Mobile Learning Media and Physics Education: Exploring Student Preferences, Competence, and Motivation in the Digital Era

In this digital era, mobile technology has transformed the education system and made mobile learning media increasingly important, especially in physics education as a complex discipline. Mobile-based learning media, such as physics simulation applications accessed via mobile phones, interactive learning videos via tablets, and mobile learning platforms, have been shown to help students understand abstract and complex physics concepts. However, there is still a gap in the literature regarding how students' preferences for mobile-based learning media affect their physics learning competence and motivation in the context of physics education. This study aims to investigate the relationship between students' preferences for mobile-based learning media, physics competence, and learning motivation in physics learning. This study used a quantitative design with a survey method to collect data from 54 high school students in West Sumatra Province regarding their preferences for various types of mobile-based learning media in physics learning. Data were analyzed using multiple regression to determine the relationship between the variables studied. The results showed that students' preferences for mobile-based learning media had a significant positive impact on physics learning competence and motivation. The findings of the study also showed that students' preferences for PhET simulations accessible via smartphones, mobile-based educational social media applications, and physics learning videos had a significant influence on various aspects of students' physics competence and learning motivation. However, the impact varies depending on the type of learning media preferred and the pattern of students' mobile device usage in physics learning. This study provides valuable insights for physics education practitioners to improve students' learning experiences by considering students' preferences for mobile-based learning media. The implications of this study suggest that understanding and accommodating students' preferences for mobile-based learning media can significantly improve physics competence and learning motivation, thereby improving students' overall learning outcomes.