Ubiquitous Learning: The Lived Experience of Students Learning with Smartphones

Abstract

The exponential growth of mobile technologies has created additional affordances and new channels of communicating and presenting information. The smartphone, with its multiple applications and features, is creating a new way of ubiquitous learning. Applying the principles and practices of hermeneutic phenomenology, this study aims to gain access to a phenomenon that is often subconscious and to interpret the participants’ learning experiences. Twelve youths in Malaysia participated in three rounds of semi-structured interviews over a period of four months. Preliminary findings suggest that the experience of learning with smartphones was perceived as different from academic learning due to its ease, convenience and personal agency. The association of positive feelings with this learning resulted also from their trial and error approach which enabled them to fail safely and successfully and to learn from these failures. However, their views regarding the introduction of smartphones in class were nuanced and complex. Identity presentation and management were also observed.