Researchers at  CQUniversity  and the University of South Queensland are  undertaking a joint study of student use of iPod Touch devices within selected nursing and education courses,

 

The two universities, collaborators in the 'DE Hub' consortium of distance education universities, have secured a $113,000 grant for the study: Distance learning at times and places chosen by the learner: Adapting resources and learner behaviours for working with mobile digital devices.

 

The 16-month project will start in July, aiming to evaluate the potential of small mobile devices to enhance student learning by increasing 'time on task' for interactions that promote learning at times and locations more convenient for the learner. It will involve CQUniversity Bundaberg Nursing and Education students as well as USQ students.

 

The results of the evaluation will enable USQ and CQUniversity to assess the feasibility of the integration of small mobile devices into learning and teaching systems currently in use.

 

Increasing numbers of university students are choosing to study all or part of their degree by distance or online, and mobile digital devices offer new alternatives to more traditional portable devices, such as laptops, netbooks and tablets.

 

The project will conduct trials within the selected courses offered by distance or online modes at both USQ and CQUniversity. The research will focus on the use of the iPod Touch in three main areas of student use for learning: first, accessing pre-loaded or downloadable course materials and resources including text, images, audio and video that have been appropriately packaged using accepted mobile content standards for use on the devices, second, engaging in learning activities through peer to peer and teacher interactions, and third, making personal records of learning and/or for sharing media in interactions to enhance learning.

 

Research team members are: A/Prof Peter Albion (USQ Education), Wendy Fasso (CQUni Education), Teresa Sander (CQUni Nursing), A/Prof Romina Jamieson-Proctor (USQ Education), Dr Rose-Marie Thrupp (CQUni Education), A/Professor Trudy Yuginovich (USQ Nursing), Dr Andrew Maxwell (USQ Engineering), Julie Harris (USQ Nursing), Dr Kevin Larkin (USQ Education).