Mobile phones are a new media for educational resources, and one that is proving to be very effective for particular content and revision activities. The content of the driving theory test is highly suitable to mobile phone revision for a number of reasons:

• Easy access
• Private revision in public places
• Less distractions
• Alternative Media
• Micro revision sessions

1. Easy access

To start revising on a computer or other resource generally involves moving to where the computer is located, once moved to the correct location it takes time to start up and begin revision. This change of location creates a barrier that stops students from revising.

A mobile phone is never far, so starting revision is a couple of key presses to resume the software just where you left it.

This ease of access encourages students to revise multiple times a day, because they can revise in alternate locations, on the sofa, on the bus, in bed to name a few of the most popular!

2. Private revision in public places

Revising or studying in public is not something most students generally undertake – on a bus, whilst waiting for friends, etc. A major reason for this is that revision resources generally make it obvious what they are doing.

Tapping keys on mobile phone however in public is not unusual, and the privacy of the mobile phone means that you can send an SMS, play a game or be otherwise engaged without making it at all obvious.

3. Less distractions

Computers now provide many alternatives to doing revision, chatting on instant messenger, reading websites or interacting on the favourite social website.

Phones also have distractions (SMS messages and phone calls) but students tend to multi task these activities better when they are able to do mini revision sessions instead of interrupting large revision sessions.

4. Alternative medium

Revising on a mobile phone is not common and this novelty makes the task revision more appealing than sitting in front of a computer or reading a book etc.

The inclusion of games that re-enforce the concepts behind the driving theory test also helps students to engage in the content by providing alternate ways to revise the key concepts.

5. Micro revision sessions

The most prevalent method offered to prepare for the driving theory test involves sitting in-front of a computer and completing mock test after mock test. This approach is continued until they have answered all the questions and think they know all of the answers.

Doing these tests takes a lot of time and it can become an unappealing to sit in front of a computer and click through multiple choice tests. Once it becomes an unappealing task this often means students start “cramming” their revision into large sessions. During these large session students stop thinking about the concepts behind the questions and the process becomes one of matching questions to answers, not understanding the underlying concepts.

On the mobile phone the ease of access means it is easy to do mini sessions of revision – 2,5 or 10 questions in a spare minute or 5 minutes – which can result in much better analysis of the concepts behind the question.

Note: In order to make sure students are adequately prepared for the real test, uHavePassed provides computer based access to realistic timed mock tests as part of a normal subscription.