FAQ

GENERAL

• What is mSchools?
  Launched in 2012, mSchools supports students and teachers effectively integrating mobile technologies into the classroom. Mobile enables access to up-to-date materials, improves collaboration and strengthens learner engagement, opening up new ways of teaching and learning that improve achievement and employability.
  
  mSchools is a multi-faceted mEducation programme of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, in partnership with Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona City Hall and GSMA.
  
  Mobile World Capital Barcelona is an initiative driving the mobile and digital transformation of society while helping improve people’s lives globally.
  
  With support of the public and private sector throughout Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, MWCapital focuses on three areas: the empowerment of new generations, professionals and citizens in the use of digital technologies; the digital transformation of industries; and the acceleration of innovation through digital-based entrepreneurship.
  
  Collectively, our programmes are positively transforming Education, Industry and the Economy.
  
  MWCapital hosts the Mobile World Congress and delivers 4YearsFromNow [4YFN], a business platform for the startup community. https://mschools.mobileworldcapital.com
  
  Visit the mSchools website for more information on our initiatives:
  http://mschools.mobileworldcapital.com/
  
  
• What is App Education?
  The App Education course is offered as a computer science elective in High Secondary Education and Vocational Training based on the design and creation of applications for mobile devices, promoting team work in the classroom and introducing the entrepreneurship spirit to students.
  
  In addition, students and teachers receive mentoring from mSchools industry experts who volunteer their time to improve the learning outcomes and offer a vision of the industry.
  
  App Education improves students’ digital skills and entrepreneurial talent. This course is offered in English and Catalan.
  
  Click here to find out more.
  
  
• What is an Expert?
  mSchools Experts are industry experts who volunteer their time to support teachers and students to improve learning outcomes and offer a vision of the industry.
  
  The mSchools Expert may decide to help on a one-off basis or over a longer period, through online or face-to-face sessions lasting about an hour. Some Experts volunteer throughout the course, while others help on specific areas based on their knowledge and experience.
  
  
• What can I do on the mSchools Expert platform and what can I do with the app?
  In the app you can…
  
  

  1. As a Teacher, you can request sessions; as an Expert, you can choose the sessions most adequate to your expertise and availability.
  2. Once an Expert has accepted a session, the app will tell the teacher that their session has been assigned.
  3. Expert and Teacher agree on how the session is to be conducted (videoconference or face-to-face).
  4. After the session, the Expert and the Teacher will receive separately from the app a request to fulfil a short questionnaire which will be saved in the session’s record.

  
  
  What can you do on the platform?
  
  

  • Participate in the questions and answers forum.
  • See and connect with the community of Experts.
  • Modify your profile.
  • Contact mSchools for any queries.
  • Find information about mSchools and its initiatives!

  
  
  
• What is the forum for?
  Experts and Teachers contrast questions and answers related to App Education.
  
  

TEACHER

• I want to use the App Education lesson plans. Where do I start?
  1. Download the materials. The lesson plans are accessible to all teachers registered in Catalonia. All App Education materials in Catalan and in English are here
  2. Register into the mSchools Experts platform and download the app to interact with the mSchools Experts.

  
  
  If you want to receive information about training on the App Education lesson plans for teachers, check the agenda on the mSchools website and register to the newsletter.
  
  If you have any questions, send an email to: mschools@xtec.cat
  
  
• Why do I need an Expert?
  Interacting with an Expert offers a vision of the professional world and the mobile. Mentoring from an Expert will help improve students´ motivation and confidence and stimulate their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, enabling them to discover different career paths for their future.
• When and how often should I ask for the help of an Expert?
  There are three important moments to request help from an Expert: when the student groups consider the apps ideas and need to choose, when they have to consider app design, programming and usability, and, finally, for apps and choosing one, when they think about the design, programming and usability of the app and, finally, when creating a marketing plan and business model.
• Can I have the help of the same Expert throughout the school year?
  Yes. As a Teacher you can ask for the help of an Expert who mentors throughout the course. However, it’s up to the Expert to decide whether to help out on an occasional or continued basis.
• How to register as a Teacher and how to request the help of an Expert
  You must register as mSchools user on the Experts platform. Remember to complete your profile.
  
  Once registered as an mSchools user, you can request the help of an Expert:
  
  

  1. Download and consult the Experts "Teacher´s Manual"
  2. Download the mSchools Experts app on your mobile device and request a session.

  
  
  
• What is a session, what types of sessions are there and how can I request one?
  UA session is a request for help. Teachers request sessions in the mSchools Experts app. As a teacher, you can choose to request a single session on a specific topic, for which you have to suggest three different dates within school hours and how the session will be run (online or face-to-face). Alternatively, you can create mentoring sessions (no specific dates) requesting ongoing assistance throughout the school year by an Expert. Sessions requested by teachers are published in the app. Thus, Experts can choose which sessions they are able to attend according to their expertise and availability. If one of the Experts accepts doing mentoring sessions, the teacher can request single sessions on specific topics to a specific date and time that only that Expert can see. If the Expert accepts doing this sessions, contact between the Expert and Teacher begins and they agree on how to run the session. Once the session is over, the app will notify both the Teacher and the Expert to rate it.
  
