Security Challenges in Mobile Assisted Language Learning in Distant Education: Payame Noor University

Abstract Distance learning technologies enrich learning opportunities due to many advantages like ubiquity and flexibility. Although the usefulness of such technologies in teaching and learning is clear, their testing part is remained to be discussed due to the security issue. Administrators and teachers need to use more authentic and secure distant testing software in which the scores are guaranteed and the testees keep away from cheating. Static and online authentication systems like “user name” and “password” and face detection have empowered educational parties to have more reliable testing outcomes. The unique chances of ubiquity, individualization, informality, and spontaneity make mobile learning of particular importance not only for digital natives but also for teachers, administrators, developers, instructors, and policy makers. Yielding an economical learning opportunity along with providing authentic contexts for collaborative learning is beneficial for the economy of the country in general and for the meaningful and deep learning of the learners. This paper will discuss how authentication techniques have applied to electronic devices like mobile phones. In addition, the probable application of such software will be explained for Payame Noor University, as a distant educational system with its purpose for learning any where and any time.