Motivational scaffolding: Tackling the challenges of using mobile applications

Abstract

Mobile phones offer benefits to various age group users in supporting their continuous learning. However, despite such advantages, users still have difficulties learning mobile phone applications interfaces. In the paper we investigate different methods used by two groups of mobile phone users, namely the younger and older groups, to improve their learnability. We examine the errors made by both user groups while working with android mobile phones application interfaces. The results revealed that learning from others with step by step instruction method when interacting with the mobile phones is very popular among the older adults. On the other hand, the younger users preferred learning online and using application help option. We discuss the implications of such preferences to designing future mobile phones application interfaces that motivate self-learning.