Development of a ubiquitous learning platform based on a real‐time help‐seeking mechanism

The popularity of mobile devices has encouraged the advance of ubiquitous learning, in which students are situated in a real‐world learning environment with support from the digital world via the use of mobile, wireless communications, or even sensing technologies. Most of the ubiquitous learning systems are implemented with high‐cost sensing devices for detecting the locations or behaviours of learners; moreover, these systems mainly focus on providing learning guidance or learning materials, while facilities for supporting mutual help among students are usually ignored. In this study, we propose a context‐aware ubiquitous learning platform (CULP) which uses low‐cost cell phones with embedded cameras and Internet service to support ubiquitous learning. CULP is able to provide instant support for learners in the ubiquitous learning activity; that is, learners can receive help from the right people via the hints given by the learning system when they encounter problems during their learning activities. The experimental results of a Personal Computer‐Assembling course show that, with the assistance of the new learning platform, both the learning efficiency and the learning achievement of the students were significantly improved.     

移动网络即时协作学习平台关键技术研究

移动学习平台是促进移动学习快速发展的重要因素,无线网络技术和移动通信技术及其相关移动终端设备的快速普及,使得基于有线网络和个人计算机的网络学习平台已不能满足当前学习者的实际需求.从无线移动网络环境下学习者的实际要求出发,研究具有移动Web即时通信、资源实时移动共享等功能的移动网络即时协作学习平台的体系机构和系统功能,探究实现该系统平台的关键技术,以便为移动学习者提供一种支持即时协作交流、实时共享资源与知识经验的新型移动网络即时协作学习平台.     

认知风格对情境感知泛在学习成效的影响——以国小蝴蝶生态教学为例

新技术的快速发展促进了情境感知泛在学习的进展。情境感知泛在学习利用移动、无线通讯技术和传感技术检测真实世界中学习者的学习行为并给他们提供直接的、个性化的学习支持。但是,是否每一个学生都能受益于这样一种新型的泛在学习形式仍然受到人们的质疑并成为一个值得进一步讨论的问题。同时,认知风格经常被教育者认为是在新的学习环境中影响学生学习效能的一个重要因素。作者试图通过在一个情境感知的移动学习环境中开展蝴蝶辨别的学习活动来研究学习者不同的学习风格之间的差异。     

m-Learning: An experiment in using SMS to support learning new English language words

There is an increase use of wireless technologies in education all over the world. In fact, wireless technologies such as laptop computers, palmtop computers and mobile phones are revolutionising education and transforming the traditional classroom-based learning and teaching into anytime and anywhere education. This paper investigates the use of wireless technologies in education with particular reference to the potential of learning new technical English language words using Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging. The system, developed by the authors, called mobile learning tool (MOLT), has been tested with 45 1st-year undergraduate students. The knowledge of students before and after the experiment has been measured. Our results show that students enjoyed and learned new words with the help of their mobile phones. We believe that using the MOLT system as an educational tool will contribute to the success of students.     

Effects of the inquiry-based mobile learning model on the cognitive load and learning achievement of students

The advancement of mobile device and wireless communication technologies is having a great influence on the design concept of learning activities. In this study, we attempt to integrate field study into the inquiry-based mobile learning model; moreover, a mobile learning environment that allows students to access both physical and virtual resources is developed accordingly. During the in-field learning activity, the mobile learning system is able to present the learning tasks, guide the students to visit the real-world learning targets for exploration, and provide them with supplementary materials via the mobile devices. The aim of this research focuses on the effects of this mobile learning model on students' cognitive load and learning achievements. The 51 sixth graders who participated in this research were assigned to an experimental and a control group. From the pre and posttests as well as the cognitive load questionnaire, it was found that the students who learned with the inquiry-based mobile learning approach had better learning achievement and less cognitive load than those who learned with the traditional approach. Therefore, it is concluded that the mobile learning model has positive effects on elementary students in local culture learning.     

泛在学习环境下基于凯利方格法的协作学习模式研究

物联网、无线网络、移动终端设备等的发展促进了泛在学习方式的普及应用,但泛在学习矛盾、不连续、随意、无节制、流程短的特点对有意义学习的发生提出了挑战。文章使用凯利方格方法与小组协作学习策略,针对学习者现场观察到的知识进行知识获取,以实时投票机制产生小组共识,对小组内学习者的知识进行整合。实验证明,在泛在学习环境下,使用这种学习模式的小组学生在知识建构能力和学习成效方面得到一定程度的提高。     

A concept map approach to developing collaborative Mindtools for context‐aware ubiquitous learning

Recent advances in mobile and wireless communication technologies have enabled various new learning approaches which situate students in environments that combine real‐world and digital‐world learning resources; moreover, students are allowed to share knowledge or experiences with others during the learning process. Although such an approach seems to be promising and innovative, researchers have indicated several problems when applying it to practical applications, in particular, the lack of proper strategies or tools to assist the students to learn collaboratively in such a learning scenario with abundant content. Students might feel interested when using the mobile devices to learn; however, without proper assistance or guidance, their learning achievements are usually disappointing. To cope with this problem, this study proposes a concept map‐oriented Mindtool for collaborative ubiquitous learning. Experimental results from a natural science course in an elementary school show that this approach not only enhances learning motivation but also improves the learning achievements of the students.     

