Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of smartphone apps in fostering effectual thinking. The paper considers both the effectual development of entrepreneurial ideas and the associated change in entrepreneurial confidence and perceived entrepreneurial skills of students at a UK Higher Education Institution. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted with 60 first year undergraduate management students who had not previously undertaken enterprise education. Students were divided into three groups: the first was given a process-based briefing on developing entrepreneurial ideas; the second the process-based briefing and an additional method-based briefing on developing entrepreneurial ideas; while the third the same process-based briefing and use of the smartphone application as a method-based learning tool. Findings: The results show the value of method-based teaching and the potential value of smartphone based learning tool to support independent method-based learning. Compared to the process-based approach, the method-based approach is shown to have an increased effect on the development of entrepreneurial ideas, as well as increasing entrepreneurial confidence and entrepreneurial skill of the participants. Practical implications: Implications for the future development of enterprise and entrepreneurial education are presented, referring to factors which enable entrepreneurial ideas to be developed and how pedagogical approaches shape this. Originality/value: The study adds to the emergent literature on enterprise education by evidencing the need to develop new approaches and identify in what ways these may be informed by a more effectual approach.