Educational Mobile Application Research Articles

Development of a Scale to Measure Children's Educational Mobile Application Usage for Foreign Language

The widespread use of mobile applications in education has led to the need for reliable and valid measurement tools to assess their impact on language learning, particularly among young learners. This study investigated the developmental process and psychometric properties of the Children's Educational Mobile Application Usage for Foreign Languages Scale. The item pool was created by examining the studies obtained from the literature review. To evaluate the appearance and content validity of the scale, the expert assessment of the scale, which the researcher developed, was applied to 19 experts. Consequently, the experts' opinions were considered to update the Children's Educational Mobile Application Usage for Foreign Languages Scale. Pilot studies were conducted with 37 students in the 4th grade. Data were collected from 309 4th-grade students to conduct reliability and validity studies. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to determine the scale's construct validity. The Chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio is 2.54, and the Comparative Fit Index value is calculated as .954. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the theoretical structure consisting of 16 items with three factors, and the compliance indices showed perfect compliance. Cronbach Alpha (α) coefficient was used to determine the scale's reliability. The Cronbach Alpha value is calculated as 0.945. As a result, the Children's Educational Mobile Application Usage for Foreign Languages Scale was valid and reliable. The study highlights the novelty of the scale, being one of the first psychometric scales in the literature explicitly targeting children's educational mobile application usage for foreign language learning. It can aid institutions in developing or updating mobile applications and investigating the relationship between children's educational mobile application use and other variables. While this study presents a valuable contribution to the field, it also acknowledges limitations, such as the sample size and reliance on personal statements for data collection. Nonetheless, Children’s Educational Mobile Application Usage for Foreign Languages opens new avenues for research and has the potential to enhance language education by harnessing innovative technology-driven approaches.

An Empirical Investigation of User Acceptance of Personalized Mobile Software for Sustainability Education

Education for sustainability refers to educational policies that focus on shaping a sustainable future. Mobile learning software refers to the use of mobile applications through smart devices for promoting online learning. However, the effectiveness of such software in learning for sustainability depends on users’ intention to adopt it. While there is growing interest in using mobile technology for sustainability education, empirical evidence on how personalized mobile software can influence users’ attitudes and behaviors toward sustainable practices is limited. Thus, this study investigates the factors that affect users’ acceptance of mobile learning technology in sustainability education, by integrating environmental awareness and personalization strategies into a modified model based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). A total of 120 users participated in the survey. An empirical analysis of data was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the relationship between the variables of the model. The results showed that both environmental awareness and personalization strategies had a significant effect on users’ behavioral intentions. In addition, hedonic motivation and habit exerted an effect on behavioral intention, contrary to effort expectancy and social influence. These findings confirm that a personalized mobile learning application related to environmental issues reveals as a powerful tool for supporting environmental education since such software appears to have high acceptance by the user. The significance of the study lies in its potential to inform the design and development of personalized mobile applications for sustainability education. The study contributes to the creation of more effective mobile applications that promote sustainable behavior and contribute to a more sustainable future by identifying the elements that influence user acceptance.

INCORPORATING EDUCATIONAL SMARTPHONE APPS FOR TEACHING UKRAINIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO MEDICAL STUDENTS

This article explores the implementation of mobile applications in the training of future doctors studying the Ukrainian language. The authors conducted a descriptive survey to explore the types of language learning apps commonly used by foreign students studying Ukrainian at the Poltava State Medical University. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these applications for the development of language skills was identified and analyzed. The authors have demonstrated that most smartphone and tablet apps can be effectively used for learning new vocabulary, grammar, spelling rules, and developing writing and speaking skills in Ukrainian for foreign students. The descriptive survey indicated that students generally hold a positive attitude towards the use of apps for language learning. Among the students surveyed, grammar and vocabulary apps were found to be the most popular, while speaking and writing apps were less favored. The authors have also identified the advantages and disadvantages of using language learning apps. The article provides a careful analysis of the essence, principles, strengths, and weaknesses of mobile applications, as well as their pedagogical significance in the context of studying the Ukrainian language at medical universities. It emphasizes that educational mobile applications used by teachers of Ukrainian as a foreign language create an environment that facilitates information retention, promotes interaction between students, and develops their language skills. Mobile applications allow students to personalize their learning by choosing the content and pace, making them convenient for self-directed and distance learning. The data and results obtained from this study can be used to improve educational materials through mobile applications for learning Ukrainian as a foreign language. The findings contribute to research on mobile-assisted language learning and the design of educational apps by shedding light on students' preferences for acquiring different language skills.

