Abstract:

In this paper, Mark Mann, assistant professor from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Texas, USA, writes about his experience in mobile app development and its impact upon his students, as reflected in student evaluations and the comments that he has received from this work. His mobile app technology is showcased at http://www.chirp.life/. The paper includes easy to follow demonstrations of open source tools that the university professor can use to collect data for his own research projects, allow students to collect data from their own smartphones, and also manage course content and assignments as a complement to traditional CMS platforms like Blackboard. The app development tools Dr. Mann will present are based on the Elm Programming Language, Firebase Cloud Data Storage, and LocalStorage data collection tools that allow students' cell phones to be offline and still do their jobs (collect data and keep students on task).

The professional impact of the presentation, as mentioned, is that mobile phone app development does have a positive impact upon students, and will help to improve student evaluations of the courses that the professional educator is evaluated in. In the current era of globalization, organizations such as IATED are thinking in broader terms about the purpose of technology in higher education, particularly as it relates to engaging students via the online learning environments made possible via the internet. Through technology, as described in this virtual paper presentation, Dr. Mann will broaden the participants vision regarding how organizations can take web based technology and use it for the benefit of existing programs and enhance curricular offerings.

Keywords:

Technology, internet, mobileapp, programming, elm, localStorage, firebase.