Assessing M-Learning Readiness in Blended Learning Environment: An Empirical Investigation

Mobile learning transcends to become the new learning environment, in line with the emergence of mobile and wireless technology. Mobile learning is supported by various technologies such as via voice communication, learning portal on the web, short message service (SMS) and also social media. Mobile technologies are now more established, ubiquitous and interconnected. There are problems in the current learning environment that is too rigid to new generation student in the 21st century that only focused for teacher-centered learning and limit students' potential to be flexible, creative and innovative. Mobile learning is still under research by educators and researchers in Malaysia. Mobile learning is still in new in Malaysia because the studies on it are still in the circle of establishing idea, theory, design, types of learning and activities using mobile technologies. The main objective of this study is to investigate the mobile learning readiness among undergraduate students. One local university in Malaysia is being selected as a case study. A survey questionnaire was conducted involving 302 undergraduate students from a non-IT faculty at a local university in November 2015 as a case study. A test of independent using Mann-Whitney U Test was conducted by adopting Technology Readiness Index 2.0 to test the significant different between the technology readiness index dimensions towards students' group of experience using mobile devices and type of students' groupings (junior/senior). The findings revealed that readiness level varies according to different dimensions of Technology Readiness Index 2.0 (TRI 2.0) and varies based on experience on using mobile devices and students' groupings (junior/senior). The findings provide motivations for policy and guideline development associated with the implementation of mobile learning for non-IT students in the blended learning environment in Malaysia, that are customized based on experience of students using mobile devices and grouping of students (junior/senior).