A Crowdsourcing Mobile Application and Interactive Learning Analytics Dashboard to enhance Project-Based Learning supported by technology.

Abstract

The subject of this thesis falls within the framework of scientific research related to the principles and educational methods to improve learning in higher education. This work focuses on the Multi-Role Project (MRP): a new method of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. The study aimed to evaluate the MRP method on 2 aspects: (1) the degree of motivation of the students to use this method in the context of the Algerian University, in particular that of the Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret, knowing that MRP was developed as a PjBL method in a European context which differs significantly from the Algerian context, and (2) its fifth principle which includes communication, collaboration and content management. Regarding the first aspect, we evaluated MRP using Rolland Viau’s theory, which allowed us to see that MRP lacked motivation, an essential asset for its application in such a context and that MRP should take it into account. Knowing that IT support for the successful implementation of MRP is vital, we found that the current generation is increasingly using mobile phones, which directed our study towards MRP in a mobile software environment. On this basis we refactored MRP to adapt it to our context and named it MRP2.0. In response to the second aspect, we proposed Stud-E, an MRP2.0-based learning approach enhanced by Crowdsourcing for Education (CfE). Stud-E is an incentive for students to create content that helps them establish an impressive profile in their identity as a future project. Stud-E provides students with areas of knowledge related to 21st century skills, interactions, and personalities in Stud-E builds a higher education social network. Finally, we designed a distributed system architecture in such a way as to solve the large data structure problems. We have also built four software that basically communicate with each other. We mention them as follows: 1) Server-side software, 2) Student-side software, 3) Administratorside software and 4) Supervisor-side software.