Effectiveness of tablet learning in online courses at University of the South Pacific

In recent years, technology has become the game changer in the world of higher education. The handheld mobile devices are emerging as one of the most promising technologies and tools to support learning and venture into new pedagogies. This provides uncharted opportunities for educationists and facilitators to make learning pervasive and boost lifelong learning. Mobile devices like tablet computers have proven to be effective in accelerating student engagement, enhancing focus and supporting teacher interaction. To evaluate the effectiveness of tablet learning in a higher education institution, a study was conducted on a sample of 10 students who were picked on voluntarily basis from a seven weeks online course. The attitude of students to the new technological device was analysed. The study also considered the quality of tasks and assessments produced by the students and their success rate. The results of this study showed that students have a positive attitude towards tablet learning and there was an agreement that the mobile device was a good learning tool for the online courses. Interestingly, there was no significant difference noted with the success rates and the grades of the two groups.