Abstract
Introduction: Despite the importance of the “Laboratory Fundamentals” course, there is a lack of suitable digital educational tools for it. The growing use of mobile applications presents a valuable opportunity to address this gap and enhance the quality of education. This study aimed to design a mobile-based educational application for the “Laboratory Fundamentals” course and evaluate its usability among students of laboratory science.
Methods: First, the educational content related to the course was extracted. The application was then developed using the "Appto" platform after designing the required components. The effectiveness and usability of the app were evaluated using a 24-item questionnaire covering four main domains: user-friendliness, ease of use, security and reliability, and motivational and educational impact. Responses from 80 laboratory science students at the School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, were collected and analyzed.
Results: More than 80% of students rated the app highly in various aspects, particularly in terms of security, reliability, and motivational and educational impact. The domains of user-friendliness and ease of use also received positive feedback, although some students rated the ease of use as moderate. Overall, more than 60% of the students considered the app a valuable tool for learning and improving practical skills.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the “Laboratory Fundamentals” app effectively supported students in the learning process and had a positive impact on their motivation and education. This mobile application can serve as a complementary tool alongside traditional teaching methods, enhancing the learning experience in similar medical science courses. Furthermore, the results of this study can inform the development of mobile-based educational tools in other academic disciplines.
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