Toward the sustainability of mobile learning applications in higher education: an empirical study

Toward the sustainability of mobile learning applications in higher education: an empirical study

Encouraging Pro-environmental Behaviour Through an Educational Mobile Application: Preliminary Insights from Early Adopters

This article aims to explore the extent to which the educational mobile application PULA supports and promotes pro-environmental behaviours, identify the most utilised functionalities by early adopters, and explore the least engaged functionalities. The study employs a quantitative approach based on data collected from the application. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of users' experiences and behaviours within the application, contributing valuable insights into its potential to foster pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. The results suggested that the users, especially women, were generally interested in the learning activities. Pro-environmental transport-related activities were also frequently undertaken by the users. While women tended to split their time into various functionalities of the application, men focused mainly on the transport-related ones. This research contributes to the emerging field of using educational mobile applications for promoting pro-environmental behaviour. The study's focus on early adopters provides unique perspectives on the mechanisms behind behaviour change and offers implications for future interventions. The findings of this study can impact environmental conservation efforts. By encouraging pro-environmental behaviour through an accessible mobile application, a broader audience can be reached and motivated to adopt greener habits. The insights gained from this research can inform the design and development of future applications to foster sustainable practices, benefiting society and contributing to building a more sustainable future.

Integrating Augmented Reality, Gamification, and Serious Games in Computer Science Education

This study aims to evaluate the impact of using augmented reality, gamification, and serious games in computer science education. The study presents the development process of an educational mobile application, describes an experiment that was conducted and involved 117 higher education students, and analyzes the results of a 49-item paper-based questionnaire. In total, 8 research questions were explored. The results of the study revealed that several educational benefits can be yielded when integrating such applications in teaching and learning activities and actively involving students in the design and development process. In particular, the application was assessed as an effective learning tool that could enrich and improve the educational process and create interactive, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments. Its use led mostly to positive effects and experiences while maintaining the negative ones to a minimum and most students expressed positive emotions. Students were able to learn in a more enjoyable and interesting manner, and their motivation, engagement, self-efficacy, and immersion were greatly increased. Students’ innate need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness was satisfactorily met and both their intrinsic and extrinsic learning motivations were triggered. They felt a sense of belonging and cultivated their social skills. The potential of the application to improve students’ knowledge acquisition and academic achievements was also observed. The application also enabled students to improve their computational thinking and critical thinking skills. Therefore, the potential of combining augmented reality, gamification, and serious games to enhance students’ cognitive and social–emotional development was highlighted.

Effectiveness of using a patient education mobile application to improve the quality of bowel preparation: a randomised controlled trial

AimsTo determine the effectiveness of a mobile application (app) in improving the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy.MethodAn endoscopist-blinded randomised controlled trial enrolled patients who were undergoing a colonoscopy on...

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Educational Mobile Application for Home Care After Surgery of Pediatrics With Congenital Heart Disease: A Protocol Study

Background & Aims The numerous problems of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their care burden can reduce the quality of life of parents, especially mothers. Compliance with treatment after discharge from the hospital is crucial. It is necessary to provide home care educational programs for them. Given the advance of technology and the popularity of mobile phone use, this study aims to design an educational mobile application for home care after surgery to improve the quality of life and adherence to treatment in mothers of children with CHD in Iran. Materials & Methods This is a study protocol on 72 mothers of children with CHD referred to the Children’s Medical Center of a hospital (affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences) for surgery. The data collection tools will be a demographic form, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Fatemi et al.’s Adherence to Treatment Questionnaire. Data collection will be done before and one month after the intervention. The collected data will be analyzed using mean and standard deviation, independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results The results will be analyzed to assess the effectiveness of the mobile-based educational intervention in improving the quality of life and adherence to treatment of mothers of children with CHD. Conclusion This is the protocol of a study that examines the effect of a mobile-based post-surgery home care training application on the quality of life and adherence to treatment of mothers. The results of such studies can help identify the faster, easier and more effective methods of patient education.

