Exploratorium: Bringing Science Experiments

into Mobile Learning Application

Bauzon, Robert Paul P.

Ancheta, Roxanne A.

Technological Institute of the Philippines,

Technological Institute of the Philippines,

Quezon City

Quezon City

09464437128

09102576992

robertpaulpbauzon@yahoo.com

roxanneancheta21@gmail.com

Cabauatan, Rosmina Joy M.

Marcial, Ronee Lynne G.

Technological Institute of the Philippines,

Technological Institute of the Philippines,

Quezon City
09464437129

Quezon City
09216618728

rjmcabauatan@yahoo.com

roneelynnegmarcial@yahoo.com

Obac, Shalini Anne P.

Technological Institute of the Philippines,
Quezon City
09065010012

shaliniannepobac@yahoo.com

Abstract

The study came up with the decision of developing

the application because of the reason that many
students are having a hard time understanding a
science concept without the chance to perform an
experiment related to it.
Because of this, a mobile learning application was
made which contains different science experiments
and enable the users to make their own experiment
by combining different chemicals. The application
generally focuses on delivering procedures that are
derived from scientific concepts to help students in

making science experiments. The proponents

implemented some cartoon figures of a scientist for
the students to enjoy the surrounding of the
application and to eliminate the possibility of them
being bored. The experiments can also set as guide
for the students in doing their school projects.

Categories and Subject Descriptors

H.5.1. [Information Interfaces and Representation]:
Animations --- Chemicals

H.5.1. [Information Interfaces and Representation]:

Video --- Science Experiments
H.4.3.
[Information Technology and
Systems Application]: Videotex --Experiments

Science

General Terms
Experimentation

Keywords

use of their application will be very effective to the

users.

The study aims to help the users to learn Science in

an easier and fun way. It provides an interactive
learning between the users and the application in
performing the experiment which comes with an
explanation. The study lessens the dullness and
hard times of learning Science and helps the users
learn anywhere and anytime they want. It gives the
users the ability to understand the concepts of
Science clearer and to know its importance to
peoples everyday lives. It makes them to be more
interested in studying Science. It also tests the
learning capabilities of the users by adding features
that will make the mind of the users work and think
of the right answer.

The study helps to make science easy and fun to

study. It also helps to make the students focus on
their education and to be more interested in
studying. This study tests the capabilities of the
users which obliged them to study harder. It also
lessens the dullness and hard times of learning. By
this, it will be a huge help for education to grow
and to innovate.

Science, Experiments, Chemicals

1. INTRODUCTION

2. RELATED WORKS

Nowadays, Mobile Learning is a rapidly growing

and changing field. New technologies are
constantly being implemented that let students and
teachers interact better both in the classroom and
outside of it not only at the college level, but in
all schools around the world [1].

There are existing mobile learning applications

which contain videos of science experiments and
chemical formulas in a 2D environment. It also
provides a quiz and has a dictionary but unlike
these applications, the study provides an interactive
learning between the users and the application in
performing the experiment by using the drag-anddrop feature which also comes with an explanation.

As for the elementary students, they find it hard to

learn Science. Science for them is a boring subject
and a lot of students dont have the interest to learn
a lot from it. What they dont know is, learning
Science could be fun. Also, one of the issues is the
significance of M-Learning Application. The study
should have a clear idea of why they're getting the
people into M-Learning and what benefits it will
bring them. The study should also reassure that the

A Science Explore is a Mobile Application that

provides scientist information, a dictionary and
facts about science. It also has a periodic table
section for the different elements relating science.
A solar system and formulas section are also
available to be viewed offline, meaning the user
can access it without the use of the internet.
Theres also quiz portion providing question and
answer with some science related topics [2].

Another application, the Video

Science,
is
a
mobile
application about Science
Experiments with a growing library of
over 80 hands-on Science
lessons that are great for home
and the classroom. These short videos
demonstrate inexpensive and easy
to recreate experiments that are
designed to inspire and excite
kids
of
all
ages[3].The
researchers came up with an idea of
improving the application by
making the user interact with
the application, thats how the idea of
the drag-and drop feature
started.

There are existing mobile learning applications

which contain videos of science experiments and
chemical formulas in a 2D environment. It also
provides a quiz and has a dictionary but unlike this
application, it provides an interactive learning
between the users and the application in
performing the experiment by using the drag-anddrop feature which also comes with an explanation.

3. THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
The Figure 1 shows the concept that the proponents
used in the application. First is to determine the
motives and goals of the study and consider all the
conditions that it carries. Then, generate all the
activities and actions to be done. In doing the
application, the proponents use this concept to
develop the Exploratorium. This served as their
guide in finishing the requirements of the
application.

Figure 1. Theoretical Framework of

Exploratorium

4. METHODOLOGY
The proponents used the Prototyping Software
Development Model as their Process Model for the
developing of project. The Figure 2 shows the
processes that the application used.
The Prototyping Software Development Model has
five phases which includes Requirement Gathering
where all the requirements are discussed. All of the
requirements are being defined, identified and
analyzed. Second phase is Quick Design.

