Authors

Greig Krull (gkrull@uoc.edu) and Josep M. Duart (jduart@uoc.edu)

• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Abstract

Distance and/or online students have access to a variety of electronic devices, both mobile and fixed technologies. The use of multiple devices enables ‘seamless learning’ where students can move from one learning scenario or context to another. This seamless switching is enabled by electronic devices themselves together with the associated software, cloud services and internet connectivity. The use of these devices, either individually or together, is influencing the study habits of distance or online students. Based on a mixed methods study of undergraduate students at two Open and Distance Learning (ODL) universities, this chapter proposes a framework for multi-device learning where the use of specific devices for learning needs to be considered together with the intention for use (learning activities) as well as the environmental context (location) of the student. Students can make use of their devices separately or use mobile devices together with fixed devices to complement their learning, either simultaneously or sequentially.

Keywords

Multiple devices, seamless learning, distance/online students, higher education, mobile learning