The practice of mobile learning currently exploits both handheld computers and mobile phones.

Mobile learning using handheld computers is obviously relatively immature in terms of both its technologies and its pedagogies but is nevertheless developing rapidly. It sometimes draws on the theory and practice of pedagogies used in technology supported learning and others used in the classroom and the community, and takes place as mobile devices are transforming notions of space, community and discourse and the investigative ethics and tools. The term mobile learning covers the personalised, connected and interactive use of handheld computers in classrooms , in collaborative learning , in fieldwork , and in counselling and guidance. Mobile devices are supporting corporate training for mobile workers and are enhancing medical education, teacher training, and numerous other disciplines. Mobile devices are becoming a viable and imaginative component of institutional support and provision. In many of these cases, they give uniquely situated and context-aware learning experiences but in other cases they may be reaching remote or inaccessible learners and supporting conventional learning or conventional e-learning. Mobile learning also covers the delivery and support of learning using mobile phones and in the last five years, mobile phones have steadily assumed a place in further and higher education in the USA and the UK, supporting distance learners and part-time students. There has also been a growing understanding of mobile phones potential for supporting learning and of the evolution of cultural life and social behaviour with the take up of mobile phones in many parts of the world. There is experience of using mobile phones to deliver educational content. One study looks at SMS in learning Italian, another at learning literature. There is also experience in using mobile phones to provide study support. This work shows that SMS can be used to provide support, motivation and continuity; alerts and reminders; bite-size content, introductions, tips and revision; study guide structure. Experts in online learning are mapping out how to transfer their support strategies to SMS and anticipate the gradual transition of any SMS service from operational issues, through tutorial and pastoral support, to fully moderated asynchronous conferences.

Mobile learning can perhaps be defined as any educational provision where the sole or dominant technologies are handheld or palmtop devices. This definition may mean that mobile learning could include mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and their peripherals, perhaps tablet PCs and perhaps laptop PCs, but not desktops in carts and other similar solutions. Perhaps the definition should address also the growing number of experiments with dedicated mobile devices such as games consoles and iPODs, and it should encompass both mainstream industrial technologies and one-off experimental technologies