The use of Smart Phones for solving Mathmatical Problems for Engineering Students

Abstract

This study aims to validate the use of modern technologies of the mobile smart phones to solve the mathematical problems of engineering students during the lectures. One of the problems that face the engineering student during the lectures is the need to solve the mathematical problems that contain large number of observations and unknowns. These systems of equations are normally solved using matrices. This means that the students need to complete the solutions at home. The idea of this study is to use the freely available applications and download them on the mobile smart phones in the lecturing. In this study, 39 students in the surveying and geomatics engineering course used an application named ( Matrix Calculator) to solve the problems by matrices in the course of Algebra and theory of errors. At least 90% of the students had smart mobile phone with Android and iOS in which the application or a similar application can be setup. The results of the study showed that the majority of the students could solve the given examples and problems using the matrices successfully during the class. The time used to solve the problems was greatly minimized. Previously, the students faced problems in applying full solutions in the class where they had to do it at home with no direct support or control of cheating by the lecturer. In addition, the study also showed that more questions and discussions were introduced by the students, and more motivation was added to the students in applying the related solutions. The study also presents the following reommendations to be provided in order to enhance the use of the technologies of the smart phone in the process of teaching and learning: - The university must ensure the availability of the wireless internet to enable the students to download the applications and use some applications that need internet to work. - The use of smart phones should be included at least partially in a course to help the students for proper use of them. - The programming of the smart phone courses should be included to students as mandatory or elective courses for the interested students in Apps development. - The lecturers should be encouraged to guide their students to use their smart phone for their academic life.