Ahmad Sobri Hashim

A study of design principles and requirements for the m-learning application development

This research is concerned with the utilization of mobile devices as a tool for learning (m-learning). Therefore, approaches in developing learning applications that can suit the small screen size and restrictive capabilities of the devices are studied so that they can help the learners in understanding the concepts being delivered from the applications. This paper presents the study of design principles and requirements for the m-learning application development. The study covers the suitable architecture, learning theories and modules that are appropriate for an application developed for the platform. Based on the results of the study, one m-learning course content prototype is developed. Hence, this paper provides some discussions regarding the guidelines utilized in developing the prototype. Finally, usability testing had been conducted among 66 System Analysis and Design (SAD) course students in evaluating the usability level of the developed prototype. The results showed that majority of the students agreed that the developed MOSAD application has met the requirement of usability element.

Usability study of mobile learning course content application as a revision tool

Mobile learning (m-learning) is a learning tool in which it can be operated on mobile devices. Mobile System Analysis and Design (MOSAD) have been developed with the content of a topic from the System Analysis and Design (SAD) course conducted at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). This paper presents the results of usability study that has been conducted for MOSAD application. Two methods of usability test have been used; questionnaire and observation. Both methods have been chosen in order to get more reliable data of usability since both results will support each other. The usability questionnaire has been distributed to 66 students from SAD course whereas 12 of them were chosen to participate in usability observation. There are five usability factors involved in this usability test; consistency, learnability, flexibility, minimal action and minimal memory load. The usability questionnaire result shows that all tested usability factors have been given the score of 3.5 and above which is higher than Likert scale mean (2.5). Besides, the usability observation result has supported the result of usability questionnaire which indicates that the MOSAD application usability level is good and it can be a useful revision tool for the students of higher education.

Mobile learning course content application as a revision tool: The effectiveness and usability

The use of mobile phone technologies in the education sector is getting more attention nowadays. This is due to the advancement of technologies equipped in majority of the mobile phones which makes the devices become more capable of supporting the learning and teaching activities. Mobile learning (m-learning) is a learning tool which can be run on mobile devices. Mobile System Analysis and Design (MOSAD) has been developed with the content of a topic from the System Analysis and Design (SAD) course conducted at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). This paper presents the results of the testings conducted for MOSAD application. A heuristic test involving 5 experts in the area of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) was conducted after the first version of MOSAD was completed to strengthen its functionality and usability. Then, Post Test Quasi Experimental Design (QED) was conducted to 116 UTP second year students who took the SAD course to test the effectiveness and usability of MOSAD after it has been revised. The results show that the students who had used MOSAD (66 out of the 116 students) as their revision tool for answering ten quiz questions performed better the other group of students (50 out of the 116 students) who used traditional methods of revision. The usability test was adopted from Purdue Usability Testing tested on consistency, learnability, flexibility, minimal action and minimal memory load of MOSAD. Both results indicate that MOSAD is effective and usable as a revision tool for the higher education students.

A study on generic conceptual framework for customized mobile learning management system (CMLMS)

The field of education has been significantly impacted by the revolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Recently, the development of communication technologies in the form of mobile technology and wireless technology has further provided the opportunity to introduce a new mode of learning into the education system. As a result, mobile learning method has been introduced to the society. Mobile learning is a step forward in the development of electronic learning. With the production of mobile communication devices, educational experts try to take the initiative to utilize the tools for the teaching and learning processes. This paper presents a proposed generic conceptual framework for customized mobile learning management system (CMLMS). A comparative study has been conducted to six frameworks that have been developed by previous researchers. Finally, a new proposed generic conceptual framework has been developed based on the studied existing frameworks. The proposed framework will ensure the effectiveness and usability of the system that will developed in order to improve the teaching and learning processes of secondary schools in Malaysia.

Evaluation of Video Modeling Application to Teach Social Interaction Skills to Autistic Children

Autism Social Aid (ASD) is a mental disorder that affects a person at an early age. People with ASD show deficiencies in daily living abilities that lead to impairment in their independence skill, restrict their social involvement which leads to poor living style. This rooted from their key personal behaviours, which are impairment in social and communication skills. However, with the availability of mobile technology that engages education through video modelling, it has become more practical for educators to train daily living skills for individuals with ASD. Consequently a Video Modelling Application called ‘Autism Social-Aid’ was created to provide a supplementary learning material envisioned to help stimulate children with ASD in the learning process. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of video modelling in teaching five children diagnosed with medium-functioning ASD to understand social interaction skills. The children went through three trials of the evaluation phases. Results revealed that video modelling was effective as all of the children were able to display positive improvements from the first trial to the third trial. As a result, all of them have reduced an average 77% of the total prompt needed to remain focus on the video lesson and an average of 70% number of errors was reduced during the quiz evaluation.

