eLearning applications have penetrated the world of education as most higher education organizations all over the world choose to deploy eLearning applications. A review of literature and surveys performed confirmed that currently there is very little engagement of students in web-based eLearning applications, especially related to web-based constructive activities. In fact, eLearning platforms are mostly used as on-line repositories for a variety of course related documents without actively contributing to the learning process utilizing available modern learning methods. eLearning aims to actively engage students by making available learning content, but also through using interactive practices in the process of learning. Therefore, students in addition to access learning content may actively participate in the discovery of knowledge rather than being passive receptors to that content. Consequently, engagement of students to eLearning activities and content is important. Two surveys were undertaken in order to identify the reasons why web-based eLearning platforms fail to achieve both constructivist learning and the required engagement by both students and instructors. In addition to that, these surveys investigated and measured the level of interactivity of both students and instructors with on-line Information Technology (IT) services offered by both web-based and mobile applications and services. The rational was to investigate opportunities in creating a technology that can disseminate eLearning content that is mainly offered by institutional eLearning platforms and popular on-line services like social networks and communications services, in order to increase awareness, availability, and simplicity of eLearning activities and thus engagement to eLearning. The findings illustrated that most instructors fail to create and promptly support constructive eLearning activities largely because of the complexity and time required for such undertakings. Consequently, the critical student participant mass is not achieved. Additionally, it seems that most learning platforms rely on email messages and native applications’ notifications to update both students and instructors on new interactions. However, these channels of communication are not within the preferred communication channels and thus updates become outdated and fail to serve their purpose. Finally, web-based learning platforms seem to be oriented around laptop/desktop computer use (i.e. a full sized computer screen) rather than adopting and adapting to current mobile use of technology. The research presents a novel conceptual model of a mobile application that integrates and combines various already existing popular, on-line, web-based and mobile application services (communication, social media, voice command systems, etc.) including relative technologies (smart devices, mobile sensors, application servers), with institutional eLearning platforms. The aim is to increase the engagement of both students and instructors to eLearning, through constructive eLearning activities using a variety of existing popular technologies. This research shows that a Mobile Technology Enhanced Learning (mTEL) technology that integrates eLearning activities to both students and instructors will assist in increasing the awareness of learners to eLearning activities. At the same time, it offers the means to access, respond and participate in learning activities virtually from everywhere, thus making interaction ubiquitous, simpler and prompt, thus addressing key eLearning weaknesses leading to low engagement. These benefits are offered to both students and instructors, for a variety of eLearning activities and tools (positivistic and constructive). The research goes one step further by evaluating mTEL’s effectiveness. A conceptual novel model of a mobile application was designed and positively evaluated to contribute in the resolution of the major problem of low engagement of both students and instructors to eLearning. This is achieved by technologically enhancing mobile learning and introducing learning activities and materials at the current, highly populated on-line ecosystems where learners are already engaged instead of expecting them to directly interact with the institutional web-based platforms.

