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The rapid spread and penetration of mobile devices to every layerof society has confronted the educational community with many newopportunities and responsibilities. As mobile computing and its disruptiveaftermath enter the education arena, the challenge becomes how to harness thepotential in ways that are beneficial to the educational community at large andthe learners in particular. This paper outlines the initial conception, designresearch methodology followed and the development of the definitive MobileLearning Curriculum Framework as a first attempt to systematically andcomprehensively explore, where and how mobiles could appear withineducational provision. The curriculum framework is underpinned by three broad learning objectives; to acquire domain knowledge, to develop sufficientand appropriate skills to enable mobile learning practice and to understand the role and impact of domain knowledge in the relation to the applicationcontext. To this end the curriculum framework is presented as a modularsolution for adaption to accommodate differing contexts dele BOTHA 1 , Jacqueline BATCHELOR 2 , John TRAXLER 3 ,Ignatia DE WAARD 4 , Marlien HERSELMAN

Wireless data communications in form of Short Message Service (SMS) and Wireless Access Protocols (WAP) browsers have gained global popularity, yet, not much has been done to extend the usage of these devices in electronic learning (e-learning). This project explores the extension of e-learning into wireless/handheld (W/H) computing devices with the help of a mobilelearning (m-learning) framework. This framework provides the requirements to develop m-learning applications that can be used to complement classroom or distance learning. A prototype application was developed to link W/H devices to three course websites. The m-learning applications were pilot-tested for two semesters with a total of 63 students from undergraduate and graduate courses at our university. The students used the m-learning environment with a variety of W/H devices and reported their experiences through a survey and interviews at the end of the semester. The results from this exploratory study provide a better understanding on the role of mobile technology in higher education.

Wireless data communications in form of Short Message Service (SMS) and Wireless Access Protocols (WAP) browsers have gained global popularity, yet, not much has been done to extend the usage of these devices in electronic learning (e-learning). This project explores the extension of e-learning into wireless/handheld (W/H) computing devices with the help of a mobile learning (m-learning) framework. This framework provides the requirements to develop m-learning applications that can be used to complement classroom or distance learning. A prototype application was developed to link W/H devices to three course websites. The m-learning applications were pilot-tested for two semesters with a total of 63 students from undergraduate and graduate courses at our university. The students used the m-learning environment with a variety of W/H devices and reported their experiences through a survey and interviews at the end of the semester. The results from this exploratory study provide a better understanding on the role of mobile technology in higher education.

The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning (IRRODL) Journal.  Special Issue - Mobile Learning