Sending learning pills to mobile devices in class to enhance student performance and motivation in network services configuration courses

摘要

Teaching electrical and computer software engineershow to configure network services normally requires the detailedpresentation of many configuration commands and their numerousparameters. Students tend to find it difficult to maintain acceptablelevels of motivation. In many cases, this results in their notattending classes and not dedicating enough time to acquire therequired competencies. This paper describes a successful experimentthat was able to improve student class attendance, performance,and motivational patterns by using mobile devices in classto provide students with contextualized learning pills. A learningpill is a simple exercise that summarizes some of the key conceptsexplained in class and promotes reflection and self-study. Each studentattending a particular lecture or laboratory session automaticallyreceives a learning pill on his or her mobile phone just afterthe related concept has been presented. This paper details the scenarioused in the experiment and analyzes the performance and motivational patterns of 170 students at the Higher PolytechnicSchool, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganes, Spain