Η εισαγωγή των νέων Τεχνολογιών της Πληροφορίας και των Επικοινωνιών (ΤΠΕ) στην εκπαίδευση αποτελεί πλέον γεγονός παγκοσμίως συμβάλλοντας ουσιαστικά στη βελτίωση των διαδικασιών διδασκαλίας , μάθησης και απόκτησης γνώσεων αλλά και δημιουργώντας περιβάλλοντα για την ανάπτυξη ιδιαίτερων δεξιοτήτων . Καθοριστικό ρόλο στην πραγματικότητα αυτή έχει διαδραματίσει η ραγδαία ανάπτυξη του διαδικτύου και οι επιμέρους εφαρμογές του . Τα τελευταία χρόνια η πρόσβαση στον παγκόσμιο ιστό δεν περιορίζεται στους επιτραπέζιους υπολογιστές αλλά πλέον περιλαμβάνει τα κινητά τηλέφωνα , τα PDAs και γενικότερα κάθε είδους κινητή συσκευή . Μάλιστα στις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες ο αριθμός των χρηστών που πλοηγούνται στον παγκόσμιο ιστό είναι μεγαλύτερος από τον αντίστοιχο αυτών που πλοηγούνται μέσω επιτραπέζιων υπολογιστών . Τα παραπάνω γεγονότα έχουν ως φυσικό επακόλουθο την δημιουργία και συνεχή ανάπτυξη ενός νέου είδους εκπαίδευσης : την κινητή ηλεκτρονική μάθηση (mobile e-learning) , η οποία βασίζεται στην ιδέα της μάθησης μέσω κινητών συσκευών οπουδήποτε οποιαδήποτε στιγμή θα χαρακτηρίσει τις νέες στρατηγικές, τις πρακτικές , τα εργαλεία , τις εφαρμογές , και τους πόρους για να εκπληρώσει την υπόσχεση της πανταχού παρούσας, προσωπικής, και συνδεδεμένης εκμάθησης, Στόχος της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να μελετήσει και να συγκρίνει τις διαθέσιμες εφαρμογές , εργαλεία , Συστήματα Διαχείρισης Μάθησης (ΣΔΜ) & Λειτουργικά Συστήματα κινητών συσκευών ώστε να αξιολογήσει τις εκπαιδευτικές δυνατότητες τους και να καθορίσει αν μπορούν να συμβάλλουν στην παροχή αποτελεσματικής κινητής ηλεκτρονικής μάθησης στους χρήστες τους . / The integration of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the field of education is nowadays a fact worldwide contributing in improving the teaching methods , learning and knowledge gaining as well as creating environments which facilitate the development of special skills . The vast development of the Web and its applications have played a key role establishing the current reality. During the last years the access to the Web , not only from desktop PCs but from mobile devices too , such as mobile phones and PDAs , is a fact. Furthermore , in developing countries the number of users that browse the Web through mobile devices is larger than the number of users that browse the web from desktop PCs . As a natural consequence of the above facts a new kind learning has emerged and constantly been developed ever since : Mobile e-learning , based on the idea of learning with mobile devices anywhere at any time , which will feature new strategies , practices , tools, applications and resources to fulfill the promise of ubiquitous , personal and connected learning . The aim of this thesis is to study and compare the available applications, tools, Learning Management Systems and mobile Operating Systems in order to evaluate their educational potentials and to determine whether they are capable of contributing to providing effective mobile e-learning to their users .

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o uso de dispositivos mÃveis em uma experiÃncia de aprendizagem colaborativa entre uma professora e sua turma de alunos do 7 ano do Ensino Fundamental. Para isso, busca compreender como esses dispositivos podem promover a produÃÃo colaborativa na e alÃm da escola e em quais contextos de aprendizagem podem ser incorporados. O estudo apresenta como a aÃÃo docente influenciou o desenvolvimento de um projeto pedagÃgico, articulando conteÃdo curricular, tecnologias mÃveis e situaÃÃes reais vividas na comunidade. Esta pesquisa tambÃm investiga a mediaÃÃo docente com apoio dessas tecnologias, sua apropriaÃÃo, o planejamento, a inserÃÃo das atividades e os desafios enfrentados durante todo o processo. Foi investigada a prÃtica de uma professora de CiÃncias durante o desenvolvimento de um projeto pedagÃgico com sua turma de alunos do 7 ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pÃblica cearense. No que se refere aos instrumentos de coleta, foram utilizadas entrevistas, observaÃÃes das aulas e diÃrio de campo. Nos procedimentos metodolÃgicos, optou-se por uma abordagem qualitativa com o emprego da pesquisa-aÃÃo, envolvendo o trabalho colaborativo de uma professora interessada em contribuir com a resoluÃÃo imediata de preocupaÃÃes prÃticas. Para anÃlise dos dados, foram utilizados elementos da teoria de Strauss e Corbin (2008). Os resultados estÃo apresentados em duas macrocategorias PrÃtica Docente Apoiada por Dispositivos MÃveis e Aprendizagem Colaborativa MÃvel, vinculadas ao referencial teÃrico. A partir dos aspectos comuns entre elas e devido aos objetivos da pesquisa, as categorias examinadas surgiram do grupo de conceitos abstraÃdos da literatura de acordo com os termos explicativos mais abstratos. As falas da entrevistada, os registros das observaÃÃes das aulas e o