Learning and the use of smart phone devices : an experimental case study in a Gauteng secondary school

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this project was to investigate the prospects to advance and fast-track formal learning with the aid of smart phone technology, as learning should be reinforced through varied, pliable assets for engagement. The project’s introduction clarifies more on this. Chapter two focuses on literature review. Previous studies which are related to the topic were consulted to acquaint the researcher with thoughts and sentiments relating to the use of smart mobile devices in advancing learning. Chapter three covers comprehension centred learning. It pays special attention to the theories of Barret and Bloom which are used as the framework for the experiment reported on in the next chapters. Chapter four provides methodological background to the experiment. It describes the case study, curriculum correlation with smart phone functions, the organisation and analysis of the data, ethical issues in qualitative interviewing, and limitations of the empirical study. Chapter five focuses on the experiment that was carried out to investigate the usefulness of smartphones to support and enhance formal comprehension strategies. Sub-types from Barrett’s five learning types and Bloom’s cognitive dimensions of learning provide the interpretive framework. Chapter six discusses the findings of the experiment based on written and oral responses by participants after conclusion of the experiment, as well as teacher observations. Finally, Chapter seven presents the conclusion and implications.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie projek was om die moontlikhede te ondersoek om formele leer aan te help en te bespoedig deur gebruikmaking van “smart phones.” Die aanname was dat dit ‘n groter verskeidenheid en buisaamheid van leerervarings behels. Die inleidende hoofstuk brei hierop uit. Hoofstuk 2 dek relevant literatuur oor studies met betrekking tot die gebruik van “smart” mobiele apparate Hoofstuk 3 handel oor begripsgesentreerde leer. Dit gee besondere aandag aan die teorieë van Barret en Bloom wat die raamwerk daarstel vir die ekspriment wat in die volgende hoofstukke beskryf word. Hoofstuk 4 bied die metodologiese agtergrond vir die eksperiment. Dit beskryf die gevallestudie, kurrikulum korrelasie met “smart phone” funksies, die organisasie en analise van die data, etiese aspekte van onderhoudvoering, en die beperkinge van die empiriese studie. Hoofstuk 5 fokus op die eksperiment wat uitgevoer is om die bruikbaarheid van “smartphones” te ondersoek met betrekking tot steun en bevordering van formele begripsgesentreerde leer. Sub-tipes van Barret se vyf leertipes, en Bloom se kognitiewe dimensies van leer bied die interpretatiewe raamwek. Hoofstuk 6 bespreek die resultate van die eksperiment na aanleiding van geskrewe en mondelinge terugvoer deur die deelnemers na afloop van die eksperiment, asook observasie deur die onderwyser. Hoofstuk 7 bespreek enkele implikasies en gevolgtrekkings van die studie