Title: From disaster recovery to Mobile Learning: a case study

Authors: Adnan Omar, Lai C. Liu, Kai S. Koong

Addresses: Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business and Public Administration, Southern University at New Orleans, 6801 Press Drive, New Orleans, LA 70126, USA. ' Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods, College of Business Administration, The University of Texas – Pan American, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539 2999, USA. ' Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods, College of Business Administration, The University of Texas – Pan American, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539 2999, USA

Abstract: Implementing distant delivery programmes using Mobile Learning (m-learning) technologies can bring about a number of benefits such as increasing student enrollment, enhancing retention and lowering tuition. However, m-learning will change the organisation and technological infrastructure of institutions. Since most organisations and people are resistant to paradigm changes, the migration from a traditional institution to an m-learning campus can take decades to be successful. Nature can sometimes quicken this change. This paper describes how Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) succeeded in becoming an electronic-learning campus after Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina in particular. In addition to providing basic continuous education to its displaced students, the institution was able to migrate and utilise m-learning to move forward with its mission of providing higher education to students from diverse backgrounds.

Keywords: assessment; disaster recovery; displaced students; electronic learning; hurricane Katrina; mobile learning; m-learning; organisational change; recruiting; retention; e-learning; online learning; hurricane Rita; higher education; technological change.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2008.018714

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.4 - 17

Published online: 15 Jun 2008 *

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