App-supported learning is using applications made for different devices like smartphones, personal computers or smartwatches. They are valuable for giving information and developing knowledge or skills, mostly because they are personalizable and able to give certain processes context (for example through geolocalization, monitoring movement) and also interactivity and the amount of movement in actions. Another advantage is learning through games in school education.
Acronym
Ap
Edition
1
Number
90
Production effort
9
Production time
5
Learning power
7
Engagement
7
Difficulty of use
4
self-learning
Yes
with peers
No
sync
No
async
Yes
formal
No
informal
Yes
Analysis
No
Awareness
No
Knowledge
Yes
Skills
Yes
Attitudes
No
Implementation
Yes
Measurement
No
Worth to know
- Applications are especially useful in situations, where an action needs to be repeated relatively often, for example, the provision of feedback, quizzing from words (repetition), or marking finished tasks.
- Applications, especially on smartphones are easily available and always on hand. The notification mechanism characteristic to smartphones allows to focus the learners' attention on a specific task or piece of content.
- Smartphone applications can use all the mechanisms available on these devices such as notifications, geolocalisation, QR-code reading, or the ability to easily take pictures.
- Smartphone applications allow for the realization of the concept of by-the-way learning, which means learning while doing other activities, such as taking the bus or waiting in a queue.
- Applications usually require a large workload for their creation and implementation, that is why they work best with bigger projects.
- Applications allow for the use of attractive forms of interaction and thanks to that they are a great tool in situations, where user interaction is necessary.
- Learning based on applications is usually seen as very advanced and complicated. The belief that they are very technically complex may increase the feeling of risk and block the organization' management' decision in this field.
- The smartphone is the most personal device for most employees. It is constantly available and connected with positive emotions. This technology is already well-known and the barrier of entry is not high.