Paper #5

Cross-cultural Usability Issues in E/M-Learning

Mahdi H. Miraz, Maaruf Ali and Peter S. Excell

Abstract: This paper gives an overview of electronic learning (E-Learning) and mobile learning (M-Learning) adoption and diffusion trends, as well as their particular traits, characteristics and issues, especially in terms of cross-cultural and universal usability. E-Learning and M-Learning models using web services and cloud computing, as well as associated security concerns are all addressed. The benefits and enhancements that accrue from using mobile and other internet devices for the purposes of learning in academia are discussed. The differences between traditional classroom-based learning, distance learning, E-Learning and M-Learning models are compared and some conclusions are drawn.

Keywords: Cross-cultural Usability; E-Learning (Electronic Learning); M-Learning (Mobile Learning); Virtual Learning Environments (VLE); Virtual Education; Online Education; Technology-enhanced Learning (TEL); Blended Learning.