A Study of the Use of Ubiquitous Mobile Digital Devices in Intercontinental Distance Education

Abstract

At today’s universities, students’ use of mobile digital devices is all-pervasive, and this benefits the development of a ubiquitous context for teaching, learning and social interaction. This study analyses how university students use their mobile phones and laptops to do academic work in various places both inside and outside the university compound. We surveyed 875 European and Latin American university students from 13 institutions. The research methodology was developed by factor analysis and comparing groups using parametric and non-parametric testing. The results show that students mainly use their digital mobile devices on campus, for example in the café, faculty corridors, the library or the lecture hall. To a lesser degree, students use their mobile devices for course work off-campus, on public transport, in entertainment spaces, at home, at work or generally outside.