Authors:
Pakapan Limtrairut
;
Stuart Marshall
and
Peter Andreae
Affiliation:
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Keyword(s):
Distance Education, Mobile Learning, Transactional Distance Theory, Persona.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Computer-Supported Education
;
Distance Education
;
Information Technologies Supporting Learning
;
Mobile Information Systems
;
Mobile Learning
;
Ubiquitous Learning
;
Web Information Systems and Technologies
Abstract:
We developed a mobile learning application grounded on Transactional Distance Theory. The aim is to engage learners and decrease their feelings of isolation and emptiness when learners and instructor are physically separated. This study was launched in an effort to understand our target learners and provide an indication towards the practicality, possibility, and appropriateness of such theory-based design. The application provides text, video, and recorded audio as media, and includes chat function, game-based learning, and electronic assignment. This paper explores the method and findings of a survey study targeted at first year Computer Engineering and Computer Science student learners at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Our survey results indicated that the learners had a positive attitude towards mobile learning, and they had a lot of experience using the provided media and functions. The theoretical-design was deemed to be practically appropriate for our lear
ners. However, more encouragement and promotions would be needed in order to increase the application’s usage and recognition. We performed statistical analysis on the results and clustered the responses to form a persona which will be used in the next stage of this application’s development process.
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