Promoting Student Engagement through the Use of Mobile Applications

Mobile technology has found its way into nursing education as a way to in enhance learning and engage today’s techno savvy student. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of mobile technology on student engagement with both the course and the educator. This pilot study explored the incorporation of a specific mobile application into traditional nursing pedagogy as a means of enhancing student engagement.  Fifty, junior level nursing students from two different semesters was used to collect data generated by qualitative inquiry. Students expressed a greater sense of personal connection to the educator and course content, reporting ease of use and an overall sense of satisfaction.  The majority cite the mobile application as being more user-friendly as compared to the university’s learning management system. The findings of this study suggest that the incorporation of mobile technology into traditional classroom settings provides a more student-centered approach toward enhancing student engagement, communication, and inquiry. As technology continues to impact education, nurse educators are challenged to embrace mobile technology as an experiential teaching and learning strategy.