It's About Understanding Each Other's Culture Improving the Outcomes of Mobile Learning by Avoiding Culture Conflicts

Abstract

Mobile learning enables learners to integrate learning activities into daily routines. Information systems research emphasizes that technology-mediated learning (TML) has to be adapted to cultural differences. Integrating a mobile learning application into a new context can cause conflicts as values embedded in the mobile learning application can conflict with values of the context in which it is introduced. With this paper, we propose a theory-driven design approach to avoid culture conflicts in mobile learning. Based on the implementation of a mobile learning application in Chinese vocational schools, we derive requirements from IT-culture conflict theory as well as practice, which are addressed with design elements and implemented in the application. Our results show that cultural adaptation leads to improved cognitive learning outcomes. As a practical contribution, we provide guidance on how to overcome culture conflicts; as a theoretical contribution, we contribute to the exploration of culture in the usage of TML.

Untitled

“…Although we used university students as study participants, one can consider our findings from evaluating our model to be fairly realistic and, therefore, generalizable given that most of the students used the LMS for the first time-akin to employees in corporate settings who participate in new blended learning scenarios. Therefore, researchers should evaluate faithful LMS appropriation antecedents and impacts in other blended learning scenarios (e.g., in company training or mobile learning) (Ernst, Janson, Söllner, & Leimeister, 2016;Söllner, Bitzer, Janson & Leimeister, 2017). Still, we stress that the learning process, which we represented in our study with faithfulness of LMS appropriation, is important regardless of the training context, and our study, therefore, makes an important contribution to further our understanding of a TML process view.…”

Classifying Smart Personal Assistants: An Empirical Cluster Analysis

“…Embodied or anthropomorphic design is usually applied to provide a shared common ground, represent an authentic entity, combine verbal and non-verbal communication and align minds by being interesting, creative and humorous [22]. In practice, embodiment is accomplished by virtual characters, i.e., avatars [10,24], a (often human-like) computer voice [36] or a combination of both [44]. However, some SPAs do not use embodiment at all [38].…”

A Configurational View on Avatar Design – The Role of Emotional Attachment, Satisfaction, and Cognitive Load in Digital Learning

“…To analyze the familiarity, we used Super Mario as the familiar male avatar and Princess Peach as the familiar female avatar. We used an unfamiliar male avatar, which we have already implemented and evaluated in another learning application (Ernst et al 2016). Following the clothes and hair color of Princess Peach, we also adapted the unknown female avatar.…”