Abstract
Abstract : The autonomous nature of communication when referring to space and time influences mobile technology forces Higher Education institutions to rethink how tutoring should be conducted. It is my contention that advances in mobile technology has forced institutions learning to revaluate their tutoring systems. New communications devices and platform will have to be incorporated into education to strengthen teaching and learning especially in tutorials. It is a fact that today students are digital natives. It is a fact that many of them own or use a technological device. This combination is a recipe that will mediate mobile learning anywhere and anytime. This investigation aimed to explore tutors potential to introduce mobile learning in the tutorials conducted at the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Education. The study further considers the tutors potential to motivate students to use their mobile devices for learning beyond socialising on social media. This is by supporting mobile learning online. This exploratory qualitative study sought to understand the perception of tutors and students about mobile learning through in-depth reviews of the literature, focus group interviews, questionnaires and online log data responses to provide an understanding of tutors’ mobile interventions and students’ mobile use in tutorial activities to understand an aspect of the tutorial system at the University of Johannesburg. The data was thematically analysed. The results suggest that tutors can encourage students to use their devices for academic purposes. The conclusion is that the inclusion of mobile learning as part of the tutorial experience can support learning online beyond the traditional physical and formal tutorial.
M.Ed. (Education)