A review on usability guidelines for designing mobile apps user interface for children with autism

Recent years we have witnessed major advancements in technologies that support the children that have been diagnosed with the autism by the increasing number of the application to enhance their ability in communication, understanding and interface with others. There are increasing numbers of a new mobile application that can be found on the market today, unfortunately, many of them are difficult to use and learn by the autistic children. This is due to the lack of usability guidelines for mobile application and relatively unexplored and unproven. This research will propose usability guidelines for interface design of mobile application for autism. The objectives of this research are to identify existing usability factors that have been currently used to design the interface of mobile application for autism and to review the usability guideline to design the interface of mobile application for autism. This project will be conducted in three phases and mixed method involving observation and interview will be applied. The finding of this study is to identify compatible usability elements for designing mobile application user interface for autistic children.Recent years we have witnessed major advancements in technologies that support the children that have been diagnosed with the autism by the increasing number of the application to enhance their ability in communication, understanding and interface with others. There are increasing numbers of a new mobile application that can be found on the market today, unfortunately, many of them are difficult to use and learn by the autistic children. This is due to the lack of usability guidelines for mobile application and relatively unexplored and unproven. This research will propose usability guidelines for interface design of mobile application for autism. The objectives of this research are to identify existing usability factors that have been currently used to design the interface of mobile application for autism and to review the usability guideline to design the interface of mobile application for autism. This project will be conducted in three phases and mixed method involving observation and interview will b...

A Study on Mobile Applications Developed for Children with Autism

The emerging of mobile technology leads to the extensive used of mobile application for learning purposes of the children with autism. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the children’s behavior and their ability to communicate and interact socially. A lot of studies have been conducted on using mobile application to assist the children with autism to increase their social and communication skills. Mobile applications are now widely used, not only for entertainment and social networking, but also for education. The used of mobile applications in education has extend from dictionaries to special purpose education. This paper reviews six mobile applications developed to assist the children with autism for various purposes. This review will provide a summary of initial studies and preliminary findings for future development of enhanced application.

User Experience of Autism Social-Aid Among Autistic Children: AUTISM Social Aid Application

Autism is a developmental disability that influences a significant number of daily skills, which includes social, communication and behavioural challenges. Technology has proven as one of the prompt intermediation and efficient educational method that leads to infinite improvement especially for children. Autistic children seem to have difficulties in communication and social skills and as a result of this need their teachers and parents’ support with their social interaction. Numerous educational practices and approaches have been carried out in order to assist as well as develop these children. This paper presents the results of user experience testing of Autism Social-Aid mobile application to children with autism. The session was conducted to children with medium functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, from two different age groups that include 5–14 years old and 14–18 years old. The children’s reactions were observed and scored by a moderator. Results have shown that majority of the children with autism are more confident and satisfied when using the application. The application does need to be improved in ways that could capture the child’s attention towards the mobile activities.

A study on acceptance of mobileschool at secondary schools in Malaysia: Urban vs rural

Developing countries are in dilemma where sophisticated technologies are more advance as compared to the way their people think. In education, there have been many novel approaches and technologies were introduced. However, very minimal efforts were put to apply in our education. MobileSchool is a mobile learning (m-learning) management system, developed for administrative, teaching and learning processes at secondary schools in Malaysia. The paper presents the acceptance of MobileSchool between urban and rural secondary schools in Malaysia. Research framework was designed based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The constructs of the framework include computer anxiety, self-efficacy, facilitating condition, technological complexity, perceived behavioral control, perceive ease of use, perceive usefulness, attitude and behavioral intention. Questionnaire was applied as research instrument which involved 373 students from four secondary schools (two schools in urban category and another two in rural cate...

Development of Chinese language application in learning as a second language for Malaysian

With the booming of mobile technologies and Internet connection nowadays, the mobile applications are become more popular. Unlike Malaysia, mobile learning technology still not widely used in the education system as compare to developing countries where they had emerged into mobile learning technology in school. Hence, the main objective of this project is to encourage and support the process of learning Chinese language among young children who use Chinese as their second language at their own pace anytime anywhere by develop mobile learning application. The application will include learning, exercise and also performance evaluation of the learners in interactive way. Thus, they will expose to the mobile technology learning at the early age with interesting play and learn application that will give excitement in learning the language. Indirectly, this mobile learning application also helps to boost the performance of the learners in learning a new language.