AbstractThis study presents the use of smartphones as practical scientific instruments in the context of measuring optical pollution across rural settlements in the Municipality of Likova. Thirteen high school students from “Ismet Jashari” Secondary School participated in the project, conducting light measurements in nine villages using various smartphone models (iPhone 13, iPhone 15, Samsung A14, Samsung A32, among others) equipped with mobile applications such as LightMeter and Lux Light Meter Pro.Over a three-day period, students performed multiple illumination measurements under different atmospheric conditions andlocations (yards, balconies, open spaces), and collected over 50 data entries in total. Results show clear differences in the measured illumination values depending on device model and light source color. Newer devices such as the iPhone 15 recorded consistently higher lux values, likely due to more advanced light sensors. Furthermore, the highest illumination levels were recorded under light blue and light green sources, while red and violet produced the lowest, in line with known spectral properties. In addition to technical data, the study includes an evaluation of the learning impact. Survey results indicated that 76.9% of students felt better prepared for future studies, and 92.3% expressed interest in participating in similar scientific projects. These outcomes support previous findings on the effectiveness of mobile-assisted STEM education and experiential learning. The study affirms that involving students in citizen science using mobile technology enhances both environmental awareness and scientific competencies, contributing meaningfully to STEM education in secondary schools.Keywords: Smartphones as scientific instruments, light pollution measurement, STEM education, student engagement, mobileapplications in science.
Liridon Sulejmani (Sat,) studied this question.