Principles and pressures in managing student attitudes to innovative mobile learning : a review from an Australian distance-education-intensive university

A crucial element of managing innovative distance learning is engaging efficiently with students’ experiences and expectations of such learning. This paper discusses the results of an institution-wide survey conducted in 2008 among 228 students in two faculties at an Australian distance-education-intensive university. The survey recorded students’ attitudes to mobile learning. The results were analysed in terms of principles of innovative education as well as pressures on the university and staff members. The authors argue that sustainably innovating mobile learning in this context requires careful management of students’ attitudes to align them with effective teaching strategies and engaged educational technologies.