In this phase, the design requirements and the

interface of the project are defined in this phase.
Next phase is Building Prototype where in this
phase, the actual coding is started. Then, the
project will be evaluated. Fourth phase is Refining
Prototype. Here, the project will be enhanced.
There will be added features in the project and it
will also enhance the functionality of the project.

Lastly, the Engineer Prototype phase. After all the

components and requirements are completed, the
application will be then deployed into a device.
The study also provides the Experiment module
which contains the lists of experiments. Each
experiment includes trivia about the inventor, uses
and functions of the invented object, materials that
will be used and the guidelines for the user in
performing the experiment. To save the result of
the quiz, a database will be provided together with
the name of the user. A glossary is also available
for them to look and know any unfamiliar words
that they might encounter during the experiment.

4.1 System Architecture

In this diagram, it shows how the user utilizes the
application. It also shows the functions of the
application and how it interacts with the user. All
the menus and modules are indicated in the
architecture. In the application, the user can either
view the Glossary which contain words that you
can encounter in the application, read the about
which contains the information about the
application and developers.

The user can also read Help which contain

information on how to use the application. The
application also has the Experiments menu which
has three sub-menus which are the Master, Genius
and Chemicals. Master and Genius menus contain
several experiments while in the Chemicals menu,
the user can combine different chemicals and see
their results. Each experiments has several menus
which are Trivia where information about the
inventor and the experiment can be found, Uses
and Functions which contains uses and functions of
the experiments.

Figure 2. The Prototyping

Software Development Model

The Materials menu which contains all the

materials that are used in the experiments and the
Video where the user can watch the actual
experiment.
There is also Simulation menu where the user can
do the experiment with its drag and drop feature
and Quiz menu which contains questions and
decoded choices about the experiments.

Figure 3. System Architecture of

Exploratorium

5. EVALUATON
TOOL
The study was evaluated by
50 elementary students, ages
from 9-14 years old. This
evaluation tool will test how
significant and effective the application is to the
students and professionals. The application was
presented to the respondents and the proponents
explained each functions and uses of the
application to the respondents. After the
proponents has presented, the evaluation tool was
given to each students and they evaluated the
application.

5.1 Results

After the respondents have answered in the

evaluation Tool
form, the study was evaluated as a
Table 1. Evaluation
significant and useful mobile application. Most of
the respondents said that they had fun in using the
application.

It was very easy to use and very useful to students

since they think that Science is very hard to learn.
The simulation and the videos were very helpful
and the quiz helped them to identify if they have
learned something from the topic. The application
made them realize that Science is easy and fun to
study. It also made them realize to focus more on
their education and to be more interested in
studying.

This application tests their capabilities which

obliged them to study harder. It also lessened the
dullness and hard times of learning.

6. CONCLUSION

The study therefore concludes that the best way for

children to like and to be interested in studying
science is to show them its purpose and the
position it has taken in the modern world. It is also
depending on the teaching skills of the teacher if
the students will be interested to learn or not. After
Table 3. Results
the proponents conducted the evaluation, it has
made the proponents realized that mobile learning
has many advantages and disadvantages. As for the
elementary students, they find it hard to learn
Science, but the proponents concluded that
learning Science could be fun. Also, the proponents
concluded that the significance of M-Learning
Application should be clear idea to the people and
what benefits it will bring them. The proponents
conclude that the use of the application will be
very effective to the users.

The table 3 shows the results in percentage, after

the respondents evaluated the application.

[3]VideoScience,http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vid
eoscience/id333284085?mt=8
[4] 10Major Learning Trends to Watch For,
www.onlinecollege.org/2011/07/05/10-majormobile-learning-trends-to-watch-for/
[5] Nicky Hockly, Mobile learning #2: The Issues,
www.emoderationskills.com/?p=120, Apr 26th
2010
The study recommends letting the students have a
chance to apply the lessons and topics into handson experiments, for them to understand it clearly
and to provide them the fun in learning the subject.

[6] Rob Woddbridge, Mobile: The Key to

Education Anywhere,
http://gigaom.com/mobile/mobile-the-key-toeducation-anywhere/ , Mar 17,2011
[7] http://anywhereeducation.com/

7. FUTURE WORKS
The study further gives an outlook for future
development of the application; it can be
developed in a 3D environment. This study can
also be developed with some added features like
vibrating when combined chemicals explode.
Otherwise, the study can also be added with more
videos of experiment that show real videos of
combining of chemicals. The proponents also
recommend the future developers to add more
animations in the Trivias menu. The application
can have animation of the Scientists and Inventors.

[8] JenaraNerenberg, SMS Education: Poll

Everywhere Is Making the Mobile Pop Quiz More
Affordable,
http://www.fastcompany.com/1693313/textmessaging-the-next-frontier-for-high-schooleducation
[9] Viswanathan, Priya, What is Mobile
Application?,www.mobiledevices.about.com/od/glo
ssary/g/What-Is-A-Mobile-Application.htm
[10] Mobile Learning Trends in Higher Education,
www.niu.edu/spectrum/2009/fall/mobilelearning.sh
tml, 2009

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