Comparing Mathematics Achievement: Control vs. Experimental Groups in the Context of Mobile Educational Applications

Comparing Mathematics Achievement: Control vs. Experimental Groups in the Context of Mobile Educational Applications

Fostering children's acceptance of educational apps: The importance of designing enjoyable learning activities

ABSTRACTEducational applications (apps) offer opportunities for designing learning activities children enjoy and benefit from. We redesigned a typical mobile learning activity to make it more enjoyable and useful for children. Relying on the technology acceptance model, we investigated whether and how implementing this activity in an app can increase children's intention to use. During the 27‐day study, children (N = 103, 9–14 years) used the app to memorize one‐sentence learning plans each day. Children used three different app‐based learning activities throughout the study. In two standard activities, children reread or reassembled the words of the plan. In the redesigned activity, children represented the meaning of the plan with emojis. Children repeatedly reported on their attitude towards each activity. Subsequently, children reported perceived enjoyment and intention to use the app. Results showed children found the emoji activity most enjoyable, and enjoyment of the emoji activity contributed uniquely towards intention to use. Additionally, children's enjoyment of the app mediated their intention to use the app in the future. Overall, the study suggests that children's enjoyment of an app is crucial in predicting their subsequent intention to use, and it provides a concrete example of how emojis can be used to boost enjoyment. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Educational applications provide children with unrestricted access to mobile learning resources. Positive attitudes towards educational applications predict behavioural intention to use these applications, at least in young adults. There is a need for more research examining the relevance of enjoyable learning activities in fostering children's sustained usage of an educational application. What this paper adds Positive attitude towards the use of emojis during learning activities uniquely contributed to children's behavioural intention to use the application. Perceived enjoyment predicted behavioural intention to use the application. Perceived enjoyment mediated the effect of attitude towards using learning activities on the behavioural intention to use the mobile educational application. Implications for practice and/or policy These findings highlight the importance of enjoyment for children's' acceptance of educational applications. Enjoyable learning activities are necessary to ensure sustained usage of educational applications. The paper provides a concrete example of how emojis can be used to boost enjoyment of a typical mobile learning activity.

It's free! Still, would I learn? Unearthing perceived value of education apps for better entrepreneurial decisions

PurposeThis study aims to explore customer perceived value (CPV) dimensions in the context of free mobile educational applications (EduApps) which are paramount in learning-based digital start-ups and are essential for the implementation of circular economy (CE). The purpose of the present study is to identify dimensions of CPV specifically for EduApps and propose a conceptual model that would assist the digital start-up decisions which in turn can be a catalyst in navigating to a CE.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the Netnography approach by analyzing online user-generated content. A total of 13,147 reviews posted on the Google play store after using top free education apps were coded using ATLAS.ti 9 software.FindingsMajor dimensions of context-specific CPV are identified as technical value, content value, pedagogical value, gamification value and learning value. Subdimensions and items are extracted for each of these dimensions.Practical implicationsThe larger subscriber base drives sponsorships, advertisements and donations which underpin the business model of free EduApps. This can be obtained through an attractive value proposition. Identifying context-specific value dimensions would aid entrepreneurs in optimal value mix development decisions. The proposed framework can be utilized by both researchers (for scale creation, comparative studies and quantitative studies) and practitioners (for entrepreneurial decisions on better value propositions).Originality/valueCPV successfully describes consumer decision-making, but less attention is paid to linking the theory to the setting of mobile learning apps, where the bulk of research is focused on techniques like TAM, UTAUT, etc. In addition, studies identifying CPV from mobile apps with a specific focus on EduApps are sparse. Extant literature in this context is either based on a foundation of in-store business value dimensions or dominated by technical aspects when focused on the context of mobile apps. The current study bridges this gap.

