Shrestha, Sujan, Moore, John and Abdelnour-Nocera, Jose ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7935-7368 (2011) Evaluation of a hands-on approach to learning mobile and embedded programming. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 5 (3/4). pp. 327-344. ISSN 1746-725X

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Abstract

Teaching and learning programming with a traditional classroom/lab-based approach is challenging. Students often struggle to learn program due to lack of extensive hands-on practice and sufficient time to become familiar with programming concept. In this paper we report on an action research study of students' exploration and use of previously unexplored low-cost open-source mobile devices for learning programming. The study was conducted over a period of 14 weeks in University of West London, UK, with the postgraduate students studying Mobile Application Development (MAD) module which is a part of the MSc Network and Mobile Computing course. We introduced the Wikireader, a handheld reading device, and Nanonote, a lightweight pocket computer. In this study, we used mixed methods research methodology and data analysis was guided by the Framework for the Rational Analysis of Mobile Education (FRAME) model. The results of our evaluations indicate open-source devices have potential to enhance motivation to learn programming without being restricted to the limited practical sessions in the university lab and also facilitate offline reading.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1504/IJMLO.2011.045321
Keywords:	copyleft hardware; open-source hardware; FOSS; free software; open-source software; learning programming; offline learning; embedded programming; mobile application development; Packedobjects; Nanonote; Wikireader; mobile usability; hands-on practice; teaching; classrooms; laboratory-based approaches; programming concepts; low-cost devices; mobile devices; University of West London; UK; United Kingdom; universities; higher education; postgraduate students; master's degrees; MSc programmes; network computing; mobile computing; handheld devices; reading devices; lightweight computers; pocket computers; mixed methods methodologies; research methodologies; data analysis; FRAME; frameworks; rational analysis; mobile education; motivation enhancement; practical sessions; university laboratories; offline reading; mobile learning; m-learning; online learning; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; internet; world wide web.
Subjects:	Computing
Depositing User:	Vani Aul
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2014 12:51
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2024 15:41
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/658

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