diÃrio de campo foram analisados e codificados por meio da verificaÃÃo frase por frase comparando as propriedades e as dimensÃes essenciais ao evento, aliando semelhanÃas. Assim, as subcategorias originadas dessas anÃlises foram relacionadas Ãs categorias de interesse dessa pesquisa. Os resultados indicam que os elementos que subsidiam a Aprendizagem Colaborativa MÃvel, a partir da prÃtica docente apoiada por dispositivos mÃveis, reconhecem a importÃncia do professor como agente motivador, mediando e envolvendo os alunos nas discussÃes sobre os temas estudados em diferentes contextos de aprendizagem. A pesquisa se diferencia dos demais estudos ao investigar a maneira como uma professora e sua turma de alunos se apropriaram dos aplicativos e dispositivos mÃveis para realizaÃÃo de aÃÃes colaborativas dentro e fora da sala de aula em diferentes situaÃÃes de aprendizagem. Outros resultados mostram que à possÃvel trabalhar com diferentes dispositivos, sistemas operacionais e aplicativos, desde que o professor esteja preparado para trabalhar os conteÃdos curriculares de maneira integrada e coordenada em contextos formais, nÃo formais e informais. PorÃm, para que essas tecnologias se integrem Ãs atividades escolares sÃo necessÃrios investimentos na formaÃÃo docente, na manutenÃÃo dos equipamentos e na conexÃo de Internet sem fio. AlÃm disso, à preciso tornar as atividades curriculares mais flexÃveis, tanto ao planejamento quanto à execuÃÃo, bem como repensar polÃticas pÃblicas que encorajam e incentivem a utilizaÃÃo dos dispositivos mÃveis na escola, especialmente aqueles de uso prÃprio dos alunos. / This research aims to analyze the use of mobile devices in a collaborative learning experience between a teacher and her students of the 7th grade of the elementary school. For this purpose, it tries to understand how these devices are able to promote collaborative production in and beyond the school and in which learning contexts they can be incorporated. The study presents as the teaching activities influenced the development of a pedagogical project linking curriculum content, mobile technologies and real experiences in the community. This research also investigates the teaching practice supported by these technologies, their ownership, planning, integration of activities and challenges faced throughout the process. The practices of a science teacher for the development of an educational project with a group of students from the 7th grade of elementary school in a public school of the state of CearÃ, Brazil, were investigated. The collection instruments used were semi-structured interviews and observations from classes and field diary. As methodological procedures it was chosen a qualitative approach to the use of action research, involving the collaborative work of a teacher who was interested in contributing to the immediate resolution of practical concerns. Elements of the Strauss and Corbin (2008) theory were used for data analysis. The results are presented in two macro-categories, Teaching Practice Supported by Mobile Devices and Mobile Collaborative Learning, linked to the theoretical framework. From the commonalities among them and because of the research objectives, examined categories emerged from the group of concepts abstracted from the literature according to the explanatory more abstract terms. The speeches of the interviewee, the records of the observations from classes and the field diary were analyzed and coded by checking sentence by sentence comparing the properties and the essential dimensions of the event, combining the similarities. Thus, the subcategories originated from these analyzes were related to interest categories of this research. The results indicate that the elements that support Mobile Collaborative Learning, from the teaching practice supported by mobile devices, recognize the importance of the teacher as motivator, mediating and involving students in discussions on the topics studied in different learning contexts. The research is distinguished from other ones because it investigates how a teacher and her students appropriated mobile applications and devices to perform collaborative actions inside and outside the classroom in different learning situations. Other results show that it is possible to work with different devices, operating systems and applications, as long as the teacher is prepared to use the curriculum content in an integrated and coordinated manner in formal, non-formal and informal contexts. However, investments in teacher training, equipment maintenance and wireless Internet connection are necessary to integrate these technologies to school activities. Besides, it is necessary to make more flexible learning activities, both in planning and in implementation, and rethink public policies in order to encourage and foster the use of mobile devices in school, especially those belonging to the students.

