How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?

In this paper we discuss a case study investigating how the academic and personal development of first year students on an undergraduate sports education degree can be supported and enhanced with mobile SMS (Short Message Service) communication. SMS-based technologies were introduced in response to...

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Main Authors: Geraldine Jones, Gabriele Edwards, Alan Reid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Technology 2009-12-01
Series:Research in Learning Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/10877
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author Geraldine Jones
Gabriele Edwards
Alan Reid
author_facet Geraldine Jones
Gabriele Edwards
Alan Reid
author_sort Geraldine Jones
collection DOAJ
description In this paper we discuss a case study investigating how the academic and personal development of first year students on an undergraduate sports education degree can be supported and enhanced with mobile SMS (Short Message Service) communication. SMS-based technologies were introduced in response to students' particular needs (in transition to Higher Education) and characteristics (adept mobile communicators). Despite being unaccustomed to using their mobile phones for academic study, students willingly accepted SMS communication with their tutor via a texting management service. This communication was used in concert and integrated with a more traditional learning and teaching context (lectures and a virtual learning environment). Drawing on evidence from two student surveys, focus groups and a tutor's journal, we illustrate how mobile SMS communication has influenced the student learning experience. Taking a holistic view of the learning environment we use Laurillard's (2002) conversational framework (Laurillard, D. 2002. Rethinking university teaching: a framework for the effective use of learning technologies. 2nd edition. London: Routledge.) to analyse and discuss the role of texting in supporting student transition to higher education.
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spelling doaj.art-ab180b7da26c4b82b8b366b4377a65de2022-12-21T21:52:54ZengAssociation for Learning TechnologyResearch in Learning Technology2156-70692156-70772009-12-0117310.3402/rlt.v17i3.10877How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?Geraldine JonesGabriele EdwardsAlan ReidIn this paper we discuss a case study investigating how the academic and personal development of first year students on an undergraduate sports education degree can be supported and enhanced with mobile SMS (Short Message Service) communication. SMS-based technologies were introduced in response to students' particular needs (in transition to Higher Education) and characteristics (adept mobile communicators). Despite being unaccustomed to using their mobile phones for academic study, students willingly accepted SMS communication with their tutor via a texting management service. This communication was used in concert and integrated with a more traditional learning and teaching context (lectures and a virtual learning environment). Drawing on evidence from two student surveys, focus groups and a tutor's journal, we illustrate how mobile SMS communication has influenced the student learning experience. Taking a holistic view of the learning environment we use Laurillard's (2002) conversational framework (Laurillard, D. 2002. Rethinking university teaching: a framework for the effective use of learning technologies. 2nd edition. London: Routledge.) to analyse and discuss the role of texting in supporting student transition to higher education.http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/10877SMSmobile phonestransitionconversational frameworkacademic texting
spellingShingle Geraldine Jones
Gabriele Edwards
Alan Reid
How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
Research in Learning Technology
SMS
mobile phones
transition
conversational framework
academic texting
title How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
title_full How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
title_fullStr How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
title_full_unstemmed How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
title_short How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment?
title_sort how can mobile sms communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment
topic SMS
mobile phones
transition
conversational framework
academic texting
url http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/10877
work_keys_str_mv AT geraldinejones howcanmobilesmscommunicationsupportandenhanceafirstyearundergraduatelearningenvironment
AT gabrieleedwards howcanmobilesmscommunicationsupportandenhanceafirstyearundergraduatelearningenvironment
AT alanreid howcanmobilesmscommunicationsupportandenhanceafirstyearundergraduatelearningenvironment