The Case for Mobile Devices as Assistive Learning Technologies: A Literature Review

Mobile devices are often promoted by the media as being able to offer great benefits for users with special educational needs by supporting and enabling learning. However, there is a strong call from the research community for more evidence-based solutions in the field of Assistive Technologies (AT), so there is a need to carefully consider evidence from existing research. This paper presents results from a large-scale interdisciplinary literature review on assistive technologies, exploring the case for using mobile devices as learning support tools. The review suggests that research findings support this, showing benefits through app availability, portability, sensing and multi-touch capabilities, and their use as mainstream and personal devices. However, cautions can also be found, including needing to consider individuals’ specific needs and desires and the constraints and practices of the educational contexts they are situated in. The Case for Mobile Devices as Assistive Learning Technologies: A Literature Review