Learning Using Smartphones. SITE 2013
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Research on mobile learning has given much attention to (a) the affordances of mobility that mobile devices offer, and (b) how these devices are used in classroom learning. Less attention has been paid to how students/learners perceive and use mobile devices. This exploratory study focuses on developing an understanding of how undergraduate learners’ interpret learning using their smartphones, in particular learning that is not initiated by a teacher. The study used a qualitative grounded-theory approach to analyze data collected from 28 undergraduate learners in an introductory educational psychology course. Analysis of the data suggests that the learners’ perception of the phenomenon of learning with smartphones appears to have three properties: What is learned, why, and when. Each property can be further characterized along one or two dimensions. We see this study as being a first step towards identifying the nature of learning using mobile devices and its varying dimensions.
Transcript of Learning Using Smartphones. SITE 2013
Learning Using Smartphones: Analyzing What Current Learners Think and Do
Sandra f. SawayaSITE 2013
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Context• Smartphones almost ubiquitous• Mobility• Creating the potential for learning
on the go• Typical definition of mobile learning• Techno/device-centric definition• More complex than that• Learning beyond classroom walls
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ContextThe widespread ownership of smartphones and their mobility allow learners to take control and
“take the lead and engage in activities motivated by their personal needs [and interests] and circumstances of use”
(Kukulsha-Hulme & Shield, 2008, p. 272)
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ProblemThere is a need for research on how learners perceive and capitalize on the learning affordances of their smartphones and use them for their own self-initiated learning
(Gikas, 2011)
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Purpose• Exploratory• First step• Analyzing learners’ interpretation
of learning using smartphones
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Research Questions• How do undergraduate students
interpret the phenomenon of learning using their smartphones?–What are the properties and dimensions
of that phenomenon?
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Data Collection• Undergraduate students• Class assignment
1. How do you use your smartphone?2. How do you use your smartphone for
learning3. Look back at the last week or so and
recall instances of when you used your smartphone for a learning-related task.
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Data Analysis• Grounded theory
1. Isolating instances of learninga. How do you use your smartphone for learning?b. Using learn or synonymc. Alluded to gaining knowledge/learning
2. Listing learning activitiesa. Instances of learning that occurred at least
three times
3. Identifying properties of learning4. Characterizing property dimensions
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Findings – Learning activitiesSending email to and receiving email from classmates and instructors
Checking social media websites
Checking store hours
Checking the course management system Checking the weather Checking the time
Reading or reviewing class-related material Checking the news Looking up directions
Looking up school-related information
Checking dorm cafeteria website
Looking up song lyrics
Taking or recording class notes
Looking up word definitions, synonyms, spelling, translation, etc…
Looking up information of personal interest or need
Performing mathematical calculations
Checking movie times
Looking up information regarding a topic of current conversation or debate
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Findings – Properties & dimensions of learning• What was learned: Nature of the
information
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stable changing
scholastic
non-scholastic
I have a thesaurus app to help me when I am writing my papers to get a variety of words
I used my smartphone for learning by looking at my grades on angel
I also learn on pinterest a recipe for mosaciolli that I’ve been wanting to make
checking the weather using the weatherbug application
Findings – Properties & dimensions of learning• Why was it learned: Motivation for
learning
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needing wanting
While discussing movies with my family we were talking different quotes in movies. I grabbed by phone and used my IMDB app which is a movie app with quotes, characters, episodes, etc. Having this application on my phone I was able to learn more quotes from movies that I had not previously known
I used my smart phone last week to get directions on how to get to a certain place... I chose to use my smart phone for directions because it was easier than using a map or asking for directions. The phone called out the directions as we went so there was no confusion on how to get where we needed to be…Stopping for directions wouldn’t have helped much because we didn’t know the area as it was and we would have never remembered all the turns that they would have explained.
Findings – Properties & dimensions of learning• Where was it learned: Location for
learningMobile Stationary
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on the goon the buswalking to class
in classin my dorm roomat home
Conclusions & Implications• Non-traditional learning activities• Perception of learning as access to
information• Does the device affect how learners think
about learning?• How can we educate on the learning
affordances that go beyond access to information?
• Shift from mobile learning to learning using mobile devices
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