Assessing the use of smartphone in the university general physics laboratory

Abstract

In this study, smartphone was used to alter the traditional procedure by involving students in active learning experiences prior to the laboratory meeting. The researcher surveyed students' view on the effect of using smartphone to enhance learning in the general physics laboratory. The use of smartphone was evaluated by having 120 students who enrolled in the Fall Semester 2013 at a Chinese university general physics laboratory fill out subjective opinion survey forms. Results showed smartphone was a very useful tool to provide background on the lab safety information, administrative requirements, general knowledge of physics lab equipment, but not very useful to show how to write a laboratory report. This was because the laboratory report evaluation was according to the individual instructor's specific preferences. Interestingly, it was also found male students prefer smartphone learning strategy more than female students, although no significance was presented.