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AlSugair, Balsam; Hopkins, Gail; FitzGerald, Elizabeth and Brailsford, Tim
(2014).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/ijmbl.2014100102
Abstract
This paper describes the design and initial testing of AnswerPro, a mobile academic peer support system for school pupils aged 11-16 years. AnswerPro is a mobile optimised web application that enables pupils to seek support with school work from knowledgeable peers on various subjects. This paper presents research findings from the project, and in particular, details the design elements embedded within AnswerPro that are based upon teacher and pupil interviews examining motivation, and also from research into academic motivation. A pilot study was conducted with 7 school pupils over 3 weeks. Participants then engaged in a focus group, which discussed their experience using AnswerPro and the motivational elements embedded within it. Our findings highlighted some problems with the embedded motivational features. These findings have resulted in potential solutions for the next version of AnswerPro and design implications for practitioners intending to embed motivational elements in their own mobile learning tools.