1. Use of Applications on Personally Owned Devices to Enhance Student Engagement in Large Lectures: Perspectives of Lecturers
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Trevor Nesbit Ara Institute of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Aim of Research:
To identify the benefits and challenges associated with using applications on personally owned devices (APODs) in large lectures from the perspective of lecturers.
Impetus for the Research:
The impetus for this research came from a desire to increase student engagement and interaction in large lectures
Earlier Phases of Research:
A pilot study was conducted that included (a) the development of a text messaging based system that allowed students to send text message answers to questions posed by the lecturer and (b) the initial trial of a smart phone application (Nesbit, O’Steen, Bell & Martin, 2016).
Research Method
A literature review was conducted that included a thematic analysis of eleven (11) meta-studies that investigated the use of audience response systems (ARS) to increase student engagement in large lectures. The themes identified were then used to analyse a number of empirical studies with this resulting in some of the themes being revised.
Twelve (12) lecturers were then interviewed about their experiences of using APODS in their lectures. The findings were analysed based on the themes identified in the literature.
Benefits from lecturer perspective
Anonymity for Students
Student Discussion
Feedback
Student Engagement
Student Interaction
Contingent Teaching & Question Driven Instruction
Student Participation
Learning Performance
Quality of Learning
Formative Assessment
Comparing Student Responses
Student Attention
Making Learning More Enjoyable
Attendance
Challenges from lecturer perspective
Students not Having or Bringing Device
Development of Effective Questions
Technology not Functioning Correctly
Potential for Overuse
Responding to Student Feedback
Coverage of Course Content
Areas for Further Research
11 of 12 The lecturers that were interviews were identified as being innovators or early adopters (Rogers, 1995) with their characteristics including that they are not held back by minor issues when adopting new technologies. As a consequence of this the need to gain the perspectives other potential adopters who may be in need of more support when adopting APODs. This will be done through interviewing learning advisers whose role is to provide support to lecturers adopting new technologies.
References:
Nesbit, T., O'Steen, B., Bell, T., & Martin, A. (2016). The journey from texting to applications on personally owned devices to enhance student eEngagement in large lectures: A pilot study. Journal of Applied Computing & Information Technology, 20(1).
Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations. New York: The Free Press.