EVALUATION OF A SYSTEM OF EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONTROL BY USING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Nadezhda Kafadarova¹*, Silviya Stoyanova-Petrova² and Diana Stoyanova^3
1Assoc. Prof. Dr., Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", Bulgaria, n_kafadarova@abv.bg
²Assoc. Prof. Dr., Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", Bulgaria, si_vest@yahoo.com
³Assist. Prof. Dr., Agricultural University - Plovdiv, Bulgaria, di_vest@yahoo.com
*Corresponding author

Abstract
This article describes a scientific research which is subjected to the hypothesis that the development of self-control through the use of mobile technology can be integrated in the educational process, to overcome the difficulties associated with learning and development of different competences and to support personal development and minimizing of habits that impede successful implementation. The analysis focuses on the study of the didactic potential of mobile technology for the development of self-control in different situations.
The aims and objectives of the survey described in this article are directly related to:

• Improving of self-control in the working environment of persons employed in occupations with a lot of professional stress - in the work of teachers, social workers, medical workers, etc.;
• Improving the effectiveness of teaching and professional realization of students who are future psychologists;
• Enhancement of well-being and life satisfaction and achieving a healthier life;
• Providing online mobile digital resources for the development of self-control;
• Increasing the knowledge on the possibilities for the development of self-control, using innovative teaching technologies.

The end result of the conducted scientific and applied research from the fields of psychology, mobile technology and didactics is a package that contains the following elements:

• Conceptual model of self-control;
• Scenarios and exercises to develop self-control using mobile technology;
• Audiovisual and multimedia resources for mobile devices in accordance with the developed scenarios and exercises for self-control development;
• Tools to assess the development of self-control and tools to assess the progress in the development of self-control through the use of mobile technology.

The implementation of this package in the training of students - future psychologists, as well as in the work of persons employed in occupations that are filled with a lot of professional stress was organized as a pilot experiment.
The experiment included:

• Introduction of the participants with the nature and meaning of self-control to achieve the objectives in various activities, for mental well-being and health;
• Introduction of the participants with opportunities to use mobile technology to develop self-control;
• Familiarization with the content of the developed exercises;
• Conducting training for the development of self-control in students - future psychologists and persons engaged in professions that are critical and filled with professional stress;
• Assessment of the progress of the development of self-control;
• Assessment of exercises for mobile devices;
• Assessment of attitudes towards learning process aimed at developing self-control through the use of mobile technology.

Keywords: Self-control, mobile learning, mobile technologies, QR code.