New Findings from Semester-Long Study on iPhone Integration in the College Classroom Reveals Increased Motivation and Learning Among Students

AUSTIN, Texas, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- GetYa Learn On, LLC – an educational software company that created the innovative application called "Statistics I" – today released empirical findings from a pilot study conducted during the Fall semester of 2009 at Abilene Christian University (ACU). Students in an introductory Statistics class were given the new iPhone application which was used to supplement the instructor's lectures and for studying and test preparation. Statistics I is based on a rich Mobile Learning Platform™ that includes lessons, touch-screen simulations, calculators, decision making tools, quizzes, flashcards, formulas, and a glossary. The Statistics I app has been converted into an iPad E-Textbook and is under review for the grand opening of the iPad App Store.

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The results of the study were published in a White Paper that was released today. The study provides evidence that GetYa Learn On's Mobile Learning Platform used in conjunction with classroom lectures increases engagement and academic performance. Out of the 36 students in the class, virtually all students reported a heightened motivation to study because of the mobility and convenience of having quick access to information on their iPhone. More than two-thirds of the class reported that they developed a better understanding of statistics as a result of using the app. The majority of students even reported having consistent study patterns throughout the semester – using the app to study lecture notes, testing their knowledge by taking quizzes or flipping through flashcards and referencing the glossary or formula list.

The effectiveness of Statistics I stems from GetYa Learn On's research-based approach to development of educational technology. ACU and GYLO continue to pilot test and gather data on students' learning, motivation, and behavioral patterns of app usage.

"Smartphones and other touchscreen devices have fundamentally changed connectedness as we know it today. They've simply become ubiquitous – even on college campuses," said Priya Nihalani, M.A., Director of Research for GetYa Learn On, who also led the study. "But, educators have made little progress in finding ways to actually harness this technology for improving students' learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. That's why we're taking these important findings to the next level by developing E-textbooks for the iPad."

GetYa Learn On is currently developing E-Textbooks for the Apple iPad that are based on the proven Mobile Learning Platform™ and that go beyond traditional textbooks by providing multi-touchscreen simulations that allow students to experiment with complex concepts. The company is also developing a "smart" platform that customizes instruction to the individual learner's level of prior knowledge and learning preferences.

"The soon-to-be-introduced iPad has the potential to change the buying dynamics in both the secondary and higher education markets," said Charlie Wolf, analyst for Needham & Company. "The device has the potential to go much further if, as it appears certain, education content is customized for the iPad to exploit its unique multimedia capabilities. It is not difficult to imagine classrooms where the iPad takes center stage, capturing a significant percentage of the school market in the process."

For more information about GYLO, visit GetYaLearnOn.com, follow us on Twitter, or be our friend on Facebook.

GetYa Learn On, LLC. is a private company headquartered in Austin, Texas and founded in 2008. The company is comprised of a team of experts from software development, educational psychology, instructional technology, and measurement and evaluation. GetYa Learn On develops innovative educational applications, E-Textbooks, and games based on research in education and instructional technology design.

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SOURCE GetYa Learn On, LLC