基于场景感知的移动学习应用研究

移动定位技术能获取移动学习者所处的位置信息,使得移动学习系统能感知用户所处学习场景并据此开展有效的移动学习,从位置、时间、设备和学习者四个方面阐述了场景感知移动学习的应用要点。     

The Dialectical Relationship Between Place and Space in Education: How the Internet Is Changing Our Perceptions of Teaching and Learning

In this essay Michael Glassman and Jonathan Burbidge explore the idea of a dialectical relationship between the traditional place(s) of teaching/learning settings and the challenges to our perceptions created by the new spaces of the Internet. The authors examine this topic in the context of a three‐stage evolution of humans' relationship with new technologies: (1) fear of how new technologies will change our everyday actions, (2) recognition of emerging technologies as tools capable of offering new possibilities in our activities, and (3) integration of new technologies into productive everyday activities. The Internet is moving quickly through all three stages, but this process takes different forms with disparate populations. What makes recognition of the fast‐moving integration of Internet technology important in the field of education is that students and educators are often at different points in this process. It is critical that we are aware of the role technology is playing in the classroom, in particular the dynamic dialectical relationship between space and place.     

M‐learning adequacy and perceptions of students and teachers in secondary schools

In recent years, the use of mobile technologies has increased in a number of fields such as banking, economy, tourism, entertainment, library research, etc. These developments have also led to the use of mobile technologies for educational purposes. The successful integration of mobile learning (m‐learning) technologies in education primarily demands that teachers' and students' adequacy and perceptions of such technology should be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare teachers' and students' abilities and perceptions concerning m‐learning. Research data for the analysis were obtained from a sample of 467 teachers and 1556 students from 32 schools that were surveyed in Northern Cyprus. Based on our results, we conclude that teachers and students want to use m‐learning in education. Their perceptions are positive but their m‐learning adequacy levels are not sufficient.     

Addressing the context of e‐learning: using transactional distance theory to inform design

The rapidly expanding range of options available for innovative e‐learning approaches based on emerging technologies has given renewed importance to teaching and learning issues that have long been familiar to distance educators. These issues arise from the separation between learners, and between teacher and learners, which occurs when learning is undertaken wholly or partly online. There may be important implications that emerge from aspects of separation, depending on whether students are studying primarily on‐campus, off‐campus, trans‐nationally, or in specific contexts such as the home, the workplace, fieldwork locations, or other places made possible by mobile learning technologies. We suggest that the context of learning has significant implications for e‐learning design, and that one way of analysing these implications is to draw on understandings from distance education, particularly the theory of transactional distance. We use cases from two Australian universities to illustrate the practical application of these implications to e‐learning design, including designs that involve Web 2.0 technologies.     

新型移动学习环境下微视频建设研究

随着移动通信技术的发展,越来越多的学习者通过智能手机、平板电脑等移动终端访问网络.在此背景下,研究微视频、移动学习与课程的融合问题,提出新型移动学习环境下微视频的定位、设计与制作的指导思想、叙事结构、分类与制作方法,解决开发适应新型移动学习环境下学习者需求的课程教学资源建设问题.     

Mobile Experiences of Historical Place: A Multimodal Analysis of Emotional Engagement

This article explores how to research the opportunities for emotional engagement that mobile technologies provide for the design and enactment of learning environments. In the context of mobile technologies that foster location-based linking, we make the case for the centrality of in situ real-time observational research on how emotional engagement unfolds and for the inclusion of bodily aspects of interaction. We propose that multimodal methods offer tools for observing emotion as a central facet of person–environment interaction and provide an example of these methods put into practice for a study of emotional engagement in mobile history learning. A multimodal analysis of video data from 16 pairs of 9- to 10-year-olds learning about the World War II history of their local Common is used to illustrate how students’ emotional engagement was supported by their use of mobile devices through multimodal layering and linking of stimuli, the creation of digital artifacts, and changes in pace. These findings are significant for understanding the role of digital augmentation in fostering emotional engagement in history learning, informing how digital augmentation can be designed to effectively foster emotional engagement for learning, and providing insight into the benefits of multimodality as an analytical approach for examining emotion through bodily interaction.     

Evaluation of mobile assessment in a learning management system

This article discusses the problem of using and delivering educational content from the Moodle learning management system to mobile devices. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the students' habits, motivations and technical possibilities in order to incorporate mobile‐learning activities in the e‐learning process. A mobile quiz has been chosen as an activity to be delivered on mobile devices. The developed mobile quiz application was integrated into Moodle. The application interface was tailored to various types of mobile devices aiming to foster mainstreaming of mobile technologies in e‐learning. For the purposes of the evaluation, an experiment was conducted within the e‐learning system at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, the University of Belgrade. Data were obtained from the students who attended e‐learning courses in the area of e‐business. Research findings have shown that integration of the mobile quiz application into Moodle improves students' results and increases satisfaction and motivation for using mobile devices in their learning process.     