  
• How does the Expert interact with the Teacher and the Students?
  The Expert and the Teacher interact before, during and after the session. Before the session, it is recommended that the teacher sends the Expert information on the status of the students’ projects. The Expert can only contact and interact with the Students during the session, in the presence of a Teacher. Under no circumstances can Students contact the Expert directly or vice versa without the supervision of a teacher, father, mother or legal guardian.
• Why is it important to rate the sessions and always ask for help using the app or the platform?
  This information is useful to monitor and improve both the app and the Experts platform.
• How do I cancel a session?
  A session can be cancelled using the app as long as no Expert has it assigned. If the session has already been accepted by an Expert, you must contact him/her personally to cancel it.
• What happens if no Expert accepts the session I have requested?
  If your session expires, it is recommended that you request a new one one, suggesting different dates and modifying slightly the information from the previous one.
• Can I choose the Expert I want help from?
  No. You can check the profiles of the Experts registered on the platform, but they decide what sessions, Teachers or Schools they can help, according to their expertise and availability.

EXPERT

• Why become an expert?
  1. Become part of the growing mSchools community, driving the use of mobile technology in the classroom as an important learning tool. You will have the opportunity to meet other professionals in the sector with shared interests and be part of this high-impact educational programme.
  2. Help build the future of the next generation. As an Expert, you have the opportunity to positively impact Students and Teachers, connecting the classroom to the professional world.
  3. Experience education from a different angle. As an mSchools Expert, you will the chance to experience and see first-hand how today´s students learn and use new technologies, putting their new skills into practice while you enjoy creativity.
     
     
• Who can become an Expert?
  Any professional can become an Expert. The ideal mSchools Expert is:

  • A professional with experience or know-how in one of the following areas: Ideation, Marketing, Market Research, User experience, Programming, Business Models and Public Speaking.
  • Keen to share their knowledge with future generations.
• What is my commitment as an Expert and what is expected of me?
  Each Expert can choose how much time to dedicate either on an occasional basis or over a longer period by mentoring one or more classes throughout the school year.
• How much time does the Expert need to dedicate to mentor a class throughout the school year?
  Mentoring a class throughout a school year involves approximately 10-15 hours of work, including contact before and after sessions. There are three important moments to request help from an Expert: when the student groups consider the apps ideas and need to choose, when they have to consider app design, programming and usability, and, finally, for apps and choosing one, when they think about the design, programming and usability of the app and, finally, when creating a marketing plan and business model.
• I have registered as an Expert. Now what?
  You must register as mSchools user on the Experts platform. Remember to complete your profile. You can then:

  1. Download and consult the Experts "Teacher´s Manual".
  2. Download the mSchools Experts app to your mobile device and assign yourself a session.
• What is a session, what types of session are there and how can I assign myself one?
  A session is a request for help by a Teacher in the mSchools Experts app. The request can be a single session on a specific topic, for which the Teacher specifies three dates within school hours and how these sessions will be run (online or face-to-face). Alternatively, Teachers can request mentoring sessions (without specific dates) by asking for an Expert’s help on an ongoing basis throughout the school year. The Experts can choose which session to assign themselves depending on their expertise and availability. If an Expert decides to mentor on a regular basis, the Teacher can request single sessions on specific dates that only the Expert can see. Every time you log on to the app you will see all the sessions available for you to accept. Once an Expert accepts a session with a specific date and time, contact between the Expert and Teacher is established and they agree on how the session will be run. Once the session is over, the app will notify both to rate the session.
• How does the Expert interact with the Teacher and the Students?
  The Expert and the Teacher interact before, during and after the session. Before the session, it is recommended that the teacher sends the Expert information on the status of the students’ projects. The Expert can only contact and interact with the Students during the session, in the presence of a Teacher. Under no circumstances can Students contact the Expert directly or vice versa without the supervision of a teacher, father, mother or legal guardian.
• Why is it important to rate the sessions?
  This information is useful to monitor and improve both the app and the Experts platform.
• How do I cancel a session?
  If you have accepted session and finally cannot attend, you can cancel the session using the app. Once you have cancelled the session the Teacher will receive a notification. It is advisable to warn the Teacher about the cancellation by contacting in advance by email or telephone.

COMPANIES

• I would like to offer my employees or colleagues the opportunity to become mSchools Experts:
  If you or your company is interested in offering the mSchools Experts programme as a corporate volunteer programme for employees, contact us for more information: mschools@mobileworldcapital.com.

MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact: mschools@mobileworldcapital.com