The Utilization of Mobile Devices for Improving Access to Online Learning for Distance Education’s Students

Abstract

Recent advances in mobile devices have opened up opportunities for every individual to be able to communicate and obtain information quicker. Users of mobile devices in Asia now account for 49% of mobile device users in the world. This growth is partly supported by the rapid development of the Internet use. Indonesia has a potentially huge market in the use of mobile devices and Internet. The extent of utilization of mobile devices by the students pursuing higher education, especially at Universitas Terbuka (UT), is an important component of this development. This study seeks to develop an understanding of the following issues: (1) the types of the mobile devices that are used by students, (2) the types of learning and information accessed through mobile devices, (3) the time used to access learning through mobile devices, (4) the degree of students’ satisfaction in using the mobile devices for learning, and (5) the effectiveness of using mobile devices for learning. The data of this research were collected by using an online questionnaire containing 26 questions. The questionnaires were distributed to UT students from four faculties and the Graduate Programs from all UT’s regional offices at 38 locations spread across Indonesia, including UT’s regional office for overseas student. Overall, there were 767 respondents. The results of this research show that the utilization of mobile devices, especially in the use of smartphones to access UT’s online learning, seems to have great potential.

Blended Online Learning: Combining the Strengths of Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Learning in Efl Context

“…Synchronous Online Learning deals with live, real-time, and usually scheduled learning, facilitated instruction and interaction, and video conference [33], [38]. It is a set of online learning in a flexible and accessible learning through internet [29], [23], [30], [19], [20], [22]. Synchronous Online Learning can make learning more attractive and interesting because of the affective aspects of the learning, and the emphasis on interpersonal skills activities, teaching presence, social and cognitive presence, feedback from the teacher, motivation and self-regulation, and collaboration [31], [27].…”

“…Online learning is conducted virtually using online learning platforms that rely on digital devices and internet connections [21], [19], [20], [22]. The use of gadgets such as computers and mobile phones allows online learning to be flexible in terms of access to learning material, from where the students learn, and when the students want to learn [23], [24], [25]. Virtual, Interactive, Real-time, Instructor-led classrooms, and blended using web-cam and audio-enabled devices have proven effective for learning outcomes [26], [20].…”

“…[31] specified that motivation and self-regulated learning theory are found in students' participation in collaborative activities, discussion, and responding to the reflective questions, which were perceived positively. They can explore more materials from the internet which the school did not provide, join in homeschooling, continue the study from home or distance learning for those who were dropped out, and help out students who cannot attend face-to-face classroom [23], [32], [33], [22].…”

Impact of the WampServer application in Blended learning considering data science, machine learning, and neural networks

“…Technological advances are changing the planning and organization of courses in the 21st century (Aljaser, 2019; Altun-Türker et al., 2019; Padmo et al., 2019). In particular, WampServer is a technological tool that allows innovating the school activities in the field of computer science and improving the teaching–learning conditions of web programming through the use of PHP, HTML, and SQL languages during Blended learning.…”

“…Technological advances are causing the emergence of new educational applications and software (Padmo et al., 2019; Wei et al., 2016). Therefore, teachers have the challenge of updating the educational process through the incorporation and use of information and communication tools in the classroom and home (Blas-Padilla et al., 2019; Chen et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2016).…”