Abstract:

In the current landscape of hybrid and online university education, technical courses such as Computer Network Access Technologies often face challenges in maintaining active student participation during lectures. This optional third-year course, part of the Computer Science degree program, covers advanced topics related to computer networking and access technologies. However, student interaction during theoretical sessions tends to be minimal, with limited use of available tools such as chat, microphone, or hand-raising functions. This issue becomes even more challenging in large groups, where monitoring student progress and identifying learning gaps is difficult.

This paper presents a teaching innovation experience using the Mobile Learning tool Wooclap (an M-learning tool integrated into the Blackboard platform) to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in this subject. The main objective of this study is twofold: first, to describe the applied methodology aimed at increasing active participation during theoretical sessions; and second, to analyze the impact of this tool on students’ final grades by comparing academic performance data from the past three years. The initiative was implemented over several academic years, with class sizes ranging from 55 to 77 students. Before the use of Wooclap, participation and performance were highly variable, with failure rates reaching up to 18.8% and a considerable number of non-participating students. After integrating Wooclap as a formative assessment tool, a significant increase in student involvement during lectures was observed, along with improved academic performance in some cases. The findings suggest that Mobile Learning strategies can effectively foster student engagement and improve learning outcomes in computer networking courses.

Keywords:

m-learning, Computer Network, Student Engagement.