„Hast Du Schwierigkeiten, die richtige Ansprache für Millennials zu finden?“ Dann empfiehlt die Onlinemarketingplattform www.onlinemarketing.de sich die perfekte Videowerbung für die Generation Y anzusehen. Im Video sind „hippe, junge Menschen in Zeitlupe“ zu sehen, die fröhlich sind, sich frei fühlen, lachen, bunte Haare haben, gern mit Freunden zusammen sind und Spaß an der Konversation haben, fotografieren, posten, liken und teilen. Natürlich werden im Video die Klischees überzogen und auch aufs Korn genommen. Aber die Kernaussage stimmt mit der Definition der Millennials überein: Sie sind technikaffin, legen Wert auf ihre Selbstverwirklichung und verfolgen eine hohe Leistungsorientierung. Sie studieren und investieren in die Ausbildung. Es ist aber auch die Generation, die mit dem Smartphone groß geworden ist. Sie beziehen nahezu alle Informationen aus dem Internet und halten sich täglich über mehrere Stunden in den sozialen Medien auf. Die Autorin setzt sich in ihrer Dissertation mit dem Thema auseinander, wie diese Generation sich Wissen aneignet. Sie möchte in Experimenten nachweisen, dass die Millennials anders lernen, weil sie aus der Informationsflut selektieren müssen. Sie wollen ihr Wissen möglichst effektiv, auf das Wesentliche reduziert, präsentiert bekommen. Das sind Erfahrungen der Autorin aus der Lehre. Dieses Paper fasst Hypothesen und Gedanken zusammen, die provokant und als mögliches Zukunftsszenario beschrieben werden. Dabei geht es einerseits um die Distribution. Wo müssen Lehrvideos veröffentlicht werden, dass sie von der lernenden Zielgruppe wahrgenommen und angenommen werden. Auf der anderen Seite geht es auch um den Content selbst und wie er dargestellt wird – strukturell und visuell. Die Autorin zieht dafür Parallelen zum Journalismus sowie zum Marketing.

Este trabalho apresenta contribuições do autor na área da educação em engenharia, no campo da Educação em Micro e Nanoeletrônica (Microeduc) e Educação em Nanociências e Nanotecnologias (Nanoeduc) no Brasil. É apresentada a modelagem de duas plataformas virtuais experimentais denominadas microEDUC e nanoEDUC para compartilhar saberes e práticas docentes. Ferramentas de edição colaborativas e armazenamento online de mídias permitem que educadores organizem e compartilhem seus saberes a ensinar (ementas, planejamentos, planos de cursos, planos de ensino-aprendizagem, planos de aula e agendas) e saberes ensinados (práticas e experiências docentes, lista de exercícios, apresentações, videoaulas, WebQuests, apostilas, livros eletrônicos, materiais didáticos, etc.). Oficinas com estratégias de aprendizagem colaborativa móvel foram modeladas e testadas com o objetivo de estimular a curiosidade e o interesse de professores e estudantes sobre as áreas de projetos de circuitos integrados e de fabricação de dispositivos microeletrônicos. As plataformas virtuais colaborativas testadas foram ativadas na internet com o pacote de serviços Google Apps com os complementos Google Apps Script, Google App Engine, Google Sites API, Gmail API, YouTube API, Google Drive DSK e outros para criação de midiatecas online (bibliotecas, audiotecas, videotecas, wikitecas, documentecas, TVtecas, radiotecas, etc.), edições de textos e documentos colaborativos usados nas criações de roteiros para Web Rádio e Web TV, dicionários e glossários colaborativos, criação de web books, e várias outras atividades didáticas colaborativas. A documentação das oficinas colaborativas móveis, dos roteiros das mídias educativas, das análises de mídias, das instanciações automáticas de páginas e documentos para colaboração e gerenciamento de discos virtuais foram feitas na linguagem STML Scripts (Structured Text Markup Language) criada, definida e sistematizada pelo autor, durante o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Videoaulas e videotutoriais foram produzidos com a metodologia de videocasting seguindo-se as etapas convencionais para produção de audiovisuais (pré-produção, produção e pós-produção). Os canais de Web Rádio e Web TV foram individualizados para professores e disciplinas, dentro de videotecas