Abstract
In recent years, smartphones and tablets have been rapidly adopted by consumers worldwide. Within the United States, a growing number of school districts have incorporated tablets into classroom instruction. As mobile technology becomes further integrated into households and classrooms, parents, teachers, and students might need information for using the mobile devices for education. Yet little research exists to show the need. Using search query data from Google Trends, it was found that Internet users' information needs for mobile education have significantly increased since 2008. Moreover, Internet users in the United States, where fourth- and eighth-grade students were high performing in reading and mathematics in national assessments, demonstrated stronger information needs for mobile education. We also found a positive correlation between the Web information needs for mobile education and the achievement gap, suggesting an emerging trend of digital divide in mobile technology.