Promoting learning effectiveness in science through using mobile learning platform in observing living organisms within school campus

Mobile learning is now widely used all over the world simply because it allows students to learn anytime and anywhere through the information and communication technologies (ICT). Through the interaction between teachers and students, and exchanges among the peer groups, students can practise all kinds of learning activities. Its portability and ability to be interactive facilitate its support to different formats of learning. This paper aims to demonstrate how a mobile learning system co-developed by the academics and commercial field experts helps a class of secondary one students enhance their observation skills in the field study. By using the well-designed pedagogical activities, worksheets catering for students' ability and the various functions in mobile learning system and its accessories, students were observed able to complete the learning tasks effectively and efficiently through co-operation. Research instruments also include students sample scripts, pre-test and post-test questionnaires, students' reflections and teachers' teaching diaries etc. Data collected showed that the knowledge gained by the students after the activity had significantly increased while most of the students preferred this kind of study mode. Teachers also recognised the progress of students' observation skills. The only argument on this system was that this kind of teaching mode would involve more labour force and resources than any traditional teaching method and, the requirements of system stability and the needs of other built-in functions in teaching.