Mobile learning for corporate training in Portugal: current challenges and future directions

• Autor(a) principal: Ribeiro, Ana Bárbara Valente
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/19813
• topic: Training and development; Technology-based training; Mobile-learning; E-learning; Formação e desenvolvimento; Formação à distância; Formação; Aprendizagem empresarial; Progresso tecnológico; Ensino à distância; Portugal

Currently, the workforce is becoming more and more global and diversified, raising new challenges to the corporate training area. Technological progress has created new opportunities to tackle these challenges, one of them, the diffusion of mobile-learning. However, academic research has been focused on studying this type of learning only for educational purposes. This dissertation approaches how Portuguese managers perceive mobile-learning for corporate training and identifies best practices to maximize the effectiveness of these initiatives. This study applies the qualitative method, with a content analysis to seven interviews to managers of diversified activity sectors. Conclusions are presented under four main categories: General perceptions on mobile-learning; Current practices; Advantages; Limitations; Opportunities. Results show that mobile-learning is perceived as an extension of e-learning, with clear divergencies from managers on the underlined learning theories and the role of the trainee in this learning context. Nevertheless, some companies are investing in selecting adjusted technological platforms, integration new functionalities, adapting content, and processes for this specific learning context. Managers recognize the existence of several benefits and limitations associated with mobile-learning. Lastly, managers perceive possible improvements with a focus on reinforcing relationships between trainees and the creation of customized content. Additionally, they foresee the integration of new technological advancements, like augmented reality. The conclusions of the performed analysis set guidelines that describe pedagogical improvements and reinforce the need to suppress social necessities of trainees to maximize the effectiveness of existing and future mobile-learning initiatives.