A Maturity Model for Mobile Learning

Higher education is becoming increasingly interested in adopting innovative and modern technologies as a mode of imparting education. Mobile technologies are considered to be the next frontier of educational platforms as they have the capability to provide high-quality learning experiences and to satisfy the increasing demand for mobility and flexibility. In view of the ubiquitous nature of mobile technology and the immense opportunities it offers, there are favorable indications that the technology could be introduced as the next generation of learning platforms. The present research aims to develop a comprehensive framework based on the well-known Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and to empirically evaluate the maturity of mobile learning (m-Learning) initiatives in universities. The objective is to first identify key factors that affect m-Learning adoption, then classify these factors into target groups, and eventually use this as a theoretical basis for proposing a maturity model for m-Learning. In doing so, the research focuses on three major stakeholders in post-secondary education, namely students, instructors, and university management. The proposed Mobile Learning Maturity Model (MLMM) is based on a framework that outlines an adoption rate using five maturity levels. The measuring instrument for the model contains nine critical success factors selected from three of our empirical studies that examined the perspectives of students, instructors, and academic management. The model uses assessment questionnaires, a rating methodology, and two case studies. All data has been collected from five universities in Saudi Arabia