IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p13566-d1237366.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Quadri Noorulhasan Naveed

    (College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia)

  • Heena Choudhary

    (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur 302017, India)

  • Naim Ahmad

    (College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia)

  • Jarallah Alqahtani

    (College of Computer Science and Information Systems, Najran University, Najran 66462, Saudi Arabia)

  • Adel Ibrahim Qahmash

    (College of Education, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Mobile learning (M-Learning) has become a popular and effective method of education that leverages the ubiquity of mobile devices. M-Learning has digitally transformed the process of teaching and learning. It has tremendous potential to empower all sections of society through education and training. This study presents a systematic literature review of M-Learning. The articles were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final selection of 161 articles published between 2016 and 2022 was included in the review. To analyze the articles, the researchers employed the TCCM (Theory, Context, Characteristics, Methods) framework, which facilitated addressing the research questions. This review identified various theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, cognitivism, situated learning, problem-based learning, context awareness learning, socio-cultural theory, collaborative learning, conversational learning, lifelong learning, informal learning, activity theory, connectivism, navigation, and location-based learning, that are used to support and guide the implementation of M-Learning. In terms of context, developing countries contributed to 70.8% of the studies, while developed countries contributed to 29.1%. Further, a majority of the studies, 93%, involved students followed by faculty members and only two studies involved staff from higher education management. A total of 19 unique characteristic factors have been identified, such as personal, intention, attitude, usage, utility, ease of use, learnability, social, technological, pedagogical, anxiety, enjoyment, accessibility, knowledge, experience, trust, price, and habit. A quantitative research design was used in 90% of the studies, followed by mixed methods research design in 7% of the studies, and qualitative research design in only 3% of the studies. Further, this article synthesizes previous research findings and highlights gaps for future research. Overall, this review contributes to the understanding and advancement of M-Learning as a valuable educational platform.

