Using Reminder Tools to Increase Learning Motivation: A Comparison of Mobile Devices, Email and E-learning Platforms

Abstract

Most students are not actively concerned about curriculum activity times. However, without reminders, students will miss out on learning opportunities from the course activities. Therefore, due to the use of smartphones — which are central to people's everyday lives —, this study combined apps and the curriculum to develop a course activity notification system — Mobile Secretary of Operating Systems (MSOS) —­, as a curriculum reminder tool. This tool reminds the student of the curriculum activity times anytime and anywhere, like a secretary. This study also investigates students’ preferences between three distinct reminder tools — the reminder app, e-mail notifications and online learning platform announcements — in terms of their effectiveness in accessing curriculum-related matters, and in previewing and reviewing courses. Additionally, the study examines the efficacy of the MSOS app by comparing the questionnaire results of the students who used the app and those who did not use it. From the results of the questionnaire, it is also ascertained whether those students who used MSOS consider the app to be more convenient and immediate than e-mail notifications and the online learning platform, both in giving access to curriculum-related matters and in previewing and reviewing courses.