Intentionally mobile pedagogy: the M-COPE framework for mobile learning in higher education

Abstract

Increasingly, the education world finds itself working in an environment that is full of mobile devices and tools. Students are likely to own smartphones and tablets and instructors are faced with the challenge of integrating mobile devices into their course activities, whether as a full delivery medium, an enhancement or an optional tool. The M-COPE framework prompts instructors to consider five critical areas related to mobile learning: Mobile affordances, Conditions, Outcomes, Pedagogy and Ethics. This framework can be integrated with any instructional design process to help instructors engage in the informed design of mobile learning activities. This paper presents the framework and how it can be used with the ADDIE model of instructional design, and provides two case examples of how M-COPE influenced the success of two mobile learning activities.

Keywords:

• mobile learning
• informed design
• instructional design