In recent years, the use of student response systems (SRS, also known as clickers) in the classroom setting has increased considerably, and researchers have developed a growing interest in their effect on learning and student engagement. This review analyses trends in SRS research by providing a brief history of SRS technology and usage as well as a detailed review of research in this field. In addition, this review focuses on the pedagogical implications of SRSs for education and analyses common criticisms of this emerging educational technology. Finally, research identifying common trends in SRS development is compiled and areas for future research are identified. The outcome of this leads to an understanding of best practices for this technology in a university setting.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether or not Arabic female students perceived some benefits of using iPods as a learning tool. The project was conducted over a six week period. Female student from the College of Business and Economic and the English Foundation program were provided with an iPod Nano to use anytime at their convenience as a learning tool. The task required that all student access iTunes to select audio-visual resources that they thought would be suitable to deepen their understanding of the course materials. Using case study research method the data collection approach included a weekly survey to record their daily use of the iPod. Four hypotheses targeting iPod use were defined. The findings indicate that for these particular groups of Arabic female students using iPod as a learning tool was beneficial. The evidence warrants further research in the constraints and affordances of mobile technology, as experienced by Arabic students.

This study aimed to investigate how the use of a smartphone clicker app by a group of 390 Saudi Arabian male undergraduate students would impact their learning performance while participating in a computer science class. The smartphone clicker app was used by the students during peer group discussions and to respond to teacher questions. A conceptual framework identified teacher-student and student-student interactions, collaborative learning, and student engagement as three primary practices that could improve student performance when a smartphone clicker app was used. The relationships between these factors were tested empirically by participant completion of a self-administered online survey. This study found the use of a smartphone clicker app promoted increased teacher-student and student-student interactivity, leading to active collaboration learning by students and improved learning performance. No positive relationship was found between the smartphone clicker app use and increased student engagement. These results demonstrated the role of the smartphone clicker app in enhancing the learning experience of the Saudi undergraduate students included in this study, but not the overall student engagement. Further research into how use of a smartphone clicker app in classroom settings might promote student engagement to improve the overall learning performance is needed.

This paper reports on an exploratory case study that explored the potential for using video-based assessment in an Australian distance education institution, using a video-based assessment task and post-intervention survey. Thirty-seven students taking a computer science course completed video-based assessments relating to course relevant content and participated in the survey, which collected data on their perceptions and experiences of the assessment task. Overall, the participants' responses were positive and indicated that video-based assessment is likely to be suitable for use in computer science distance education at this institution. Findings are likely to be of interest to similar institutions considering the adoption of video-based assessment methods.

This paper reports on a case study conducted at a Japanese national university. Nine participants used the video recording feature on their cell phones to produce weekly video productions. The task required that participants produce one 30-second video on a teacher-selected topic. Observations revealed the process of video creation with a cell phone. The weekly video performances indicated that students were able to increase the number of words they spoke in one monologue. The surveys indicated that participants believed that using the cell phone video recording feature was a useful activity. However, they did not believe that such a task was transferable to other courses. The discussion emphasizes that, due to technological advances, educators need to understand the benefits and challenges of integrating cell phone devices as learning tools in their classrooms. In addition, whereas in the past researchers focused on reading and writing skills, this article reveals that it is now possible to use the video recording feature to evaluate learners' speaking skills.

iPod and iTunes are gaining popularity amongst educators as a tool and platform to access and deliver complementary educational learning materials. The research question focuses on whether students access and use iTunes resources to enhance their content knowledge without teacher's assistance. The participants of the research consist of forty-nine engineering students at a Singapore university who agreed to participate in the research. They required completing a one-off survey at the beginning of the term. The findings of the research indicate that while these students were familiar with YouTube, they were less familiar with iTunes. It can be concluded that while students use online video streaming services for personal viewing, very few take the initiative to use these services to enhance their content knowledge.

Studio courses have become a key way in which professional skills, especially those involving collaboration and design, are taught in many fields, including computer science. Studios typically involve students working on a design problem, periodically presenting their work for critique, and critiquing the work of other students or groups. They support productive inquiry, as well as teamwork, communication, and reflection. However, although studios have become an important mode of instruction for on-campus students, they have not typically been offered for online or distance education students. In this paper we describe a studio critique process that is designed to work asynchronously, using short videos, and a tool that we have built to support it. We also describe qualitative observations from a pilot study, in which video-based critiques were used at a university whose students predominantly study online rather than on-campus.

This paper reports on a case study conducted at a Japanese national university. Nine participants used the video recording feature on their cell phone to produce one 30-second video on a teacher selected topic on a weekly basis. The weekly video performances indicated that students were able to increase the amount of words they spoke in one monologue. The surveys indicated that participants believed that using the cell phone video recording feature was a useful activity. The discussion emphasizes that in the past researchers focused on reading and writing skills, this paper reveals that it is now possible to use the video recording feature to evaluate learners' speaking skills. Due to technological advances, educators need to understand the benefits and challenges for integrating cell phone devices as learning tools in their classroom.

This paper reports on a case study research conducted at a Self-Access Learning Center (SALC) from 2009 to 2012. Over these four years data was collected through a survey from over 6000 participants regarding their access and use of the SELF facility and resources. The article reports on various on-site learning environments and the influence this may have of efl students' utilization of the SALC. This observation revealed that due to competition between libraries, and the increasing emergence of mobile devices, university students are less likely to use SALC. The quantitative findings confirm that students are less likely to make use of this SALC's facility, resources and services. While students need to enhance their learning skills, SALC may no longer be the place where students congregate to do so.

This paper presents an analysis of the perceptions and actions of five Information Communication Technology (ICT) Education lecturers, at the University of New England (UNE), concerning issues associated with the online teaching to students in rural and remote areas. The authors reflect upon the strategies that support these models and discuss how these may in turn provide students with firsthand experiences to develop transferable skills and knowledge to create their own motivating and engaging online learning activities and environments.