Mobile learning applications to improve invertebrate zoology online teaching

Abstract

The use of new technologies including personal mobile devices has become an indispensable tool in our daily lives, and thus its presence in education is becoming ever more ubiquitous. In the current scenario imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which in-person presence in classrooms has been enormously reduced at all educational levels, the use of mobile learning and cutting-edge methods can greatly improve the way students learn and enhance their online-learning experience. Mobile applications, combined with extended reality technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are powerful tools that connect real and virtual environments and allow higher interaction for the user. We have leveraged the advantages of mobile learning and extended reality technologies to develop a series of mobile applications and associated educational activities for university-level courses involving invertebrate zoology field work. In particular, we have developed (a) a VR SCUBA diving video to explore the diversity of a marine protected area; (b) an AR mobile app to visualize 3D models of marine invertebrates; and (c) a mobile-based catalogue to explore the terrestrial biodiversity of one of the most diverse regions of Spain. Here we provide detailed information describing the design and creation of these tools, as well as their application in class, to facilitate and encourage their use in higher education. Despite the relatively recent application of these technologies in education, they have an enormous potential: they improve student motivation and learning, can be adapted to different learning styles, reduce social inequalities, and facilitate inclusiveness and diversity practices in the classroom.