Crossword learning: design and development of a mobile learning application focused on the elderly

Abstract

Whether on the web or on mobile devices, native or hybrid applications, it is critical that everyone has access to information, especially when it comes to resources used in education. Currently, with the increasing dissemination and use of mobile devices by different types of users, the need to provide accessibility to mobile learning applications is highlighted, especially considering the elderly users. Increasingly present and participatory, this audience has brought new challenges and demands to the development and evaluation of the services and products they use. In this perspective, this work has as main objective the design and development of Crossword Learning - a mobile learning application that aims to motivate and facilitate the process of learning of elderly users. In general, the application seeks to stimulate learning in the elderly through the use of crosswords, addressing content related to different topics of interest. Furthermore, for such applications to be accessible and pedagogically appropriate to the target audience, it is essential that their design and development be carried out on the basis of artifacts specifically designed for this purpose. Thus, the work should also address, in a complementary way: (I) the adoption of pedagogical standards in the design and development of mobile learning applications; and (II) the establishment and use of pedagogical and accessibility guidelines in the context of mobile learning focused on elderly users. (AU)