Whilst commenting on the motivators for m-learning, students also commented on what they found to be demotivating. An encouraging finding in this study was the presence of a much greater number of motivators than demotivators for m-learning. Feedback showed that variations existed in student experiences and perceptions; therefore, the responses were not homogeneous in terms of preferences. The demotivators were mostly tasks and assessments that students found to be boring, but some students also commented that they found discussion and group work activi- ties, in some instances, to be particularly demotivating. For several individuals, who were less keen on group work and discussion activities, this was probably due to their preference for work- ing independently and concerns about reliance on other students for progress, as found by Waite, Jackson, Diwan, and Leonardi (2004). However, despite some negativity, most responses high- lighted the motivational value of interacting with other students and communicating with lectur- ers. A number of students also admitted that their personal lack of interest was a major demotiva- tor, and some also suggested that a variety in the types of learning activities should be provided
to avoid boredom.
In summary, the key motivator for using laptops for m-learning was mobility. The learning tasks that were key motivators were those centred on accessing information, authoring, and communi- cation.