Mobile learning for homework: Emerging cultural practices in the new media ecology

 Klaus Rummler, Zurich University of Teacher Education (Switzerland)

 Caroline Grabensteiner, Zurich University of Teacher Education (Switzerland)

 Colette Schneider-Stingelin, Zurich University of Teacher Education (Switzerland)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C65-2020-09

Keywords

Media education, secondary school, homework, software, smartphones, social media, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis

Abstract

This contribution discusses emerging cultural practices of media activities with the example of homework as an out-of-school learning context. Data was collected using diaries on the use of media during out-of-school learning activities. Central theoretical frameworks include the German theory of Medienbildung as an actor’s threefold relation towards the material/factual world, the other/s and society, and her-/himself and the socio-cultural ecology of mobile learning as a triangular relationship between agency, cultural practices and structures. Following a grounded theory approach, data analysis was conducted in an inductive manner, drawing on contemporary methods of computer enhanced qualitative analysis. This article focuses on verbal expressions within the diary entries, implicating cultural practices in everyday media activities and their impact on media use in a domestic learning context, such as homework. Two central aspects are highlighted from the results, exemplifying the category and theory generation. First, “checking”, as one of the reappearing in-vivo codes, will be examined more closely regarding its embedding in media practice and homework. It will be characterised as a daily recurring receptive and productive media practice. Second, apps and services, as well as media hardware used at school, are mirrored in the way students actually use media during homework, mingling with everyday media practices.

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Fundref

This research is financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) under the full project title “Homework and Media Education. An exploratory study on the ecology of media activities in home learning contexts of secondary school pupils” (SNF Nr. 175909; https://bit.ly/2WPO3Am) with the institutional support of the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PH Zürich) for the duration from March 2018 to February 2021. The authors are the research/project team.

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Technical information

Received: 30-01-2020

Revised: 12-02-2020

Accepted: 28-04-2020

OnlineFirst: 15-06-2020

Publication date: 01-10-2020

Article revision time: 13 days | Average time revision issue 65: 36 days

Article acceptance time: 89 days | Average time of acceptance issue 65: 79 days

Preprint editing time: 200 days | Average editing time preprint issue 65: 191 days

Article editing time: 245 days | Average editing time issue 65: 236 days

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