Providing Students With Mobile Access to an Assessment Platform

The growing ubiquity, rich functionality, and relative affordability of mobile devices have been seen as opportune factors for implementing mobile learning solutions that can be used in a variety of contexts and domains. Plenty of successful mobile educational applications have been built. This paper describes an attempt to build on this success. The authors have investigated the use of mobile devices by students accessing assessment and self-assessment quizzes in the context of a university course. Two experiments were conducted with undergraduate students. The results of the first experiment were not successful, and initially, very few students used mobile devices. After several adjustments, during the second experiment, the usage of the system increased. However, the numbers were still much lower when compared to desktop access. This paper reports an investigation into the lack of mobile usage of the developed platform despite the educational affordances brought by mobile devices.

The design and evaluation of a digital learning-based English chatbot as an online self-learning method

A majority of government and international organisations have chosen English as their official language since it is the only language in the world with the status of a global language and a world language. One of the key components of learning a language is oral communication; however, students frequently overlook the value of oral communication, which reduces the effectiveness of language acquisition. To enhance the motivation and effectiveness of non-native English speakers to learn and practise English, this study aims to develop an interactive self-learning and self-improvement approach. A well-designed and chatbot-assisted learning environment is designed, using a variety of concepts such as informal learning, language learning, mobile learning, and educational mobile application, and evaluated.

Belajar SenangJer: A Mobile Application for Illiterate Indigenous Adults

During the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) era, personal electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and computers have become common in an individual’s daily activities. These devices have been used to communicate with others through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Wechat, Whatsapp, and others. When the globe is facing the pandemic Covid-19, the importance of the devices had become more significant, along with the increased usage of digital wallets to enable contactless payments. Without literacy skills, an individual is far more likely to live in poverty and may be isolated in a world increasingly dependent on electronic devices. Although the Government of Malaysia has been putting a lot of effort to ensure that indigenous people’s education system is at a reasonable level, there are no significant and robust changes. The illiterate indigenous adults might still be left behind due to their inability to read. Thus, the main objective of this study is to develop a specialized user-friendly mobile educational application prototype to reduce the illiteracy rate among indigenous adults in Malaysia Personal Extreme Programming (PXP), which is the derivative of the Extreme Programming (XP) of the agile method was adopted to develop the mobile. The application is being developed with the intention to reduce the illiteracy rate among indigenous adults in Malaysia. The overall findings indicate that respondents are satisfied with Belajar SenangJer as it facilitates the learning of Malay language through flashcards and videos. In the future, the user interface of Belajar SenangJer could be improved by providing a voice guidance function and matching games. The application could be expanded to learn more languages, such as English and Mandarin.

Development of a mobile application for health education about sepsis.

To develop and validate a mobile application for health education about sepsis. Methodological study composed of two stages. Firstly, information from the Latin American Sepsis Institute and Global Sepsis Alliance was used, followed by putting together, design and layout of the application, according to the agile development model proposed by Sommerville. In the second stage, content validation occurred with 20 health professionals with expertise in the areas of intensive care and sepsis, from the use of the Instrument for Validation of Educational Content in Health through analyzing objectives, structure and relevance; and it was considered valid the item with a minimum agreement of 80%, by binomial test. The app presents 15 screens that encompass prevention measures, recognition and early identification of sepsis, illustrated by interactive images. Out of the 18 items evaluated in the validation process, the minimum agreement obtained was 0.95 and the average validation index was 0.99. The application was developed and considered valid by the referees regarding contents. Thus, it is an important technological resource for health education in prevention and early identification of sepsis.

