(pdf) mobile application integration framework for educational institutions
Cecilia Mercado and Perry Agustin
The Tenth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 12-13 December 2021, Thailand
7.4
audience, audience size, frequency of
application changes, application lifespan, and
levelof complexity or integration. A modified
version of Slalom Consulting’s mobile
engagement decision matrixwould provide an
appropriate evaluation tool for educational
institutions. The development of the
evaluation matrix also took into consideration
the mobile learning factors previously
mentioned.
2)Selection of an Open Source Mobile
Framework for Developing and Deploying
the Evaluated Application:The mobile
framework serves as middleware between the
institution’s data and the targeted mobile
devices. With the existence of web-based
applications in EIs, there is an opportunityfor
porting them tomobile devices as mobile
websites.
Therefore, the list of open source mobile
frameworks relevant to EIs that were used in
the study is based on a list published by ACTI-
MWF, specifically, hybrid mobile
frameworks, such as Kurogo, Jasig uMobile
and KualiMobility. The selection process
requires an evaluation of the 3 mobile
frameworks todetermine the best open source
hybrid mobile framework. The evaluation is
done through indicators that were based on
major challengesbrought about by mobile
application development, such as mobile
platform fragmentation, lack of security,
usability, cost and tools. The indicators were
also based on the mobile framework
evaluation template published by ACTI-MWF.
The indicators are grouped into three
categories, namelymobile web support, native
support, and technical support.
The first indicator on mobile web support
was evaluated based on popular methods that
are used for authenticating and authorizing
users. Support for Centralized Authentication
System (CAS), Shibboleth, Kerberos,
Radius, LDAP and X.509 served as basis for
the evaluation. The scalability indicator is
measured administratively, functionally,
geographicallyand by load. Administrative
scalabilityis measured through hosting
services that the framework provided.
Functional scalabilityis measured based on the
framework’s ability to add additional modules.
Geographicalscalability is measured based on
the existence of implementers outside of the
US. Load scalability is measured through
support for popular distributed database
management systems. The design productivity
aid indicator is evaluated based on Sierra
System’s description of designproductivity
and code tweaking aids, whichincludes:
support for cross-platform development, UI
tools and components, and native device APIs.
Customizabilityof designwas evaluated
through support for web design technologies,
such as JavaScript and CSS.
The first indicator for native support
focused on native app security, where on-
deviceand over-the-air encryption are the
popular methods of securing native app data
(Sheldon, 2021). The evaluation for
multiplatform support is based on a matrix
created by Falk that shows the common
platformsin mobile frameworks (Falk, 2021).
The evaluation for mobile device accessibility
support is based on the guidelines provided by
the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (http://www.
mobileaccessibility.info/). The evaluation of
native device features is also based on the
mobile framework matrix by Falk, which
enumerated 17 different native device features.
Support for these native features is based on
APIs provided or supported by the
framework’s IDE.
The first indicator in the last group focused
on the governance model, whichis evaluated
by determining whether each framework
published information aboutit. The
information is mapped into Gardler’s governance
types. The costindicator is evaluated through
Sierra System’s description of cost,which
includes: the license, deployment and skill set
costs. The documentation indicator is evaluated
through features identified by the Society for
Technical Communication Usabilitywebsite
(www.stcsig.org/usability). The training
indicator is evaluated based on trainings and
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New Learning Methods
The introduction of applications in the education sector has led to the introduction of new learning methods. There are fun games available on mobile applications that indulge the students into a healthy thought process and help them understand things from a different perspective.
Enhanced Parent Teacher Communication
Parent-teacher communication apps help in building parent-teacher relations beyond the walls of educational institutes. This facilitates teachers responding to the queries from the parents regarding the development of their ward. It also helps in maintaining the transparency in the education sector.
EBooks And Online Study
These days, students are generally very fond of online studying. This is where library apps and book search apps come into the picture. These applications make it easy for the students to search the appropriate study material in the mobile application. It keeps them closer to the study material and helps them in segregating their studying materials over the web.
5 advantages of using mobile apps in the classroom
The education research scholars are coming up with new techniques to impart knowledge every day. This includes exposing students to the kind of activities that engage them in learning through innovative ways. The need of the hour is to make students focus on their subject-oriented studies.
As far as traditional methods are considered, it is expected to carry a satchel of books and copies and indulge into the traditional method of writing while learning. However, it is found that not every student can absorb knowledge while he is busy in writing it notes.
Here are 5 advantages of using educational apps and show the important role of using mobile apps in education:
Decreased Communication Gap Between Students And The Institution
It can be said that, following traditional methods, institutes can not pay equal attention to all students. Now, however, it is possible to reach out to all of them. School communication apps make it possible to impart information to every student; they can inform them about new schedules, different forums, various conferences, and social school activities.
Final word
There are many education ERP companies in India that provide school management apps and various other mobile apps for different purposes which make it easy for the institution to keep the students informed about school activities. It can now be said that students have taken up modern ways of learning through mobile applications.
