title: Using m-learning on nursing courses to improve learning.
abstract: Modern handheld devices and wireless communications foster new kinds of communication and interaction that can define new approaches to teaching and learning. Mobile learning (m-learning) seeks to use them extensively, exactly in the same way in which e-learning uses personal computers and wired communication technologies. In this new mobile environment, new applications and educational models need to be created and tested to confirm (or reject) their validity and usefulness. In this article, we present a mobile tool aimed at self-assessment, which allows students to test their knowledge at any place and at any time. The degree to which the students' achievement improved is also evaluated, and a survey on the students' opinion of the new tool was also conducted. An experimental group of 20- to 21-year-old nursing students was chosen to test the tool. Results show that this kind of tool improves students' achievement and does not make necessary to introduce substantial changes in current teaching activities and methodology.
authors.affiliation: Computer Science Department, University of Alcala, Campus Universitario, Alcalá De Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Marcos Ortega
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barchino Plata
authors.forename: María Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jiménez Rodríguez
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hilera González
authors.forename: José Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Martínez Herráiz
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez de Mesa
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Martínez
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otón Tortosa
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D020375:Education, Distance; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires