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Geography excursions with a smartphone app or a teacher: what works best?

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Title: Geography excursions with a smartphone app or a teacher: what works best?
Authors: Favier, Tim T.1 (AUTHOR) t.t.favier@uu.nl, Schutjens, Veronique A. J. M.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geography in Higher Education. Aug2025, Vol. 49 Issue 4, p470-495. 26p.
Subject Terms: *Educational outcomes, *Educational support, *Educational technology, *Student attitudes, Self regulation, Geography, Excursions (Travel), Mobile apps
Abstract: Recent advancements in geospatial technologies enable geography students to explore outdoor phenomena independently, without teacher guidance. Several authors argue that smartphone apps can effectively replace the teacher in excursions, addressing challenges such as teachers' limited availability. However, empirical research comparing the actual and perceived learning outcomes of excursions with a smartphone app versus excursions with a teacher remains scarce. In our comparative study aimed at understanding learning outcomes and student preferences, first-year bachelor's students participated in two excursions of each type. The results from a retention test revealed that the excursions with the app resulted in lower learning outcomes, and students rated these excursions less favorably overall. Although the app offered flexibility in excursion planning and pacing, students missed the support for learning in the field, personal contact, and structure. Additionally, many students struggled with self-discipline in planning excursions and lacked motivation to engage seriously with the tasks without a teacher present, hindering their ability to effectively utilize the app's auto-feedback. Therefore, enhancing student self-regulation skills is key for maximizing the effectiveness of app-supported excursions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geography in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Geography excursions with a smartphone app or a teacher: what works best?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Favier%2C+Tim+T%2E%22">Favier, Tim T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> t.t.favier@uu.nl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schutjens%2C+Veronique+A%2E+J%2E+M%2E%22">Schutjens, Veronique A. J. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geography+in+Higher+Education%22">Journal of Geography in Higher Education</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 49 Issue 4, p470-495. 26p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+outcomes%22">Educational outcomes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+support%22">Educational support</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+technology%22">Educational technology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+attitudes%22">Student attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+regulation%22">Self regulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geography%22">Geography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Excursions+%28Travel%29%22">Excursions (Travel)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mobile+apps%22">Mobile apps</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Recent advancements in geospatial technologies enable geography students to explore outdoor phenomena independently, without teacher guidance. Several authors argue that smartphone apps can effectively replace the teacher in excursions, addressing challenges such as teachers' limited availability. However, empirical research comparing the actual and perceived learning outcomes of excursions with a smartphone app versus excursions with a teacher remains scarce. In our comparative study aimed at understanding learning outcomes and student preferences, first-year bachelor's students participated in two excursions of each type. The results from a retention test revealed that the excursions with the app resulted in lower learning outcomes, and students rated these excursions less favorably overall. Although the app offered flexibility in excursion planning and pacing, students missed the support for learning in the field, personal contact, and structure. Additionally, many students struggled with self-discipline in planning excursions and lacked motivation to engage seriously with the tasks without a teacher present, hindering their ability to effectively utilize the app's auto-feedback. Therefore, enhancing student self-regulation skills is key for maximizing the effectiveness of app-supported excursions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geography in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=187098465
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        Value: 10.1080/03098265.2025.2498018
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Educational technology
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      – SubjectFull: Student attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Self regulation
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      – SubjectFull: Geography
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      – SubjectFull: Excursions (Travel)
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      – SubjectFull: Mobile apps
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              M: 08
              Text: Aug2025
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