Usability Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Application for English Communication in Nursing: Philippines and Thailand Perspectives

Reinald Adrian D L Pugoy, Roberto B Figueroa Jr. and Rita C Ramos
University of the Philippines Open University
Los Baños, the Philippines

Boontip Siritarungsri, Aree Cheevakasemsook, Premruetai Noimuenwai and Pattaya Kaewsarn
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
Nonthaburi, Thailand

There is a growing number of English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) nursing students globally. English is the official working language in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This poses a challenge to nurse educators and practitioners since most of the nursing books and materials are written in the English language. Comprehension of the written materials in English affects the academic and clinical performance of the learners. Crawford and Candlin (2012) reported a number of English support programmes for ESL students, which includes the utilization of videos, group meetings and role play as strategies to be used to promote English communication skills among ESL students. However, there have been recent advances in technology such as the use of augmented reality which allows the convergence of real world and virtual objects with each other. In this study, an AR-based OER prototype was developed and was tested by nursing students in the Philippines and Thailand. These students evaluated the prototype using the USE Questionnaire to determine the following: (a) usefulness; (b) ease of use; (c) ease of learning; and (d) satisfaction.