online com transmissões ao vivo orientadas aos dispositivos móveis. As capturadas das aulas foram feitas com filmadoras semiprofissionais de baixo custo em diferentes ambientes: sala de aula convencional, laboratório de microeletrônica e estúdio móvel de Web TV. Na Escola Politécnica da USP foram capturadas aulas testes do curso de eletrônica e etapas de processos de fabricação de transistores MOSFET no laboratório de microeletrônica. Um estúdio móvel viii de Web TV foi construído com 18 m2 de área total, para realizar testes de oficinas colaborativas, testes de VT, gravações de videoaulas, videotutoriais, transmissões experimentais de Webconferência, e de programas de Web Rádio e Web TV. Os equipamentos usados no estúdio foram condicionados na forma de kits de produção para reduzir os tempos de setup das gravações. As ferramentas e serviços utilizados nas plataformas virtuais colaborativas móveis testadas foram eficazes nos processos de planejamento das estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem, na execução das atividades didáticas das oficinas colaborativas presenciais, nas produções das videoaulas e tutoriais, porém nas dinâmicas das aulas e na efetividade da aprendizagem colaborativa móvel apresentaram diferentes resultados, correlacionados ao nível de fluência digital e tecnológica dos envolvidos: alunos, professores e assistentes. Concluiu-se, neste trabalho, que os recursos e tecnologias pesquisados mostraram-se potencialmente adequados para compartilhar e divulgar conteúdos educacionais nas áreas de MN&NN compatíveis com aplicativos web e dispositivos móveis. / This paper presents the authors contributions in the area of engineering education on thematic discussions in the field of Education in Microelectronics (Nanoeduc) and Education in Nanotechnologies (Nanoeduc) in Brazil. Proposes the modeling of two experimental virtual platforms focused on the development of teaching practices on the web, integrated with social media such as blogs, wikis, social networks, platforms for sharing media audio, video, text and image. Presents some examples of different models of potentially interesting collaborative workshops to stimulate the curiosity and interest of students in technical schools and high schools, for areas of integrated circuits design and chip manufacturing. The platforms were modeled and configured to allow that different teachers in the fields of Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies, share your knowledge, practices and teaching experiences to produce learning materials. Through STML Script language (Structured Text Markup Language) was possible to describe collaborative scripts for video production, create scripts for automatic generation of pages and content pages on web. The contents and formats of audio and video media, tested, were run on microEDUC and nanoEDUC platforms, following the traditional model for the production of radio and TV programs (pre-production, production and post-production). Transmission tests were done with live audio and video, using built-in public and private pages, created in microEDUC and nanoEDUC platforms using embedded HTML codes. Capture audio and video with teachers at the Polytechnic School of USP, for the study of suitable formats for video classes were tested. Various models of popular digital cameras and low cost camcorders with different qualities were tested. The platforms were modeled using the package of services Google Apps for Education to facilitate the integration of services: webinar, web conferencing, virtual classrooms, virtual collaboration spaces, virtual research lab, thematic online video libraries, virtual workshop scripts for Web Radio and Web TV, collaborative dictionary, collaboration on books editing, and collaborative books. A mobile studio for the production of Web TV and Web Radio was built in the style of kits It was concluded in this work that the resources and technologies researched shown to be potentially suitable to share and disseminate educational content in the areas of MN&NN compatible with web applications and mobile devices.