Development of a mobile application for health education about sepsis

RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver e validar aplicativo móvel para educação em saúde sobre sepse. Método: Estudo metodológico composto por duas etapas. Na primeira, foram utilizadas informações do Instituto Latino-Americano de Sepse e Global Sepsis Alliance, seguidos da montagem, design e layout do aplicativo, conforme modelo de desenvolvimento ágil proposto por Sommerville. Na segunda etapa, ocorreu a validação do conteúdo com 20 profissionais de saúde com expertise nas áreas de terapia intensiva e sepse, a partir da utilização do Instrumento de Validação de Conteúdo Educativo em Saúde que analisa objetivos, estrutura e relevância e foi considerado válido o item com concordância mínima de 80%, por teste binomial. Resultados: O aplicativo apresenta 15 telas que contemplam medidas de prevenção, reconhecimento e identificação precoce de sepse, ilustrados por imagens interativas. Dos 18 itens avaliados no processo de validação, a concordância mínima obtida foi 0,95 e o índice de validação médio foi 0,99. Conclusão: O aplicativo foi desenvolvido e considerado válido pelos juízes quanto ao conteúdo. Assim, consiste em importante recurso tecnológico para educação em saúde que contemple a prevenção e identificação precoce da sepse.

Mobile Application for Remote Patient Education and Follow-up for the Prevention of Diabetic Foot: M-DAKBAS

Mobile Application for Remote Patient Education and Follow-up for the Prevention of Diabetic Foot: M-DAKBAS

Developing a mobile educational application prototype

Problem. Over the past few decades, the use of information and computer technology has expanded exponentially. In many fields of activity during this period, various software tools were integrated, and some of the fields were almost completely automated. For educational software development, it is crucial to correctly and accurately identify needs, draw up requirements, and consider the necessary simplicity, creating a concise and understandable program structure. Goal. The purpose of this work is to identify the needs of application users, formulate requirements for the application, create a program model, draw up its structure, determine the means that will be used for its implementation and compose a description of the main set of methods necessary for the function-analysis of a developing application. Methodology. Analytical research methods, requirements elicitation, application structuring using UML diagrams, and teaching software development methods. Results. An analysis of the needs of users of the learning application for young children was carried out, the requirements were collected and traced, and the program's application control structure and the static structure of the program were drawn up. The means for the implementation of the program were selected and described, and the implementation of the program was described. Originality. Requirements, structure, and approach to creating an application are based on the analysis of children's knowledge levels and needs. Practical value. Such software can be adapted for different knowledge levels and various topics unrelated to children's education.

Challenges and Opportunities for Online Learning in India

Today's digital world demands more effective learning models that allow students to actively participate/enrol in their education. Digital technology is influencing the way the instruction is delivered as well as the way the information is discovered and shared. Recently, the adoption of internet and mobile learning technologies have changed the traditional perspective of education. In India, e-learning could be the viable solution to provide education in the context of 21st century. Effective mobile and e-learning applications can be developed by conducting an analysis on the use of mobile devices and applications in online education. Despite numerous initiatives to promote the use of mobile learning for education, there are some issues that must be addressed. By considering the sudden shift towards online teaching in the rise of COVID-19 pandemic in India, this study summarizes the research findings of mobile and e-learning technologies to avoid potential complications with the implementation of this technology during any future pandemic situations in India. The proposed study also assists in understanding the current state of mobile learning technology adoption in India.

Challenges and Opportunities for Online Learning in India

Today's digital world demands more effective learning models that allow students to actively participate/enrol in their education. Digital technology is influencing the way the instruction is delivered as well as the way the information is discovered and shared. Recently, the adoption of internet and mobile learning technologies have changed the traditional perspective of education. In India, e-learning could be the viable solution to provide education in the context of 21st century. Effective mobile and e-learning applications can be developed by conducting an analysis on the use of mobile devices and applications in online education. Despite numerous initiatives to promote the use of mobile learning for education, there are some issues that must be addressed. By considering the sudden shift towards online teaching in the rise of COVID-19 pandemic in India, this study summarizes the research findings of mobile and e-learning technologies to avoid potential complications with the implementation of this technology during any future pandemic situations in India. The proposed study also assists in understanding the current state of mobile learning technology adoption in India.