4 types of Apps in Mobile Environment (Supyan Hussin. 2017. Nano Workshop: KNovasi in Teaching and Learning, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 15 Feb 2017)
1. Mobile Apps (general applications)
2. Mobile Learning (ML) apps (for learning purpose, minimal interaction)
3. Mobile-Assisted Learning (MAL) apps (have 2 important criteria: individualized instruction and bidirectional and have 2-4 pedagogical procedures for specific subjects)
4. Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) apps (have 2 important criteria: individualized instruction and bidirectional and has 4 pedagogical procedures for language subject only)
My Assessment
English Conversation is a Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) app for listening, reading, and pronunciation/speaking. It meets 2 important criteria: individualized instruction (un/structured lessons, different levels of challenges , and bidirectional (feedback, progress report). It consists of 1. Demo, 2. Drills. 3. Assessment . Categorized as an “excellent” program for in-class, individual, pair, group activities; as well as Self-Directed Learning for outside classroom
English Grammar is a Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) app for writing and grammar enrichment. It meets 2 important criteria: individualized instruction (un/structured lessons, different levels of challenges , and bidirectional (feedback, progress report). It consists of 1. Concepts 2. Demo, 3. Drills. 4. Assessment
Categorized as an “excellent” program for in-class, individual, pair, group activities; as well as Self-Directed Learning for outside classroom.
English Grammar – an excellent MALL (Mobile-Assisted Language Learning) app. It starts with assessment, provides feedback performance, then introduces the concepts, followed by demos and drills, and finally, test again. However the intro and demo of concepts are not comprehensive. This MALL app can be used for SDL, life-long learning and enrichment program, either in class or outside class, or both. It has reading comprehension materials, grammar materials, tenses, and vocabulary building materials as well as vocabulary for speaking
Teach Me Anatomy, an excellent MAL (Mobile-assisted Learning) app. It is good for medical, science, nursing, and pharmacy students. It offers 1. Concepts 2. Guides 3. Drill-practices 4. Assessment. It also provides feedback and progress report of users’ performance. It can be used as supplemental materials for SDL approach or F2F class meeting or both.
Psychology Book – A mobile learning app with unidirectional mode. Offers SDL (self-directed learning) exercises. No interaction. No feedback. No progress report. Good for reference. It is not a MAL (mobiles-assisted learning) app.
Culinary Cooking Essentials – A Mobile Learning app that offers concepts/ideas (dictionary) and demos/examples (recipes, videos). No drill exercises, no feedback, no progress report. Unidirectional approach in teaching. A good reference app for culinary subject for Technical and Vocational students
Quantum, a mobile-assisted learning offers learning materials including concepts, demos, drill-practice (tests) and progress report. This app is “good” for novice physics learners. Most ML or MAL apps are independent of web once you installed them into your smartphone.
Hydraulic Cylinder. This is a mobile app, like a calculator. It is only a tool that help users to solve mathematical problems for hydraulic -related matters. Engineering students can use this tool to master the concepts and formulas that they had learned in the class. It is good for reinforcement of learning. It is not a mobile learning app nor a mobile-assisted learning app. It doesn’t have 1. Concepts 2. Guides 3. Drills or 4. Tests.
This World History Quick e-Book mobile app is categorized as Mobile Learning app, and it is not a Mobile-assisted learning app. It presents information (concepts/ideas) in one way. Still, the content is very comprehensive; therefore, it is good for reference. This ML app is like an encyclopedia. No drill-exercise, no assessment. No feedback, No progress report.
Complete chemistry is a mobile-learning (ML) app, not Mobile-assisted learning app (MAL). It contains 1. Concepts and 2. Demo. It does not have any drill-exercise nor assessment. No interaction. No feedback. No progress report. Categorized as a “fair” package. One-way “learning”, not “two-way” or bidirectional.
Complete Physics is a Mobile-assisted learning (MAL) containing 1. Concepts, 2. Demo, 3. Drills, and 4.Tests. However, the package does not provide progress report. Categorized as “very good” mobile-assisted learning apps. Can be used for self-directed learning outside classroom to enhance understanding and skills.
English Idioms is a Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) app for grammar, syntax, speaking. It meets 2 important criteria: individualized instruction (un/structured lessons, different levels of challenges , and bidirectional (feedback, progress report). It consists of 1. Test, 2. Drills. 3. Demo. Categorized as a “good” program. However. the instructional design of this package is not very good. Still the content of this MALL can be used in-class for individual, pair, group activities; as well as Self-Directed Learning for outside classroom
If we can differentiate Mobile apps, Mobile learning apps, and Mobile-assisted learning (MAL), then we know what is best for our students. Later, we ask students to download and install the best MAL packages into their HP. Once installed, there is no need for printed copies; eventually, we save more trees around us globally. Let’s go mobile, go digital.
Electrical symbol, a Mobile learning app.
Electrical study, a Mobile-Assisted Learning (MAL) app Electrical calculations, a Mobile app, tool to computer
Learn Electrical wiring, a Mobile app, tutorial only
Note: More assessments will be posted in my FB supyanukm hussin