Mobile Learning Seen to Lack Rigorous Research

Experts say more-rigorous research is needed to build a case for mobile learning.

For their fans and promoters, mobile devices—whether smartphones, gaming gadgets, MP3 players, or netbooks—have the potential to transform teaching and learning by engaging students more deeply in lessons and promoting anytime, anywhere learning.

Only problem is, they can’t quite prove it yet. At least not with the kind of large-scale, empirical data that might persuade skeptics or decisionmakers that the investment needed to equip classrooms and train teachers would pay off in higher student achievement.

But researchers and educators who are already convinced of the benefits of mobile learning say that a growing number of studies here and abroad, as well as increasing anecdotal evidence from the K-12 field, are helping to strengthen the case for embedding portable tech tools...