The Use of Mobile Technologies by Immigrant Adolescents in Coping With the New Language and With Their Formal Studies

In light of the extensive use of mobile technologies by adolescents, the chapter examined the usability of mobile technologies for new immigrant adolescents in supporting their absorption process in the new country, acquiring the new language, and coping with their studies. The study also sought to determine what the adolescents' most meaningful experiences were that mobile technologies made possible in the course of their absorption in the new country. Participating in the study were 125 new immigrant adolescents, who have resided in Israel between 6 and 12 months. This is a qualitative study. The study included (1) interviews before completing an open questionnaire, (2) completion of an open-question questionnaire, and (3) personal interviews that took place after the questionnaire was completed. Participants reported that thanks to mobile technologies they were able to integrate into the daily life of their new environment. Translation software, databases, various applications, and social network groups have helped satisfy their needs, assisted in real time with difficulties they encountered, and helped create a sense of social connection and belonging.

Contextualized MALL in Target and Non-Target Countries

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) is known to be conducive to contextualized language learning. However, the literature lacks an understanding of context. Nor is there a quantitative evaluation tool. The chapter's dependent contextualized variables were the following: real-world context level (one's place), real-life context level (one's life), and device mobility (place diversity). The independent variables were target/non-target country (Taiwan/Israel) and language learning orientation (dedicated/generic). In the target country, the spoken language is the studied language. Dedicated/generic language learning orientation represents the existence/non-existence of pedagogy within activities. Fifty-three Chinese L2 students involved in 296 activities and 519 events were interviewed. Using device mobility and an evaluation index developed to measure real-world/real-life context levels, MALL was found more contextualized in Taiwan only in generic activities. The findings refine our understanding of the benefits of studying in the target country. The index can be used in future studies.

The Role of a WhatsApp Group of a Professional Learning Community of Chemistry Teachers in the Development of Their Knowledge

The authors analyze chemistry teachers' discourse in a WhatsApp group. This online communication platform is used for continually studying the communication behavior of leading chemistry teachers who are members of a professional learning community (PLC). They describe the network of chemistry teachers' PLC in Israel, which provides the context for the study. WhatsApp enables sustained ongoing, intensive interaction, and sharing of knowledge that is practical, directly related to the members' needs, and is participant driven and constructivist in nature. A theoretical perspective of teachers' knowledge and professional development (PD) was developed in 2015 by Gess-Newsome, which was applied to examine the mechanism underlying teachers' knowledge development.

Strategies for Developing Mobile Location-Based Learning Activities by Teachers

This chapter analyses the educational activities created by teachers on an online game generator, Treasure-HIT. The analysis focused on two main components that exist in every game: (1) the location clue, which leads the players to the different stations of the game, and (2) the station task, which the players have to perform when they reach the right station. This qualitative research was based on content analysis of the activities accumulated on the system's server. A total of 112 games were analyzed, including 1272 clues, 1005 stations and 1862 station tasks. Five types of location-dependent tasks were identified: identifying information found on site, camera documentation, receiving an answer from someone on site, physical activities dependent on the location, measurements using a mobile phone, and leaving a personal mark.

Preparing Preservice Teachers to Use Mobile Technologies

The use of mobile technologies to enhance 21st century learning is increasing in K-12 schools and teacher education institutions. Thus, there is a need to effectively prepare preservice teachers to use mobile technologies in their future classrooms. This chapter explores the effective use of mobile technologies in teacher preparation in ways that are transferred to K-12 teaching and learning. It goes on to look at two major organizations: the university and partner school involved in the preparation of preservice teachers. Additionally, the purposes of incorporating information and communication technologies in teacher preparation as identified by Davis are explored to understand how mobile technologies align with these purposes. Common challenges of using mobile technologies in teacher preparation are also presented.

Social Innovation in Public Schools

The project “Promoting Digital Inclusion in Public Schools Through Integration of Innovative Low-Cost Technologies in the Teaching of STEM Subjects” has been carried out by the Remote Experimentation Laboratory (RExLab), Federal University of Santa Catarina, since 2008. This project has trained 363 teachers from 6 schools, since it is an initiative of technology integration in the basic education of the Brazilian public-school system. The present study focuses on the benefits of the project in relation to the teachers involved in its scope. The positive results acquired by the project over the years demonstrate that the integration of technologies in education by teachers in the public network is a practice to be encouraged.

Leveraging Mobile Technologies to Support Active Learning for All Students

This chapter explores the use of smartphones, a category of mobile learning, as learning devices that align well with tenets of universal design for learning (UDL). The theoretical foundation for this use is explored along with pertinent research. The chapter continues with an exploration of specific apps that reflect the tenets of UDL even as they promote learning, specifically executive function, collaboration, and knowledge acquisition and expression. Guidelines for select and successfully using apps as learning tools are provided along with a discussion of barriers to use. Recommendations for use, including actionable ideas for integration, are provided.

Real-Time Mobile Assessment of Learning

Real-time mobile assessment (RTMA) can function as assistive technology, since the anonymity of feedback promotes active participation in lessons without being exposed to criticism. This field experiment explored the impact of RTMA, beyond a whole-class technology, on academic achievement, students' perceived learning, academic self-efficacy, learning motivation, and self-esteem among middle school students. The participants were 80 ninth graders in the excellence, mainstream, and remedial tracks being taught by the same experienced language arts teacher. The experiment included nine double language lessons with a random assignment of the technological conditions and the counterbalance procedure of the topics studied. The findings suggested that students in the remedial track benefit from using RTMA in terms of achievement, perceived learning, self-efficacy, and motivation. Students in the excellence track benefit from RTMA in terms of intrinsic motivation, and students in the mainstream track in terms of self-esteem. Implication for educational research and practice are discussed.

Time for a Change

In recent years, the use of smartphones by people with intellectual disabilities (ID) has increased, leading to the development of applications designed to ease and improve their lives and independence, and help them integrate into society. Designing applications tailored to the needs of these users is complex, particularly in terms of accessibility and usability. This chapter presents a case study of the design and development process of a dedicated application aimed at helping people with mild ID in handling cash transactions. The chapter explores the design principles of mobile interfaces for people with ID. It introduces the use of the design thinking methodology, which focuses on user-centered design and helps gain an in-depth knowledge of the end users and their needs. Based on the performed user research, recommendations for the design of such applications are highlighted.

Students as Co-Creators of a Mobile App to Enhance Learning and Teaching in HE

This chapter considers how technology can enhance teaching and learning through technology within the higher education setting. The chapter considers findings and draws conclusions from a recent project conducted by the authors involved in this technologically innovative project. In particular this chapter aims to consider how mobile apps can be beneficial for learning and education purposes, consider the pedagogic value of technology use within higher education (HE), look at how students can be co-creators in their own learning, and provide an overview of the mobile app and the research findings that it was developed from. The chapter will also take into consideration the challenges associated with developing and implementing a technological intervention in HE.