Mobile-ready items

Updated 03 Feb 2024

Mastering assignment items can be completed on a mobile device (as well as a on computer) if they contain only:

Multiple-choice or true/false questions
Questions whose answers are simple alphanumeric characters, words, and phrases or are essay (free-form text) answers
Questions with numeric or symbolic answers
Questions with numeric value and units answers
Questions with chemical formula or expression answers

Exceptions: An item that meets those criteria is not mobile-ready if contains a link, a media tag, or a hint that requires an answer of any kind. Examples include items that contain Marvin 3D rotation or other animations.

Identify mobile-ready items: These items are signified by this icon in the Item Library and in the Items page that you see when you create or edit an assignment. These can be publisher items or My Items you created yourself or copied and edited.

To see mobile-ready items when you create an assignment, select the Mobile Items filter.

Student experience using the mobile view of Mastering

When students open an assignment on a mobile device, they see all of the items listed, with the Go to Computer to Complete message above each non-mobile item. If any part of an item can't be completed on the device, students can't click or open the item.

Note: Timed assignments and password-protected assignments are listed, but cannot be opened, on a mobile device. Caution your students to plan ahead to be at a computer to complete these kinds of assignments.

Items that can be completed on the student's device have clickable blue title text. Students can open and complete these items on their devices, and then complete the remaining items later, back at their computers.

Encourage students to check system requirements for mobile devices and to watch the video:

Watch a video: Using mobile devices

Instructor access: You can see the student experience of the mobile view of Mastering by signing in on a mobile device using a Student account. How to enroll in your course as a student

Other mobile-enabled activities

Aside from working on Mastering assignments, students can also use their mobile devices to take advantage of other Mastering features that might be available with your course:

Dynamic Study Modules on a tablet
eTextbook, using the Pearson+ app for eTextbooks for tablets and smartphones
Learning Catalytics sessions on smartphones and tablets