Dr Mark A. Camilleri from the University of Malta's Department of Corporate Communication and Ms Adriana C. Camilleri, a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of Bath (UK) have recently delivered a presentation of their latest empirical paper, entitled 'The Technology Acceptance of Mobile Applications in Education' during the 13th Mobile Learning Conference in Budapest, Hungary. Details on this highly indexed conference are available at mlearning-conf.org.
This paper explores the educators’ attitudes and behavioural intention toward mobile applications. Its research methodology has integrated previously tried and tested measures from ‘the pace of technological innovativeness’ and the ‘technology acceptance model’ to better understand the rationale for further investment in mobile learning technologies (m-learning). A quantitative study was carried out amongst two hundred forty-one educators to reveal their perceptions on their 'use' and 'ease of use' of mobile devices in their schools. A principal component analysis has indicated that these educators were committed to using mobile technologies. In addition, a stepwise regression analysis has shown that the younger teachers were increasingly engaging in m-learning resources. In conclusion, this contribution puts forward key implications for both academia and practitioners.