Randomization application: A new tool for academics of the new millennium

Abstract

Learning is no longer centered around the “sage on the stage”; rather, students are partners in the learning process.1 As academics, we have the responsibility to innovate our approach to learning and teaching by applying new approaches. Randomization is a method of experimental control that has been applied to biological experiments and human clinical trials to provide equitable treatment allocation and valid statistical inference.2 Also, using randomization in a classroom environment can increase student participation and engagement; however, most of the time, it is done in rudimentary ways, such as using pieces of paper. This inconvenient, underdeveloped, and time-consuming method might prevent educators from using randomization in their classes; hence, a mobile application could bring innovation to this process and, consequently, increase class performance. Although several randomization programs are available,3 the majority are desktop applications, commercial software, or web applications that might be inaccessible from some locations or unaffordable for investigator-initiated trials where study subjects need the assignment. However, according to the Pew Research Center (2020), the vast majority of Americans, nearly 96%, own a cellphone.4 As mobile touch devices continue to grow, applications (apps) are replacing traditional communication technology and are becoming an indispensable part of academic life.