Effects of environment and posture on the concentration and achievement of students in mobile learning
Xianmin Yang, Xinshuo Zhao, Xuesong Tian, Bei-Bei Xing
Abstract
Mobile learning (M-learning) is currently popular. Although M-learning has a positive effect on the interest, attitude, initiative, and learning of learners, it comes with the negative effect of distraction. Exploring the factors that influence M-learning concentration have become a popular research subject. Environment (quiet and noisy) and posture (sitting, standing, and moving) are two typical factors that directly influence the concentration of mobile learners. This study focuses on the influence of environment and posture on concentration in M-learning. A total of 120 college students were randomly divided into two environment groups, namely, the quiet and noisy environments. The two groups were subjected to M-learning experiments by adopting sitting, standing, and moving postures. This study shows that (1) interaction effects on M-learning concentration existed between environment and posture and a quiet environment and a sitting posture enable learners to concentrate better; and (2) no interaction effects on M-learning achievement existed between environment and posture, while environment and posture alone had a significant effect on learning achievement. This study presents several implications of the M-learning practice, deficiencies of the research, and the direction of future studies in this field.