Beyond Mobile Learning: the design of ubiquitous and ambient learning environments

Professor Mike Sharples, University of Nottingham

Dan Phillips, Strategy Director, the SEA

22 March 2007, 10am - 3pm Cost: Free

In the morning, Professor Mike Sharples took participants through a review of the rich vision of current and potential future developments in this area. It moves away from the dominant view of mobile learning as an isolated activity to explore mobile learning as a rich, collaborative and conversational experience, whether in classrooms, homes or the streets of a city. It asks how we might draw on existing theories of learning to help us evaluate the most relevant applications of mobile technologies in education. It describes outstanding projects currently under development in the UK and around the world and it explores what the future might hold for learning with mobile technologies.

In the afternoon, Dan Phillips gave a presentation on the way OOKL (www.ookl.org.uk) has worked as a learning tool in cultural venues and schools to date, how we are rolling it out for primary and secondary school education and how it is being developed to support life long learning and business intelligence in the field.

Biography

Mike Sharples

Mike Sharples is Professor of Learning Sciences and Director of the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Nottingham. The focus of the LSRI is to explore theories and practices of learning and to design and evaluate novel learning technologies and environments. Mike's research interests include human-centred design of new technologies for learning, mobile and contextual learning, and the application of studies of human cognition and social interaction to the design of novel interactive systems. He is Deputy Scientific Manager of the Kaleidoscope European Network of Excellence in Technology Enabled Learning.

Dan Phillips, Strategy Director

Dan started the SEA in 1998. (www.the-sea.com). The SEA is a service innovation company that works at the frontier of design and technology to improve and transform service and product experiences. Recent clients include France Telecom, Orange and the Department for Culture Media and Sports. Dan previously worked for Ove Arup in the UK, Europe and Africa and Ford Motor Company in the UK and europe. He has a Master's in Interdisciplinary Design from Cambridge University and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Imperial College. He has lectured in Environmental Design and written a book on Ecofriendly Homes, published in the UK, France and the United States.

60 Second Interview

What is the next big disruptive technology in your opinon and why?

Prof Mike Sharples
I see the next big disruptive technology as being location-aware computer/communicators. These will take gaming and social networking out of teenage bedrooms and into streets and schools. These are handheld devices (with screen sizes ranging from that of a mobile phone to a small tablet computer) which allow people to play multiplayer games on the move, get location-based services, promotions and adverts, watch TV and engage in multimedia communication. Two points of disruption will be location-based services (e.g. monitoring the movements of your child, friend, partner; and advertising promotions targeted to your profile and location), and also children bringing these powerful communications and networking devices into schools. At some point schools will have to recognise that they can't continute to supply pupils with outdated technology, and look for ways to integrate personal technologies and social-networked learning into the school system.

Dan Phillips
In the field of telecommunications - peer to peer mesh networks. When the network is no longer controlled by the network operators innovators will create new services that are not expected.

Which single technological innovation will most effectively develop mobile learning and why?

Prof Mike Sharples
The location-aware computer/communicator (see above). It will offer the possibility to support learning in context, and offer a personal tool for social networked and constructive learning. To give an example, learners of English in a foreign city could leave location based 'mini-guides' for visitors, which the tourists can view or hear on their location-based devices. The visitors can correct or comment on the English, and also add their impressions and recommendations. Another example is a location-based Wikipedia. The challenge will be to integrate such learning with people's other social and mobile activites.

Dan Phillips
The convergence of mobile and wifi networks on mobile devices. this will make it far easier to have seamless learning experiences that are both rich and cost effective

After speaking at ULS on 22 March at Urban Learning Space, to those who have never heard of us, how would you describe what we do?

Prof Mike Sharples
My impression is that you work with education providers and students to develop a vision of future learning, though a series of practical workshops and seminars. then, through some targeted projects you find ways to turn that vision into reality.

Dan Phillips
You bring people together to create, share and discover the new tools for the 21st century.