Development of a Model for Simple Educational Mobile Applications: A Case Study of Evaluation Matrix

Abstract

Mobile devices, especially smartphones, have become one of the most indispensable parts of our lives. The popularity of smartphones and mobile applications has been increasing and mobile technology has been enhanced day by day. Accordingly, educators too have been trying to utilize these technologies for educational purposes. Through the various educational studies on mobile devices, these technologies already have proved how much they are powerful in higher education settings. The unique capabilities of mobile technologies, including connectivity, cameras, sensors, and GPS provide a variety of learning experiences and offer new opportunities for learners both inside and outside the classroom. This study has been progressed as followed. First, the initial Model for Developing Simple Educational Mobile Applications (MODSEMA) has been constructed based on the corresponding literature review. Second, According to the feedbacks derived from the interviews conducted with three experts on MODSEMA, it has been revised. After that, the modified MODSEMA has been validated through a case study in which the app named Evaluation Matrix, used for promoting creativity, has been developed by following it. During and after the implementation of the case study, MODSEMA has been revised whenever is needed, and then, the ultimate MODSEMA has been proposed for educators, researchers and developers. This study has a significance due to the followings. First, the proposed model, MODSEMA, encompasses all development process, provides a detailed guidance on how to apply it and demonstrates its implementation method via a case study. Besides, it serves information on major mobile platforms, development environments, tools and user interface (UI) frameworks, which are continuously changing and developing technologies providing new opportunities and alternatives for developers. In addition, MODSEMA guides on how to evaluate the mobile application depending on its development stage. Second, this study clearly shows that thanks to evolving technology enabling to develop hybrid apps working on multiple mobile platforms, it is possible to develop an educational mobile application which has a high usability including effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction and which copes with the heterogeneity problem of classrooms. The advantages of hybrid apps are not only that they are available in multiple mobile services including IOS, Android and Windows Phone, but also that they provide high performance and high-quality UI as much as native apps. Lastly, this study also verified that learners want to utilize mobile applications more for educational purposes, a conclusion derived from the analyses of usability questionnaires conducted as a part of the case study.