大学生接受移动学习的影响因素实证分析

随着无线通信技术的飞速发展和移动设备的深入普及,移动学习作为一种新的学习方式逐渐进入大学生的校园生活。但实践中大学生对移动学习的应用情况与其对移动设备的热情并不匹配,大学生对移动学习的接受和运用不足现象严重。到底哪些因素影响着大学生接受移动学习？关于移动学习的采纳与接受,已有的研究主要采用技术接受模型（TAM模型）,试图探究影响一般社会群体接受移动学习的因素。TAM模型应用存在一定的局限性,拓展的技术整合和接受理论模型（UTAUT模型）在信息接受模型中具有更好的解释力。以UTAUT模型为基础,利用问卷调查和多元回归分析对北京师范大学学生的研究发现,成就价值、绩效期望、使用经验、感知娱乐性和社会影响等因素对大学生接受移动学习有显著性影响,因此应从加强校园宣传与环境建设、改进移动学习资源设计等方面,提升大学生对移动学习的接受水平。     

Extending the pedagogy of mobility

Direct student experience of the real organism, object, place or environment is recognised by teachers as having powerful potential for high-quality learning. Mobile technologies offer a way for students to capture their authentic learning experiences, but rendering this rich experience into explicit and highly situated learning contexts for students remains an ongoing pedagogical challenge. After reviewing the changing nature of smart learning tools, several examples are explored to identify how they provide a novel learning context. Each example uses the integration of the smart device’s capabilities, such as the rapid capture of images and the juxtaposition of motion and static display. When comparing the incorporated tools of only a few years ago with the current tools available with the latest smart mobile devices, general principles can be generated to inform effective professional practice, specifically when teaching spatially dependent tasks, and in mobile collaborative learning environments.     

Feasibility analysis of improving on-campus learning paths via a depth sensor

This research aims to apply a depth sensor to create a human-body-sensing context for outdoor learning paths; it is conducted by incorporating both quasi-experiment and survey to compare students’ cognitive learning outcome within the context and understand students’ attitudes toward the context created. The result of ANCOVA indicates that the context of an introductory film activated by the depth sensor produces better cognitive learning outcome. Furthermore, the survey of students’ attitudes also shows positive attitudes from both experimental and control groups toward the additional use of a human-body-sensing system activated by the depth sensor. The experimental results show the depth sensor can be used to improve conventional learning paths, i.e. with information boards only, for it enables students to participate in wireless sensing learning with their hands free from holding any device.     

Development and evaluation of a context-aware ubiquitous learning environment for astronomy education

In recent years information technology has been integrated into education to produce a series of trends, beginning with “electronic learning” (e-learning), through “mobile learning” (m-learning) and finally to “ubiquitous learning” (u-learning), which aims to improve learner motivation through overcoming the conventional limitations of time and location. U-learning practices are still being developed, and learners frequently experience difficulty focusing on learning objectives, and effective learning strategy tools are still lacking. This study reports the design of a context-aware astronomy learning system. The system integrates several technologies, including radio frequency identification, wireless communication networks, handheld mobile devices, and databases to help students learn astronomical concepts. Two content modules were developed in the context of natural science education for fifth-grade elementary school students in Taiwan. Indicators of user experience with the system were collected for further phenomenographic analysis, based on four perspectives of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model to assess learner willingness to use this novel u-learning approach. Results show that ease-of-use and the availability of immediate operational or technical support are key factors in increasing learning motivation and performance.     

Pervasive,lifestyle‐integrated mobile learning for distance learners: an analysis and unexpected results from a podcasting study

This article opens with a discussion of how and why mobile learning (m‐learning) is purported to be the next step in the evolution of distance education, before looking at various perspectives on what m‐learning constitutes. It critically examines the degree to which ‘true’ m‐learning has been achieved, by offering pedagogical value beyond the mere use of mobile devices to deliver e‐learning content. The authors argue that podcasting, in combination with a variety of portable MPEG Layer 3 (MP3)‐capable devices that are increasingly ubiquitous, can be used to deliver a form of m‐learning that offers a higher degree of lifestyle integration than many current ‘state of the art’ m‐learning applications, despite not being as technically complex. They present an example of a study in which podcasting was used to deliver supplementary listening material to distance learners undertaking an information technology subject. An end‐of‐semester survey yielded extremely positive feedback about uptake levels and the perceived effectiveness of the podcasts in aiding the students’ learning of the subject matter. However, it also produced interesting results on the ways the students made use of the podcasts, which deviated from the researchers’ original intentions for ‘anytime, anywhere, any device’ learning. The results are discussed in the light of possible influencing factors, supported by follow‐up interview data. The study may have broader implications for the still nascent field of m‐learning.