Ethical Considerations in Implementing Mobile Learning in the Workplace

Workplace based personal and professional development is essential for students in the health, social care and teaching professions. In this era of ubiquitous computing recording and reflecting upon learning and reviewing student progress in the workplace is easily enabled via mobile technologies. Yet researchers and student users in these settings continue to find using personal, mobile technologies a challenge; though now it is much less a technical challenge than one requiring institutional and cultural innovation in permissions and behaviors within these settings. This article describes the outcomes of a recent international workshop conducted with experts in the fields of mobile learning and education on prioritizing areas of concern and establishing best practice. In conclusion it presents a framework for consideration by the mobile learning community that can be used to highlight or prioritize ethical considerations before conducting research into the use of mobile devices by students in workplaces and schools.