Development of AGRONUTRI-X M-Learning Application using MIT App Inventor 2 Platform

Abstract

Education today is changing, in line with technology development that has been embedded in our lives. Thus, to meet the needs of today’s generation, there is a need to revolutionize conventional instructional methods by integrating technological elements in line with today’s advancements. The thriving smartphone technology with high ownership rates needs to be leveraged as a learning medium known as M-learning. Compared to E-learning, M-learning has been deemed a more forward-looking trend in learning as it allows learning to be accessed anytime and anywhere without needing specialized facilities or laboratories. However, the optimal use of M-learning as a learning medium in agricultural TVET has yet to be explored. This gap is demonstrated by the small amount of M-learning materials developed for learning agricultural subjects. This study focuses on developing specific M-learning applications for Crop Agro-industry students in Vocational College, specifically to improve their competency in preparing formulations for fertigation fertilizer. The design and development of the AGRONUTRI-X M-learning application are based on the ADDIE model. The model has five phases in its learning material development process: analysis, design, development, implementation, and testing. Balsamiq Wireframes software was used in designing the storyboard and application interface, and the MIT App Inventor 2 platform was used for the application development using the storyboard and interface provided during the design phase. The application was evaluated by five experts, and the results of the expert content evaluation showed that the application has a high content validity (89.2%). The application was tested on 30 vocational college students during a six-week intervention process which was conducted concurrently with conventional learning. The AGRONUTRI-X M-learning application usability questionnaire was then distributed to these students, and the results showed a high level of application usability with a mean score of 4.41. Overall, the development of AGRONUTRI-X M-learning applications has successfully achieved the objectives and contributed to developing M-learning applications for agriculture students.