Exploring students’ perspectives on the implementation of self-organized learning via mobile apps

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative action research is to explore Saudi Arabian undergraduate students’ perspectives on the implications of a self-organized learning environment (SOLE) using mobile phones. Data were gathered from interviews and focus groups with a convenience sample of 27 undergraduate students as well as the researcher’s reflective journals. It was found that the proposed intervention gave students opportunities for engagement and enhanced a spirit of cooperation, which led to the students enjoying their classes. Furthermore, SOLE encouraged the students to evaluate their ideas before posting them. Participating in SOLE helped the students understand and recall the relevant course content. However, a number of challenging aspects - such as misleading information - emerged during the first phase of the study, along with some technical issues. In general, within the current educational system in Saudi Arabia, the implementation of SOLE on its own as an innovative teaching approach would be insufficient; it could be combined with other approaches - such as deep discussions of relevant topics - to enhance its effectiveness. Keywords: Self-organized learning environment (SOLE); Covid-19; undergraduate study; mobile learning