Learning Sciences Research Institute

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Learning Sciences Research Institute

• Exploring 21st century learning

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Research Topics

• Global and distance learning
• Designs for new learning environments
• Mobile, contextual and mixed-reality learning
• Playful learning
• Cognition and maths
• Learning cultures and contexts
• Visual thinking and learning
• Collaborative learning
• Analysis of classroom interaction
• Fundamental learning processes

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Mobile Learning

• International Association for Mobile Learning
• www.iamlearn.org
• mLearn conference series
• mLearn 2009 Florida
• http//www.mlearn2009.org/

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PI Personal Inquiry
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PI Personal Inquiry

• 3 year ESRC/EPSRC TEL project
• Join Nottingham-Open University
• Support for inquiry science learning between
  formal and informal settings, KS3
• School for introducing and framing issues, and
  planning inquiries
• Outside, home and science centres for
  semi-structured investigations

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Urban Heat Islands background

• 76 pupils aged 14-15 years. GCSE geography
  coursework over 2 months
• Investigation of urban heat island effect in
  Milton Keynes and Northampton
• Unknown outcome(no existing data found)
• Milton Keynes (new town)
• Northampton (old county town)

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Inquiry toolkit
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Microclimates background

• 175 pupils aged 12-13 years. Geography class work
  over 4 lessons
• Investigation of microclimates in school grounds
• Where is the best place to put a bench/fly a
  kite/plant a flower garden?

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MyArtSpace

• Service on mobile phones for enquiry-led museum
  learning
• Learning through structured construction and
  conversation
• Students create their own interpretation of a
  museum visit which they explore back in the
  classroom
• 3000 children in three museums

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Prepare inquiry in the classroom
MyArtSpace
Create and collect in the museum
View and share in the classroom
Present a personal perspective
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Summary of Results

• The technology worked
• Photos, information on exhibits, notes, automatic
  sending to website
• Students liked the cool technology
• Students spent longer (90 mins compared to 20
  mins)
• Supported inquiry learning
• Encouraged children to make active choices
• Connected school and museum
• Need for more teacher preparation

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OOKL Commercial service from MyArtSpace
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PaSAT

• Authoring system for 11_at_many learning
• Provide motivation and structure for a
  field-based learning activity
• Enable engaged and reflective learning

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Field equipment
Laptop (server)
Web Service calls
PDAs with GPS (client)
Wireless network
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Build-IT game

• Choose the best locations for 3 new buildings
• Factors to consider
• Minimise Cost
• Minimise Risk (e.g. environmental impact)
• Cost and Risk both vary depending on where you
  put building, and how big they are

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Learning across locations

• Factors that affect cost and risk are visible in
  the environment

Slopes cause flood risks
Soft land requires more expensive foundations
Being outdoors in the environment is part of the
game
Houses nearby lead to planning objections
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Initial results

• Highly engaging
• Engagement and reflection outdoors
• Structured learning
• Need more support to use data gathering tools and
  strategies effectively
• Need more connection back to the classroom
• To share and present results