Zuraina Ali

Gender Differences in Perceived Usefulness and Attitudes Towards VocBlast in Learning Specialized Vocabulary

Evidence suggests that technology enables teaching and learning to be more enhanced. One example where technology is used nowadays is through the use of mobile app. In the market, numerous mobile app software packages are developed for smartphone users for their convenience. For learning, particularly the learning of vocabulary, mobile apps are developed to assist young and adult learners to learn vocabulary in entertaining ways. Nevertheless, a primary concern with the use of mobile apps for the purpose of learning vocabulary is related to the players’ perceived usefulness and attitudes since they are the ones who will determine the level of acceptance of a particular mobile app. The current study, therefore, aims at identifying whether or not there are significant differences in male and female students’ perceived usefulness and attitudes in using VocBlast; a mobile vocabulary app to learn engineering and technology vocabulary. The study employed a survey method in collecting its data among 129 students studying at a higher education level in the East Coast of Malaysia. The results from the study revealed that there were no significant differences for male and female students in relation to their perceived usefulness and attitudes while playing VocBlast. These results may be explained by the fact that VocBlast is still new to the students, and thus more time is required to play the game. Moreover, having only 30–40 minutes to play the games for once seemed to be too short for them to show a positive attitude towards the app.