Role of Ethics and Law in Mobile Learning

The objective of this paper is to study the dual role of “ethics” and “Law” in mobile learning. For this purpose, data collection and data analysis were conducted using the library research method. Results indicated that mobile learning as a learning model is provided not in real space, but in cyberspace using electronic wireless/mobile devices. So, in this type of learning, traditional face to face methods are not used, instead it benefits modern mobile remote methods. Therefore, ethics of this type of learning can be called mobile ethics which is defined as a branch of functional ethics in order to study the role of ethics in mobile learning. Effectiveness of this learning style is more than the traditional methods. Accordingly, its unique nature requires ethics, and failure of ethics compromises its effectiveness. So, it is necessary to define codes of ethics for this learning style considering the true requirements and provide them for those who have ethical responsibility in this learning. As a result of such codes, any failure in observing moral codes would not be justified referring to lack of awareness. In this context, any legal sanction instead of ethical obligations would not be effective, because law may can merely compensate the failure in observing ethics in some cases in the second place, but it can never replace the ethics in the first place. Particularly, mobile learning requires internal sanctions more than the external ones, as it is remote and cyber learning. The importance of this type of learning is twofold in the societies where legal and external sanction is stressed in all affairs (even in unrelated affairs).

Keywords:

Mobile Learning , Ethics , Law , Ethical Considerations , Legal Sanctions