m-Learning Mobile Applications for Schools Rachael Nichols IS 585: Information Technologies April 21,

Definition of m-Learning Image source: El-Hussein & Cronje, 2010, p. 17 Mobile learning refers to education that is delivered through mobile devices and that can be accessed anytime, anywhere

Scope of m-Learning K-12 schools Universities Libraries Other learning venues 4 billion users of mobile technology globally 2/3 in developing countries (Shippee & Keengwe, 2014, p. 104)

Types of Technologies Most popular: Smartphones Tablets Less popular: iPod Touch Cell phones PDAs Digital cameras mp3 players

Advantages/Disadvantages Smartphones Advantages: Ubiquitous Portable Run apps Connected to networks Disadvantages: Small screen Limited battery life Limited memory Connectivity issues Tablets Advantages: Capabilities of PC Lightweight, portable Run apps Connected to networks Disadvantages: Not as ubiquitous More expensive Limited battery life Limited memory

Criteria for Selecting Technology BYOD BYOD = Bring Your Own Device Do all students own devices with needed functionality? Are all students willing to use their own devices for school? School-issued Consider: Cost Screen size Weight Battery life Functionality Interface Networking vs.

Types of Software Applications Mobile apps designed for education e.g. Quizlet, Socrative, Google Classroom, iTunes U, Schoology, Preschool! Basic Skills, and so many more Mobile apps adapted for education e.g. geolocation, data access/organization, e- readers, maps, note-taking, data organizers, camera app, media player, texting, social media genre/ios- education/id6017?mt=8

Advantages/Disadvantages Educational Apps Advantages: Specialized for teaching Easy to teach with Disadvantages: Can only be used for one thing Can only teach skill in one way Non-educational Apps Advantages: More flexible Allow for more creativity Disadvantages: Not designed for teaching Require adaptation

Criteria for Selecting Apps Consider basic app characteristics: Usability Interface Ads Two general ways to evaluate apps: How well it presents knowledge How well app design matches learning styles (Ling, Harnish, & Shehab, 2014, p. 541)

Schrock’s Rubrics Just one of Schrock’s rubrics:

Walker’s Evaluation Rubric for Mobile Applications (ERMA)

Mobile App Selection for Science (MASS) Rubric (Green, Hechter, Tysinger, & Chassereau, 2014, p. 70)

Impact of m-Learning on Students Content knowledge/knowledge retention Collaborative learning Student engagement Higher motivation Sense of ownership/control Different learning styles/paces Overcomes barriers to learning Students enjoy m-Learning (e.g. Ciampa, 2014 & Song, 2014) Could cause students to become too dependent on technology

Impact of m-Learning on Teachers Positive: Helps accommodate diverse learning styles Alleviates some of the burden of grading Negative: Devising mobile content adds to workload Can lead to behavior problems O’Bannon & Thomas (2014) found that younger teachers are more likely to use mobile devices in their classrooms than teachers who are 50 and older

Impact of m-Learning on Parents 67% of parents would be willing to pay for mobile phones/data plans if schools used them as learning tools (Barseghian, 2011) Some schools are using mobile apps to connect with parents and allow them to view the progress of their students (Lacey, 2013)

Conclusion “All aspects of the learning experience have to work together to make [mobile learning applications] effective….Introducing new technology is not a cure-all. Designing the tools to deliver knowledge to learners in an optimal way is the key to success” (Ling, Harnish, & Shehab, 2014, p. 536).

References & Resources Barseghian, T. (2011). Parents weigh in on paying for mobile access in schools. Mind Shift. Retrieved from mobile-access-in-schools/ mobile-access-in-schools/ Ciampa, K. (2013). Getting in touch: Use of mobile devices in the elementary classroom. Computers in the Schools, 30(4), doi: / Ciampa, K. (2014). Learning in a mobile age: An investigation of student motivation. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 30(1), doi: /jcal Educause. (2010). 7 things you should know about mobile apps for learning. Retrieved from

References & Resources El-Hussein, M. O. M. & Cronje, J. C. (2010). Defining mobile learning in the higher education landscape. Educational Technology & Society, 13(3), ISSN Green, L. S., Hechter, R. P., Tysinger, P. D., & Chassereau, K. D. (2014). Mobile app selection for 5 th through 12 th grade science: The development of the MASS rubric. Computers & Education, 75, doi: /j.compedu Hahn, J. (2008). Mobile learning for the twenty-first century librarian. Reference Services Review, 36(3), doi: / Keengwe, J. & Bhargava, M. (2014). Mobile learning and integration of mobile technologies in education. Education & Information Technologies, 19(4), doi: /s

References & Resources Lacey, K. (2013). The business of: Parent engagement platforms: New technology gives parents a view into their child’s school day. District Administration, 49(10), ISSN Ling, C., Harnish, D., & Shehab, R. (2014). Educational apps: Using mobile applications to enhance student learning of statistical concepts. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 24(5), doi: /hfm O’Bannon, B. W. & Thomas, K. (2014). Teacher perception of using mobile phones in the classroom: Age matters! Computers & Education, 74, doi: /j.compedu Sandberg, J., Maris, M., & de Geus, K. (2011). Mobile English learning: An evidence-based study with fifth graders. Computers & Education, 57(1), doi: /j.compedu

References & Resources Schrock, K. (2015). iPad app evaluation guides. In Kathy Schrock’s iPads4Teaching. Retrieved from Shippee, M. & Keengwe, J. (2014). mLearning: Anytime, anywhere learning transcending the boundaries of the educational box. Education & Information Technologies, 19(1), doi: /s Song, Y. (2014). “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” for seamless science inquiry in a primary school. Computers & Education, 74, doi: /j.compedu

References & Resources Teri, S., Acai, A., Griffith, D., Mahmoud, Q., Ma, D. W. L., & Newton, G. (2014). Student use and pedagogical impact of a mobile learning application. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 42(2), doi: /bmb Thomas, K., O’Bannon, B. W., & Bolton, N. (2013). Cell phones in the classroom: Teachers’ perspectives of inclusion, benefits, and barriers. Computers in the Schools, 30(4), doi: / Walker, H. (2010). Evaluation rubric for iPod apps. Retrieved from 50ecb58ee4b0b16f176a9e7d/50ecb595e4b0b16f176aaab8/ /AppRubric.pdf 50ecb58ee4b0b16f176a9e7d/50ecb595e4b0b16f176aaab8/ /AppRubric.pdf