New Zealand.

Recent developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide new technical opportunities to exercise a novel learning environment – mobile learning (M-learning), which goes far beyond the traditional learning paradigms, i.e., classroom and e-learning. For instance, the Ambient Wood project carried out by Sussex University (U.K) has demonstrated how a mobile and ambient environment can provide a more effective learning experience than traditional classroom learning. In another learning context, MIT (USA) has developed an M-learning tool to help students understand complex and dynamic epidemic phenomena, simulating them with learners’ wearable mobile devices, demonstrating significant advantages over current e-learning applications. Even Nintendo’s DS handheld console is to provide an enjoyable way to improve English skills.

In addition to these academic cases, many other domains (e.g., health practitioners) also see the advantages of M-learning environments in providing personalised content (e.g., dietary information, quit smoking programmes) via the mobile phones that have become so pervasive in recent years. IJMLO is therefore publishing this special issue which will be a timely issue for both academics and practitioners who are interested in the design and development of effective learning environments.

The issue intends to discuss the latest M-learning applications and technologies beyond the desktop computing environment, an area of research that is increasingly seeing new developments and techniques in both the academic and commercial domains. How to effectively take the user into account within the emerging M-learning environment has formed a persistent theme in the academic field. In contrast, much of the industry perspective on M-learning applications has been what kind of learning products and content can facilitate the uptake of this new learning environment.

The purpose of the special issue is therefore to disseminate studies about how we meet the challenges of this technology, practical experiences of the design of M-learning environments, the current development M-learning systems in either academia or industry, current methods and approaches to M-learning development, the current economic and social context of M-learning development and empirical research into contemporary M-learning environments.

For more information, subject coverage, notes for intending authors, submission dates and contact information, please see the Journal Call for papers website.