The Effect of Mobile Learning Applications on Students' Academic Achievement and Attitudes toward Mobile Learning

Abstract

This study examines the effect of mobile learning applications on undergraduate students' academic achievement, attitudes toward mobile learning and animation development levels. Quasi-experimental design was used in the study. Participants of the study were students of the Buca Faculty of Education at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey. The experiment was conducted during the first semester of 2013-2014 academic year. A mobile learning-based strategy was used in experimental group (n?=?15), while the control group participated in a lecture-based classroom (n?=?26). An attitude scale was used to measure the students’ attitudes toward mobile learning, and achievement test was used to examine the effect of mobile learning applications on the students’ achievement. In order to evaluate the animations developed by students, a rubric was used. For exploratory analysis, interviews were conducted with students. The findings suggest that mobile learning may promote students' academic achievement. Both groups had significantly high attitude scores toward mobile learning. Furthermore, the students appreciated mobile learning as an approach that may significantly increase their motivation. Researchers and practitioners should take into consideration that mobile learning can create positive impact on academic achievement and performance and increase the motivation of students.