Mobile Learning Apps

Author(s):  
Janet Holland

With the phenomenal growth of mobile applications or apps used for teaching and learning, we are all challenged with determining which ones are effective and efficient in meeting our specific instructional needs. The use of mobile apps directly impacts students, teachers, administrators, trainers, and employees worldwide. Apps are used across all discipline areas in a variety of settings including applied interdisciplinary approaches. With this in mind, it is critical to have a workable set of app analysis questions based on current best educational practices to assist in making informed decisions on app selections to provide quality teaching and learning experiences. This chapter provides a mixed method research study combining class observations with results from three pilots in an effort to create a set of quality questions for quickly evaluating mobile apps for instructional implementation. After creating a set of questions for evaluating the quality of the apps based on current best instructional practices, the following three pilot studies were conducted. The first pilot allowed students to select an app of their own choice followed by a survey to evaluate the app using both quantitative and qualitative open-ended responses. The second pilot had all students examine the same app followed by the same survey to analyze potential differences in results and to gain additional insights. The third pilot study used the same questions, but this time rather than using it to evaluate the app, the students evaluated the quality of the questions used. During the third pilot study, students were looking strictly at the quality of the questions for instructional use. All study participants were graduate-level students in Instructional Design and Technology and were aware of best instructional practices. It is anticipated, post study, instructors and trainers can begin using the evaluation instrument, selecting those questions meeting their unique instructional needs.

Author(s):  
Robert Hallis

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning nurtures an academic discussion of best instructional practices. This case study examines the role domain knowledge plays in determining extent to which students can effectively analyze an opinion piece from a major news organization, locate a relevant source to support their view of the issue, and reflect on the quality of their work. The goal of analyzing an opinion piece is twofold: it fosters critical thinking in analyzing the strength of an argument and it promotes information management skills in locating and incorporating relevant sources in a real-world scenario. Students, however, exhibited difficulties in accurately completing the assignment and usually overestimated their expertise. This chapter traces how each step in the process of making this study public clarifies the issues encountered. The focus here, however, centers on the context within which the study was formulated, those issues that contributed to framing the research question, and how the context of inquiry served to deepen insights in interpreting the results.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehmina Gladman ◽  
Grace Tylee ◽  
Steve Gallagher ◽  
Jonathan Mair ◽  
Rebecca Grainger

BACKGROUND Mobile apps are widely used in health professions, which increases the need for simple methods to determine the quality of apps. In particular, teachers need the ability to curate high-quality mobile apps for student learning. OBJECTIVE This study aims to systematically search for and evaluate the quality of clinical skills mobile apps as learning tools. The quality of apps meeting the specified criteria was evaluated using two measures—the widely used Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), which measures general app quality, and the Mobile App Rubric for Learning (MARuL), a recently developed instrument that measures the value of apps for student learning—to assess whether MARuL is more effective than MARS in identifying high-quality apps for learning. METHODS Two mobile app stores were systematically searched using clinical skills terms commonly found in medical education and apps meeting the criteria identified using an approach based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 9 apps were identified during the screening process. The apps were rated independently by 2 reviewers using MARS and MARuL. RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the 2 raters using MARS and MARuL were the same (MARS ICC [two-way]=0.68; <i>P</i>&lt;.001 and MARuL ICC [two-way]=0.68; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Of the 9 apps, Geeky Medics-OSCE revision (MARS Android=3.74; MARS iOS=3.68; MARuL Android=75; and MARuL iOS=73) and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision (MARS Android=3.79; MARS iOS=3.71; MARuL Android=69; and MARuL iOS=73) scored highly on both measures of app quality and for both Android and iOS. Both measures also showed agreement for the lowest rated app, Patient Education Institute (MARS Android=2.21; MARS iOS=2.11; MARuL Android=18; and MARuL iOS=21.5), which had the lowest scores in all categories except information (MARS) and professional (MARuL) in both operating systems. MARS and MARuL were both able to differentiate between the highest and lowest quality apps; however, MARuL was better able to differentiate apps based on teaching and learning quality. CONCLUSIONS This systematic search and rating of clinical skills apps for learning found that the quality of apps was highly variable. However, 2 apps—Geeky Medics-OSCE revision and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision—rated highly for both versions and with both quality measures. MARS and MARuL showed similar abilities to differentiate the quality of the 9 apps. However, MARuL’s incorporation of teaching and learning elements as part of a multidimensional measure of quality may make it more appropriate for use with apps focused on teaching and learning, whereas MARS’s more general rating of quality may be more appropriate for health apps targeting a general health audience. Ratings of the 9 apps by both measures also highlighted the variable quality of clinical skills mobile apps for learning. CLINICALTRIAL