Este trabalho apresenta contribuições do autor na área da educação em engenharia, no campo da Educação em Micro e Nanoeletrônica (Microeduc) e Educação em Nanociências e Nanotecnologias (Nanoeduc) no Brasil. É apresentada a modelagem de duas plataformas virtuais experimentais denominadas microEDUC e nanoEDUC para compartilhar saberes e práticas docentes. Ferramentas de edição colaborativas e armazenamento online de mídias permitem que educadores organizem e compartilhem seus saberes a ensinar (ementas, planejamentos, planos de cursos, planos de ensino-aprendizagem, planos de aula e agendas) e saberes ensinados (práticas e experiências docentes, lista de exercícios, apresentações, videoaulas, WebQuests, apostilas, livros eletrônicos, materiais didáticos, etc.). Oficinas com estratégias de aprendizagem colaborativa móvel foram modeladas e testadas com o objetivo de estimular a curiosidade e o interesse de professores e estudantes sobre as áreas de projetos de circuitos integrados e de fabricação de dispositivos microeletrônicos. As plataformas virtuais colaborativas testadas foram ativadas na internet com o pacote de serviços Google Apps com os complementos Google Apps Script, Google App Engine, Google Sites API, Gmail API, YouTube API, Google Drive DSK e outros para criação de midiatecas online (bibliotecas, audiotecas, videotecas, wikitecas, documentecas, TVtecas, radiotecas, etc.), edições de textos e documentos colaborativos usados nas criações de roteiros para Web Rádio e Web TV, dicionários e glossários colaborativos, criação de web books, e várias outras atividades didáticas colaborativas. A documentação das oficinas colaborativas móveis, dos roteiros das mídias educativas, das análises de mídias, das instanciações automáticas de páginas e documentos para colaboração e gerenciamento de discos virtuais foram feitas na linguagem STML Scripts (Structured Text Markup Language) criada, definida e sistematizada pelo autor, durante o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Videoaulas e videotutoriais foram produzidos com a metodologia de videocasting seguindo-se as etapas convencionais para produção de audiovisuais (pré-produção, produção e pós-produção). Os canais de Web Rádio e Web TV foram individualizados para professores e disciplinas, dentro de videotecas online com transmissões ao vivo orientadas aos dispositivos móveis. As capturadas das aulas foram feitas com filmadoras semiprofissionais de baixo custo em diferentes ambientes: sala de aula convencional, laboratório de microeletrônica e estúdio móvel de Web TV. Na Escola Politécnica da USP foram capturadas aulas testes do curso de eletrônica e etapas de processos de fabricação de transistores MOSFET no laboratório de microeletrônica. Um estúdio móvel viii de Web TV foi construído com 18 m2 de área total, para realizar testes de oficinas colaborativas, testes de VT, gravações de videoaulas, videotutoriais, transmissões experimentais de Webconferência, e de programas de Web Rádio e Web TV. Os equipamentos usados no estúdio foram condicionados na forma de kits de produção para reduzir os tempos de setup das gravações. As ferramentas e serviços utilizados nas plataformas virtuais colaborativas móveis testadas foram eficazes nos processos de planejamento das estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem, na execução das atividades didáticas das oficinas colaborativas presenciais, nas produções das videoaulas e tutoriais, porém nas dinâmicas das aulas e na efetividade da aprendizagem colaborativa móvel apresentaram diferentes resultados, correlacionados ao nível de fluência digital e tecnológica dos envolvidos: alunos, professores e assistentes. Concluiu-se, neste trabalho, que os recursos e tecnologias pesquisados mostraram-se potencialmente adequados para compartilhar e divulgar conteúdos educacionais nas áreas de MN&NN compatíveis com aplicativos web e dispositivos móveis. / This paper presents the authors contributions in the area of engineering education on thematic discussions in the field of Education in Microelectronics (Nanoeduc) and Education in Nanotechnologies (Nanoeduc) in Brazil. Proposes the modeling of two experimental virtual platforms focused on the development of teaching practices on the web, integrated with social media such as blogs, wikis, social networks, platforms for sharing media audio, video, text and image. Presents some examples of different models of potentially interesting collaborative workshops to stimulate the curiosity and interest of students in technical schools and high schools, for areas of integrated circuits design and chip manufacturing. The platforms were modeled and configured to allow that different teachers in the fields of Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies, share your knowledge, practices and teaching experiences to produce learning materials. Through STML Script language (Structured Text Markup Language) was possible to describe collaborative scripts for video production, create scripts for automatic generation of pages and content pages on web. The contents and formats of audio and video media, tested, were run on microEDUC and nanoEDUC platforms, following the traditional model for the production of radio and TV programs (pre-production, production and post-production). Transmission tests were done with live audio and video, using built-in public and private pages, created in microEDUC and nanoEDUC platforms using embedded HTML codes. Capture audio and video with teachers at the Polytechnic School of USP, for the study of suitable formats for video classes were tested. Various models of popular digital cameras and low cost camcorders with different qualities were tested. The platforms were modeled using the package of services Google Apps for Education to facilitate the integration of services: webinar, web conferencing, virtual classrooms, virtual collaboration spaces, virtual research lab, thematic online video libraries, virtual workshop scripts for Web Radio and Web TV, collaborative dictionary, collaboration on books editing, and collaborative books. A mobile studio for the production of Web TV and Web Radio was built in the style of kits It was concluded in this work that the resources and technologies researched shown to be potentially suitable to share and disseminate educational content in the areas of MN&NN compatible with web applications and mobile devices.

