Abstract:

Over the last years research on education with devices that are independent on time and location, so called mLearning, gains more and more importance.

One of the mobile electronic devices that is widely used in schools of Northwestern Switzerland is the portable educational software on a flash drive so-called Learning stick. Taking into account substantial proliferation of the Learning stick as a cost-effective, flexible and user-friendly digital medium, a 'facilitator for learning', in schools, we study (duration: 24 months) the effects of the use of the Learning stick on primary student's subject matter, social, emotional and personal competencies.

This online-study with a control group-design (with a total of 466 students 5th/6th graders) has been carried out in two waves (repeated measures) realized in a time distance of three months in schools of Switzerland's north-western region. The participating students being between eleven and twelve years old. Additionally, school-officials, teachers and parents, were questioned (in half-standardized investigation method) on their opinion about the effects of the Learning stick usage in schools and at home. The aim of the study is observing the changes in the competencies mentioned, the results are analyzed and discussed. The study provides also an important insight into pedagogical, didactical, technical and organizational aspects of the Learning stick's application in schools.

Keywords:

Learning stick, m-learning, e-learning, primary school, Switzerland.