BEsMART: Board Examinations Mobile Application Reviewer for PreService Science Teachers using Space Repetition and Hypercorrection
Nestor Jr Lasala
Abstract
This study developed and validated BEsMART, a mobile review application for pre-service science teachers preparing for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).Addressing challenges such as high review costs, inconsistent study habits, and concept retention difficulties, BEsMART integrates spaced repetition for memory retention and hypercorrection techniques to correct misconceptions.Other features include questionbased drills, multimedia resources, instant feedback, and progress tracking.A mixed-method research design was employed, combining ISO/IEC 25010 standards, the U.S.E.Questionnaire, and qualitative feedback from 9 experts and 48 pre-service teachers.Using the Scrum methodology, the application underwent iterative development to enhance usability.Results showed high functional suitability, usability, and reliability, with overall ratings of 4.72 (experts) and 4.75 (users).Findings confirm BEsMART's effectiveness as a self-directed, accessible, and cost-efficient LET review tool, reinforcing mobile learning's transformative potential in professional examination contexts and paving the way for future improvements and broader adoption.When it comes to the actual license exam, however, most teacher preparation programs in the Philippines perform poorly, as reported by the Philippine Business for Education, according to a March 2014 Rappler Philippines report (PBED).According to the results of their latest investigation, the vast majority of schools that prepare teachers fail to meet the national test-taker passing rate.Moreover, students' difficulties with science coursework, specifically, often translate into subpar performance in the classroom and on standardized tests.Teachers-in-training who struggled in arithmetic as students must take remedial courses offered by schools and review centers to improve their skills.Likewise, results on the LET have been shown to be considerably influenced by participation in LET review classes, according to several studies (Visco, 2015;Ferrer et al., 2015;De Guzman et al., 2020).For this reason, Kalaw (2018) advocated for mandatory heightened LET review for future educators.Salundaguit (2018), advocated for a re-evaluation of teacher education regulations, including those pertaining to student admissions and retention, faculty dedication, and the implementation of practice tests.