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REVIEW article

Front. Educ.
Sec. Digital Learning Innovations
Volume 9 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1463721

Self-Directed Learning for Optimizing Sustainable Language Learning via Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL): A Systematic Review

Provisionally accepted
Shalini Roy S Shalini Roy S Gandhimathi S.N.S Gandhimathi S.N.S *
  • VIT University, Vellore, India

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Sustainability has become an essential factor in the field of education as the world evolves towards digitization. Technology is a valuable educational tool for sustainable development and it is rapidly adopted worldwide, leading to substantial educational innovations and findings. Technology such as Interactive Whiteboards, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), enhance self-directed learning among the learners. According to the goals of UNESCO, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG4) focuses on quality education that endorses equity and equal opportunity for all. Mobile Learning is an educational method that can improve a teaching-learning context. However, limited studies have focused on utilizing MALL in the context of self-directed learning. The present study discusses the use of mobile applications for sustainable language learning. It provides a systematic review of the findings of 16 empirical studies published between 2019 and 2023 from Scopus and the Web of Science, based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020. The study analyzes the use of mobile apps for self-directed learning and highlights the importance of digital abilities in promoting lifelong learning. The result indicates the benefits of selfdirected learning in promoting sustainable learning and discusses the potential of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in providing lifelong learning opportunities.

    Keywords: Self-directed learning, MALL, Mobile apps, Sustainable learning, language learning

    Received: 12 Jul 2024; Accepted: 30 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 S and S.N.S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Gandhimathi S.N.S, VIT University, Vellore, India

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.