2021 ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Kaïs Chaabouni ◽  
Alessandra Bagnato

AbstractThis chapter outlines the utility of data pipelines modeling in the context of a data driven project and enumerates metrics for evaluating the quality of the data modeling regarding the readability and the comprehensibility of the models. We start with explaining the challenges surrounding the DataBio project that led to the adoption of data pipelines modeling using the Enterprise Architecture language ArchiMate. Then we present the data modeling process with examples from DataBio pilot studies starting with modeling software components provided by project stakeholders and ending up with integration of components into data pipelines that achieve the data analytics lifecycle intended by the pilot study. We end the chapter with the evaluation of the quality of DataBio data pipelines models with metrics collected by a monitoring tool for ArchiMate models.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 160940691987834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Malmqvist ◽  
Kristina Hellberg ◽  
Gunvie Möllås ◽  
Richard Rose ◽  
Michael Shevlin

During the development of research to compare the processes and impact of inclusive education in Sweden with results obtained from a study undertaken in Ireland, a pilot study was conducted and documented. The pilot study had three aims: (1) to gather data to provide guidance for a substantive study adapted to Swedish conditions through modification of Irish research procedures and instruments, (2) to critically interrogate how we as researchers could most effectively conduct a pilot study utilizing observational and video-recorded data, and (3) to use the Irish theoretical model as a tool of analysis for studying inclusion in two Swedish schools. Although pilot studies are frequently conducted to assess the efficacy of research instruments for use in qualitative research projects, few publications have drawn upon empirical findings related to such studies. Additionally, while methodological texts recommend the use of pilot studies in qualitative research, there is a lack of reported research focusing on how to conduct such pilot studies. We argue that our methodological findings may contribute to greater awareness of the important role that a pilot study may have for full-scale qualitative research projects, for example, in case study research where semi-structured qualitative interviews are used. This argument is based on the assumption that researchers, and especially novice researchers, having conducted a pilot study will be better informed and prepared to face the challenges that are likely to arise in the substantive study and more confident in the instruments to be used for data collection. A proper analysis of the procedures and results from the pilot study facilitates the identification of weaknesses that may be addressed. A carefully organized and managed pilot study has the potential to increase the quality of the research as results from such studies can inform subsequent parts of the research process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nansi Maliko ◽  
Marcel R Stam ◽  
Liesbeth J Boersma ◽  
Marie-Jeanne T.F.D. Vrancken Peeters ◽  
Michel W.J.M. Wouters ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is part of the curative treatment of approximately 70% of breast cancer (BC) patients. Wide practice variation has been reported in RT dose, fractionation and its treatment planning for BC. To decrease this practice variation, it is essential to first gain insight into the current variation in RT treatment between institutes. This paper describes the development of the NABON Breast Cancer Audit-Radiotherapy (NBCA-R), a structural nationwide registry of BC RT data of all BC patients treated with at least surgery and RT.Methods: A working group consisting of representatives of the BC Platform of the Dutch Radiotherapy Society selected a set of RT parameters deemed to be surrogate outcome parameters. Two pilot studies were carried out in six RT institutes: First, data were manually entered into a secured web-based system, and second, data were entered using an automatic Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) RT upload module.Results: The NBCA-R dataset was created by selecting RT parameters describing given dose, target volumes, coverage and homogeneity, and dose to organs at risk (OAR). Entering the data was made mandatory for all dutch RT departments. In the first pilot study (N=1093), quite some variation was already detected. Application of partial breast irradiation varied from 0%-17% between the 6 institutes and boost to the tumour bed from 26.5%-70.2%. For patients treated to the left breast or chest wall only, the average mean heart dose (MHD) varied from 0.80 Gy – 1.82 Gy; for patients treated to the breast/chest wall only, the average mean lung dose (MLD) varied from 2.06 Gy – 3.3 Gy. In the second pilot study 6 departments implemented the DICOM-RT upload module in daily practice. Anonymised data will be available for researchers via a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) framework.Conclusions: We have developed a set of RT parameters and implemented registration for all dutch BC patients. With the use of an automated upload module registration burden will be minimized. Based on the data in the NBCA-R analyses of the practice variation will be done, with the ultimate aim to improve quality of BC RT. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liantara Riasa