In the United States, between 90 and 95% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. In most circumstances, the birth of a deaf child is the first experience these parents have with American Sign Language (ASL) and the Deaf community. Parents learn ASL as a second language to provide their children with language models and to be able to communicate with their children more effectively, but they face significant challenges. To address these challenges, I have developed a mobile learning application, SMARTSign, to help parents of deaf children learn ASL vocabulary. I hypothesize that providing a method for parents to learn and practice ASL words associated with popular children's stories on their mobile phones would help improve their ASL vocabulary and abilities more than if words were grouped by theme. I posit that parents who learn vocabulary associated with children's stories will use the application more, which will lead to more exposure to ASL and more learned vocabulary. My dissertation consists of three studies. First I show that novices are able to reproduce signs presented on mobile devices with high accuracy regardless of source video resolution. Next, I interview hearing parents with deaf children to discover the difficulties they have with current methods for learning ASL. When asked which methods of presenting signs they preferred, participants were most interested in learning vocabulary associated with children's stories. Finally, I deploy SMARTSign to parents for four weeks. Participants learning story vocabulary used the application more often and had higher sign recognition scores than participants who learned vocabulary based on word types. The condition did not affect participants' ability to produce the signed vocabulary.

Female baby boomer students (born 1946-1964) need to augment their skills in mobile collaborative learning because current knowledge of technologies is essential for making informed decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine the need to promote technologies based on the experiences of female baby boomer students. Andragogy and constructivism provided the conceptual framework for this research. The research questions were devised to investigate female boomer students' collaborative experiences using smart devices and barriers to their adoption of technology. This phenomenological study included 8 participants from a Canadian university recruited through purposeful sampling. Per the Modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method, data were simultaneously collected via interviews, analyzed by coding, and organized into themes until saturation. Age was the main deterrent for technology adoption, and obstacles included embracing a new process, feeling that information was secure, and resolving technical difficulties. Results indicated that female baby boomer students were not ready to lead in the use of mobile collaborative learning and could not maintain rapid technological changes. Mature students may need training in cloud computing; a 1-semester blended course was proposed to enable these students to learn mobile technologies and collaborative skills. This study identifies the technology learning needs of baby boomer students, which will help those looking for ways to teach students in this age range. When leaders in their field of study know how to use current technologies, they will be more productive in their communities.

Duolingo is a popular mobile language-learning application that has been around the market since 2012 and has been researched in its language-learning abilities. It is crucial for mobile language learning applications to keep their users interested, nevertheless, as users easily lose interest in continuing their language study. This thesis looks at how Duolingo's gamified system design implements persuasive principles to increase user engagement. The thesis aims to advance the knowledge of user engagement in language learning apps and help create useful mobile language learning applications. To achieve the goal, it was necessary to determine which persuasive principles were being applied by Duolingo's gamified system design. This was done using the Persuasive System Design (PSD) model by Oinas Kukkonen and Harjumaa (2009). The research consisted of qualitative semi-structured interviews with 8 young adults living in Sweden. The aim of the interviews was to find detailed, deep, empirical data and compare it to a theoretical framework using thematic analysis. The results of these interviews showed that Duolingo's gamified system design effectively applies persuasive principles to engage and encourage language learners. However, it was discovered that several persuasive principles needed to be improved in order to further enhance user involvement. This study adds to the understanding of persuasion by demonstrating how these principles can be applied to other mobile language learning applications to increase user engagement.

