The software application AIM-mobile learning platform to distribute educational packets to smartphones

Resumen

In this article, we propose the design and implementation of m-learning strategies to enhance the quality of the teaching-learning process in engineering degrees. In the new Higher Education framework students become the main characters, aswell as their learning capacity and their autonomy to acquire the required skills. The integration of technology by means m-learning strategies allows the adaptation to the new university scenario, especially in engineering degrees due to their highcomplexity. Therefore, we propose to design a multiplatform software application, called AIM-Mobile Learning platform,focused on designing and delivering interactive learning packets to smartphones and tablets. In particular, the softwareplatform permits teachers to easily develop educational material accessible by students from anywhere and anytime. Thisfunctionality is very attractive, because when technology is introduced in the educational framework it should be takinginto account that existing contents have been designed over time using other techniques, and teachers cannot waste a lot oftime to continuously adapt these contents to new technologies. Even more, another advantageous functionality of thesoftware platform is that teachers can integrate different educational resources into the same packet, such as text, images orvideo-tutorials. Then, students can easily download these didactic resources in their smartphones or tablets, making theteaching process more dynamic and attractive than traditional methodologies. Apart from safeguarding previousdeveloped contents our proposal aims to increase the motivation and the autonomous learning process of students.This mobile learning strategy promotes the individuation chance of the students’ learning process, since they can use andadapt these interactive learning packets according to their abilities, objectives and skills. On the other hand, a quiteinteresting strength of the tool is that, although it was initially designed for High Education Engineering degrees, itsimplementation in other disciplines and educational levels is direct and simple. Indeed, the software tool has been designedso that teachers do not require a deep knowledge of informatics. Consequently, the designed platform could be used inmultidisciplinary scenarios and different educational contexts.