Using mobile devices for learning in a teacher training distance education programme: The case of an in-service programme in Lesotho

Abstract

The use of technology for teaching and learning has become common over time. The onset of Covid-19 in the year 2020 and its impact on education systems, in a few subsequent years, made the situation even dire for schools and institutions that had not explored this approach to teaching and learning for reasons that include autonomy on the part of the educators. The use of mobile devices has even proved to be a necessity, especially for situations where learning must happen on the go, particularly for higher education students who study part-time and are in full-time jobs. This paper reports on students’ perceptions and experiences on the use of mobile devices for learning in one part-time Education programme offered through a blended mode of instruction. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included both close -ended and open-ended items. The quantitative data from the close-ended questions was analysed statistically, while the qualitative data from open-ended questions was thematically analysed. Key findings include benefits, challenges and preferences of use of the mobile devices with various tools which include the university Learning Management System, some Google apps and social media for learning.