Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

Browse

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.apps

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Digital mental health strategies used by young people in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘Just do it yourself, DIY’
    (SAGE Publications Ltd., 2024-07-25) Gibson K; Trnka S; Jonas M; Pomare P; Thomson S; Tiatia-Siau J; Aimiti Ma'ia'i K; Aoake M; Bouttier-Esprit T; Spray I; Vyas S
    Objective: With rising rates of mental health distress amongst youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital resources have been identified as a valuable tools for delivering support to young people. However, many of the websites and apps developed by professionals to support the youth do not take account of the importance young people place on exercising their own agency in managing their mental health. This article investigates how young people in Aotearoa New Zealand used digital resources to manage their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study gathered information from semi-structured interviews with 34 young people aged 16–22 years. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Six themes were identified including: searching for online information about mental health; evaluating digital mental health resources; controlling mood through online activity; looking for escape in the virtual world; staying connected online; and giving and receiving support. Conclusion: Young people’s practices demonstrated their investment in their own agency, a general reluctance to engage with professional resources and recognition of the need to balance the risks and benefits of the informal strategies they preferred. Young people appeared sceptical of professionally-designed mental health resources and interventions and preferred to adapt and re-purpose the wide range of platforms and networks available in their informal digital worlds.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An Evaluation of Mandarin Learning Apps Designed for English Speaking Pre-schoolers
    (Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), 2019-09) Neumann M; Wang Y; Qi GY; Neumann D
    Touch screen tablets such as iPads are becoming increasingly popular as educational tools to support children’s first language learning in pre-schools. Apps can also be used to support early learning of a second language in English-speaking countries. However, little work has been done to evaluate these apps. The present research developed criteria for assessing Mandarin learning apps and applied them to evaluate 28 Mandarin apps for English-speaking pre-schoolers. The criteria included the domains of interactivity, usability, cultural awareness, collaboration, language and literacy content, and learning outcomes. The application of the criteria showed that half the Mandarin learning apps lacked key educational features essential for second language learning. The categories in which the apps scored most highly were interactivity, cultural awareness, usability, and language and literacy content. The apps scored lowest in the categories of collaboration and provision of learning outcomes. The findings suggest that further research is needed to inform best practice, app design, and to provide guidelines that help teachers select quality apps to support second language learning.