A Study for Improving Communication Methods in University Laboratories Activities

— Using Smartphones and Tablets —

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an optimal method for transmitting and sharing information on various communication and reporting items that occur in university laboratory activities between a small number of laboratory faculty members and a large number of undergraduate students using a smartphone app. This is the report of research results on the method from 2020 to 2022. The practiced method is as follows: (a) We classify the content of information transmitted in laboratory activities into a total of 8 categories from the viewpoints of the high frequency of use and the extent of impact and urgency, (b) by using the functions of the smartphone app which sets the push notification method and the contents of the transmission information as the standard statements for each category, the user can create various communication and reporting items from the standard statements, so that the information can be sent easily and reliably, and (c) the operation rules for each laboratory activity are established, thoroughly disseminated and operated with continuity. This method can be judged to be effective from the usage data of the smartphone app and the results of questionnaires for all users. (d) Furthermore, from the usage data, it was found that this method is more effective in the face-to-face lab activities than in the remote lab activities.