Reaction: An Android Based Supplemental Learning Aid for Engineering Education

Abstract

The rapid rise of the smartphone platform is changing many facets of modern life. The platform presents exciting opportunities for supplemental education. Many mobile education applications are available e.g. Duolingo, an application that helps users learn foreign languages. Yet, the use of mobile applications in engineering education is still in its infancy. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the popularity of the mobile platform as a supplemental learning aid for engineering education. This is accomplished by the creation, distribution, and analysis of a proof-of-concept mobile learning application called Reaction: Free-body Diagrams which is targeted at engineering students studying mechanical free-body diagrams. The application was developed in four months, distributed for 1 month, and evaluated by survey. Over 180 downloads (installations) have been logged, and data from 50 survey respondents collected. This data suggests that the smartphone platform is a popular option among students for supplemental engineering education.