Sending Learning Pills to Mobile Devices in Class to Enhance Student Performance and Motivation in Network Services Configuration Courses

Abstract

Abstract-Teaching electrical and computer software engineers how to configure network services normally requires the detailed presentation of many configuration commands and their numerous parameters. Students tend to find it difficult to maintain acceptable levels of motivation. In many cases, this results in their not attending classes and not dedicating enough time to acquire the required competencies. This paper describes a successful experiment that was able to improve student class attendance, performance, and motivational patterns by using mobile devices in class to provide students with contextualized learning pills. A learning pill is a simple exercise that summarizes some of the key concepts explained in class and promotes reflection and self-study. Each student attending a particular lecture or laboratory session automatically receives a learning pill on his or her mobile phone just after the related concept has been presented. This paper details the scenario used in the experiment and analyzes the performance and motivational patterns of 170 students at the Higher Polytechnic School, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganes, Spain.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems by and for the Developing World: A Review of Trends and Approaches for Educational Technology in a Global Context

“…While no systems with full ITS capabilities used this approach, it has been incorporated into adaptive learning systems (Munoz-Organero et al 2012;Puntambekar et al 2009). Local data transmission may offer a powerful paradigm for future systems.…”

“…Finally, Learning Pills relies on Bluetooth OBEX (OBject EXchange) protocols to allow an instructor's machine to directly transmit data to students' phones in the classroom (Munoz-Organero et al 2012). While the Learning Pills sent fairly small study materials and messages to learners, the general concept could extend to more significant data packages (e.g., multiple megabytes).…”

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“…Whereas the second work is published in [148] that analyzes how mobile instant messaging, personal computer-based instant messaging, and the bulletin board Table 4 MUP-Learning sample oriented to educational purposes Tool Scope Nature [139] Learning pills Pills are simple exercises that summarize some of the key concepts explained in class in order to promote reflection and self-study. Authors assert that using mobile devices in class by means of contextualized learning pills improves learner class attendance, performance, and motivational patterns.…”

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“…As expected, implementing the "learning pills" via mobile devices did improve the class attendance ratio and student performance as well as motivational pattern. [19] A group of 29 students from a secondary school in the UK visited the Museum of London and each one was given an iPhone to use Twitter to tweet their learning experience during the tour. The tweets were then analyzed.…”