Using mobile technology for problem need identification in school-aged children environment

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the value of using smartphones as a notebook (SN) in young students' homework to support their ideation skills. Participating case study students easily made use of the SN at home for recording problems and needs (PN) as well as initial solutions they had identified in their environment. The study has proven that the SN is an important tool that also supported communication and collaboration with parents. Furthermore, it was an important media in transporting homework to school and a great help in starting off lessons. Moreover, the SN increased the students' interest for their homework, as they found it practical and easy to use. When the SN was used as a problem-needs identification tool it activated the students' ideation at the initial state of their ideation. The SN also enabled younger students to generate the content of their coursework and thus improved the home-school connection.