Suggested Citation

  • Quadri Noorulhasan Naveed & Heena Choudhary & Naim Ahmad & Jarallah Alqahtani & Adel Ibrahim Qahmash, 2023. "Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13566-:d:1237366
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13566/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13566/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali Mugahed Al-Rahmi & Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi & Uthman Alturki & Ahmed Aldraiweesh & Sultan Almutairy & Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan, 2021. "Exploring the Factors Affecting Mobile Learning for Sustainability in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Mahmood Al-Bashayreh & Dmaithan Almajali & Ahmad Altamimi & Ra’ed Masa’deh & Manaf Al-Okaily, 2022. "An Empirical Investigation of Reasons Influencing Student Acceptance and Rejection of Mobile Learning Apps Usage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Jasmine A. L. Yeap & T. Ramayah & Pedro Soto-Acosta, 2016. "Factors propelling the adoption of m-learning among students in higher education," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(4), pages 323-338, November.
    4. Saud S. Alghazi & Amirrudin Kamsin & Mohammed Amin Almaiah & Seng Yue Wong & Liyana Shuib, 2021. "For Sustainable Application of Mobile Learning: An Extended UTAUT Model to Examine the Effect of Technical Factors on the Usage of Mobile Devices as a Learning Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, February.
    5. Iuliana Mihaela Lazar & Georgeta Panisoara & Ion Ovidiu Panisoara, 2020. "Digital technology adoption scale in the blended learning context in higher education: Development, validation and testing of a specific tool," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-27, July.
    6. Lin, Shu Hsu & Lee, Hsing-Chen & Chang, Ching-Ter & James Fu, Changjui, 2020. "Behavioral intention towards mobile learning in Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Quadri Noorulhasan Naveed & Mohammad Mahtab Alam & Nasser Tairan, 2020. "Structural Equation Modeling for Mobile Learning Acceptance by University Students: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Mohsen Mortazavi & Fatma Tansu Hocanın & Afshin Davarpanah, 2020. "Application of Quantitative Computer-Based Analysis for Student’s Learning Tendency on the Efficient Utilization of Mobile Phones during Lecture Hours," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Abide Coskun-Setirek & Zuhal Tanrikulu, 2021. "M-Universities: Critical Sustainability Factors," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440219, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Phichhang Ou & Sidet Thet & Venviv Soem & Phannet Hor & Laisoeung Ean & Davann Theng, 2024. "Determinants of customer satisfaction of mobile network providers in Cambodia: a study of hybrid model of structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN)," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 4(8), pages 1-31, August.
    2. Suryani Che Din & Mazuin Mat Halif, 2025. "A Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Quality of Mobile Learning through Cloud-Based Records Management among Students," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(6), pages 6361-6370, June.
    3. Silvia Parusheva & Irena Sisovska Klancnik & Samo Bobek & Simona Sternad Zabukovsek, 2025. "Enhancing Sustainability of E-Learning with Adoption of M-Learning in Business Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-38, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mahmood Al-Bashayreh & Dmaithan Almajali & Ahmad Altamimi & Ra’ed Masa’deh & Manaf Al-Okaily, 2022. "An Empirical Investigation of Reasons Influencing Student Acceptance and Rejection of Mobile Learning Apps Usage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Yazn Alshamaila & Ferial Mohammad Abu Awwad & Ra’ed Masa’deh & Mahmoud E. Farfoura, 2023. "Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities of Mobile Learning: A Case Study at the University of Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, June.
    3. Quadri Noorulhasan Naveed & Adel Ibrahim Qahmash & Mohamed Rafik N. Qureshi & Naim Ahmad & Mohammed Aref Abdul Rasheed & Md Akhtaruzzaman, 2023. "Analyzing Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Cloud-Based Mobile Learning (CBML) in Crisp and Fuzzy Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Tommy Tanu Wijaya & Yiming Cao & Robert Weinhandl & Eri Yusron & Zsolt Lavicza, 2022. "Applying the UTAUT Model to Understand Factors Affecting Micro-Lecture Usage by Mathematics Teachers in China," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Adam Malešević & Dušan Barać & Dragan Soleša & Ema Aleksić & Marijana Despotović-Zrakić, 2021. "Adopting xRM in Higher Education: E-Services Outside the Classroom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Mohammed Abdullatif Almulla & Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi, 2023. "Integrated Social Cognitive Theory with Learning Input Factors: The Effects of Problem-Solving Skills and Critical Thinking Skills on Learning Performance Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-26, February.
    7. Dmaithan Almajali & Manaf Al-Okaily & Samer Barakat & Hanadi Al-Zegaier & Zulkhairi Md. Dahalin, 2022. "Students’ Perceptions of the Sustainability of Distance Learning Systems in the Post-COVID-19: A Qualitative Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    8. Fang Wang & Tommy Tanu Wijaya & Akhmad Habibi & Yixuan Liu, 2022. "Predictors Influencing Urban and Rural Area students to Use Tablet Computers as Learning Tools: Combination of UTAUT and TTF Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    9. Peijie Jiang & Tommy Tanu Wijaya & Mailizar Mailizar & Zulfah Zulfah & Astuti Astuti, 2022. "How Micro-Lectures Improve Learning Satisfaction and Achievement: A Combination of ECM and Extension of TAM Models," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Rainer Alt & Hans-Dieter Zimmermann, 2016. "Electronic Markets on electronic markets in education," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(4), pages 311-314, November.
    11. Muhammad Tanveer & Harsandaldeep Kaur & George Thomas & Haider Mahmood & Mandakini Paruthi & Zhang Yu, 2021. "Mobile Phone Buying Decisions among Young Adults: An Empirical Study of Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    12. Mohd Shafie Rosli & Nor Shela Saleh & Azlah Md. Ali & Suaibah Abu Bakar & Lokman Mohd Tahir, 2022. "A Systematic Review of the Technology Acceptance Model for the Sustainability of Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Identified Research Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-25, September.
    13. Farida Veerankutty & Thurasamy Ramayah & Noor Azman Ali, 2018. "Information Technology Governance on Audit Technology Performance among Malaysian Public Sector Auditors," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-19, July.
    14. Md Asadullah & Minara Yeasmin & Abid Fakhre Alam & Abdulaziz Alsolami & Naved Ahmad & Ibrahim Atoum, 2023. "Towards a Sustainable Future: A Systematic Review of Mobile Learning and Studies in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Adriana Malureanu & Georgeta Panisoara & Iulia Lazar, 2021. "The Relationship between Self-Confidence, Self-Efficacy, Grit, Usefulness, and Ease of Use of eLearning Platforms in Corporate Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Mahdi Mohammed Alamri, 2023. "A Model of E-Learning through Achievement Motivation and Academic Achievement among University Students in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, January.
    17. Ingrid R. Epezagne Assamala & Wenyuan Li & Sheikh Farhan Ashraf & Nausheen Syed & He Di & Mehrab Nazir, 2022. "Mediation-Moderation Model: An Empirical Examination of Sustainable Women Entrepreneurial Performance towards Agricultural SMEs in Ivory Coast," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.
    18. Uthman Alturki & Ahmed Aldraiweesh, 2021. "Application of Learning Management System (LMS) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Sustainable Acceptance Model of the Expansion Technology Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Kasim, Kabir O. & Winter, Scott R. & Liu, Dahai & Keebler, Joseph R. & Spence, Tyler B., 2021. "Passengers’ perceptions on the use of biometrics at airports: A statistical model of the extended theory of planned behavior," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    20. Dmaithan Almajali & Manaf Al-Okaily & Khaleel Al-Daoud & Sulaiman Weshah & Aijaz A. Shaikh, 2022. "Go Cashless! Mobile Payment Apps Acceptance in Developing Countries: The Jordanian Context Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13566-:d:1237366. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.