This study aimed at developing English for food and beverage service (ESP3) course materials for the third semester students of DIII Perhotelan at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha. This study was designed in the form of research and development (R&D) by Sugiyono (2010) design which has several stages to be implemented namely potency and problem, data collection, product design, design validation, design revision, product trying out, product revision. The materials needed were identified based on observation, questionnaire, interview, and document analysis. The focus of the analysis was on the students’ target needs. Some students of class A were the sample in this study which were chosen by using purposive sampling. The study found the profile of materials needed by the students and there were ten topics needed namely greeting and introduction, application letter, food and beverage department, product knowledge, menu knowledge, kitchen knowledge, welcoming and taking order, handling reservation, clearing table and presenting bill, and handling complaint. The topics were developed into materials unit and each unit was divided into input, content focus, language focus, and task as suggested by Hutchinson and Waters (1987) in their theory of English for Specific purposes (ESP) design material. Formula of scale values in evaluating the appropriateness of the materials proposed by Cadiasa’s (2010) was used to know the quality of the developed materials. The result showed that the quality of the developed materials in the form of textbook was good. Thus, the material was good to be used as teaching and learning materials for the third semester students of DIII Perhotelan at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha.


10.2196/25377 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e25377
Author(s):  
Tehmina Gladman ◽  
Grace Tylee ◽  
Steve Gallagher ◽  
Jonathan Mair ◽  
Rebecca Grainger

Background Mobile apps are widely used in health professions, which increases the need for simple methods to determine the quality of apps. In particular, teachers need the ability to curate high-quality mobile apps for student learning. Objective This study aims to systematically search for and evaluate the quality of clinical skills mobile apps as learning tools. The quality of apps meeting the specified criteria was evaluated using two measures—the widely used Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), which measures general app quality, and the Mobile App Rubric for Learning (MARuL), a recently developed instrument that measures the value of apps for student learning—to assess whether MARuL is more effective than MARS in identifying high-quality apps for learning. Methods Two mobile app stores were systematically searched using clinical skills terms commonly found in medical education and apps meeting the criteria identified using an approach based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 9 apps were identified during the screening process. The apps were rated independently by 2 reviewers using MARS and MARuL. Results The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the 2 raters using MARS and MARuL were the same (MARS ICC [two-way]=0.68; P<.001 and MARuL ICC [two-way]=0.68; P<.001). Of the 9 apps, Geeky Medics-OSCE revision (MARS Android=3.74; MARS iOS=3.68; MARuL Android=75; and MARuL iOS=73) and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision (MARS Android=3.79; MARS iOS=3.71; MARuL Android=69; and MARuL iOS=73) scored highly on both measures of app quality and for both Android and iOS. Both measures also showed agreement for the lowest rated app, Patient Education Institute (MARS Android=2.21; MARS iOS=2.11; MARuL Android=18; and MARuL iOS=21.5), which had the lowest scores in all categories except information (MARS) and professional (MARuL) in both operating systems. MARS and MARuL were both able to differentiate between the highest and lowest quality apps; however, MARuL was better able to differentiate apps based on teaching and learning quality. Conclusions This systematic search and rating of clinical skills apps for learning found that the quality of apps was highly variable. However, 2 apps—Geeky Medics-OSCE revision and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision—rated highly for both versions and with both quality measures. MARS and MARuL showed similar abilities to differentiate the quality of the 9 apps. However, MARuL’s incorporation of teaching and learning elements as part of a multidimensional measure of quality may make it more appropriate for use with apps focused on teaching and learning, whereas MARS’s more general rating of quality may be more appropriate for health apps targeting a general health audience. Ratings of the 9 apps by both measures also highlighted the variable quality of clinical skills mobile apps for learning.


Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Millard ◽  
Karalyn McDonald ◽  
Sonya Girdler ◽  
Sean Slavin ◽  
Julian Elliot

Background The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of Positive Outlook, an online self-management program for gay men living with HIV in Australia. Methods: Two pilot studies were conducted, a small feasibility study (Pilot 1) followed by a pilot randomised controlled study (Pilot 2). Pilot 1 employed a pre and post-test design and included 10 men. Within- and between-group differences were evaluated in Pilot 2, which involved 37 participants randomly assigned to receive the Positive Outlook Program or usual care. We report on feasibility, acceptability and a range of preliminary efficacy outcomes, including health education impact, HIV-related quality of life and HIV-related self-efficacy. Results: The program was well accepted by participants with some decline in engagement with the discussion boards witnessed over the duration of the program. Overall, intervention group participants demonstrated improvements in the majority of efficacy outcome measures, including HIV-related quality of life, self-efficacy, self-management skills, social support and adjustment to HIV. Conclusion: These pilot studies demonstrated that an online program to facilitate self-management among gay men living with HIV is both feasible and well accepted by participants who persisted with the program per protocol. Preliminary data suggest that the Positive Outlook program has the potential to enhance participants’ quality of life, self-efficacy and health related outcomes, and demonstrates the need for further study with a larger sample.


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Lipe ◽  
Deidre Pereira ◽  
Stacy Dodd ◽  
Tim Sannes ◽  
Michelle Bishop ◽  
...  

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