Mobile learning has developed into an essential component within the education landscape and, with two billion users worldwide, the social media platform WhatsApp has become a prominent feature in this domain. Nevertheless, with ambiguity in the literature about the effects of WhatsApp on teaching and learning and especially a paucity of research measuring collaboration on WhatsApp in relation to students’ academic achievement. The purpose of the study was to explain and predict WhatsApp’s effect on academic achievement using a quantitative questionnaire. The results suggest that increased collaboration on WhatsApp may improve academic achievement. Additionally, improving other aspects, such as active learning, trust, support, formality, interaction and interdependence, may enhance collaboration and, in turn, improve academic achievement. The study has value by providing measurable scientific evidence about the effects of WhatsApp on learning that can be incorporated into the design of teaching and learning activities with WhatsApp to improve academic achievement. / Uhlelo lokufunda uhamba (Mobile learning) selikhule ladlondlobala laba yisigaba esibalulekile ngaphansi komkhakha wemfundo kanti, lolu hlelo selunabasebenzisi abangamabhiliyoni amabili emhlabeni wonke jikelele, uhlelo lwenkundla yezokuxhumana komphakathi lwe-WhatsApp seluyinkanyezi egqamile kulesi sizinda. Yize-kunjalo, kukhona okungacaci kahle mayelana nombhalo wobuciko kwimiphumela yohlelo lwe-WhatsApp mayelana nokufundisa kanye nokufunda, kanti ikakhulu, uhlelo lwezocwaningo olulinganisa izinga lokusebenzisana kohlelo lwe-WhatsApp okumayelana nokuphumelela kwabafundi kwizifundo zabo. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwaye kuwukuchaza kanye nokuhlahla umphumela wohlelo lwe-WhatsApp kwezemfundo, ngokusebenzisa uhlelo locwaningo lwemibuzo egxile kumanani (quantitative questionnaire) . Imiphumela iphakamisa ukuthi izinga lokusbenzisana ohlelweni lwe-WhatsApp lungathuthukisa umphumela wezemfundo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lungathuthukisa ezinye izinhlaka, ezinjengohlelo lokufunda olumatasa. Lungaletha ukwethembana, ukuxhasana, ukwenza izinto ngendlela esemthethweni, lungaletha ukuxoxisana kanye nokusebenzisana kwangaphakathi, lungaqinisa ukusebenzisana, kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi, lungaletha impumelelo kwezemfundo. Ucwaningo lubalulekile ngoba lunikeza ubufakazi bezesayensi obulinganisekayo mayelana nemithelela yohlelo lwe-WhatsApp ohlelweni lokufunda, okuwuhlelo olungafakwa ngaphansi kohlelo lokudizayina imisebenzi yohlelo lokufunda nokufundisa ku-WhatsApp ukuthuthukisa ukwenza ngcono imiphumela yezemfundo. / Mobiele leer het in ’n noodsaaklike komponent van die onderwyslandskap ontwikkel en met twee miljard gebruikers wêreldwyd, het die sosiale mediaplatform WhatsApp ’n prominente kenmerk van hierdie domein geword. Nogtans bestaan daar dubbelsinnigheid in die letterkunde oor die uitwerking van WhatsApp op onderrig en leer, en is daar veral ’n gebrek aan navorsing wat die samewerking op WhatsApp in verhouding tot die studente se akademiese prestasies meet. Die doel van hierdie studie was om WhatsApp se uitwerking op akademiese prestasie aan die hand van ’n kwantitatiewe vraelys te verduidelik en te voorspel. Die resultate stel voor dat ’n groter mate van samewerking op WhatsApp akademiese prestasie kan verbeter. Dit kan ook ander aspekte soos aktiewe leer, vertroue, ondersteuning, formaliteit, interaksie en onderlinge afhanklikheid verbeter en kan samewerking verhoog, wat op sy beurt akademiese prestasie kan verbeter. Die studie is waardevol in die sin dat dit meetbare, wetenskaplike bewyse oor die uitwerking van WhatsApp op leer verskaf het, wat by die ontwerp van onderrig- en leeraktiwiteite geïnkorporeer kan word om akademiese prestasie te verbeter. / School of Computing / M. Tech. (Information Technology)