Exploring the use of mobile apps for learning: a case study on final year engineering undergraduates in Malaysia

Abstract

Mobile devices as a learning tool has shown great possibilities in and out the classroom and has revolutionised how we teach. By providing flexible access, these devices have been instrumental in facilitating the use of online technologies for teaching and learning. The main purposes of this study is to explore undergraduates' use of mobile applications (apps) for leaning. A total number of 59 engineering undergraduates from a higher learning institute (HEI) participated in this study through a survey. The study found that most students used WhatsApp for communication and sharing of learning contents. Their main method of internet access is through their personal internet plan. Concurrently, the most used application for learning are internet browsing and email and the least is cloud storage, educational games and time and schedule manager. It also emerged that mobile apps for learning are mainly used for non-formal learning activities and majority of students view mobile apps influential for teaching and learning in HEIs.