Tangible Flags Collaborative Educational Technology to enhance grade school field trips Gene Chipman PhD Candidate in Computer Science University of Maryland Human Computer Interaction Lab Copyright Gene Chipman This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

Classroom of the Future project Research Focus Educational Technology Design processes Target users Grade school children Parents and Educators Think outside the classroom Our perspective on developing a mobile learning application Designed for grades K-4 Broad themes apply to older students

A gap in learning experiences Field Trip Learning in an authentic context Exploration Observation Note taking Hard to collaborate Awareness Access to information Classroom Create Explicit Representations Expression Synthesis Collaboration Removed from original learning context Notes removed from context Can not iteratively explore

What can mobile technology do? 1. Situate information in the real world 1. Information accessed in a relevant context 1. Compare information and environment 2. Information created in a relevant context 1. More synthesis in context 2. Further exploration of environment 2. Support collaboration 1. Awareness of others’ activities 1. Exploration and information creation activities 2. Awareness in context 2. Switch between individual and collaborative activity 1. Freedom to individually explore 2. Easy to initiate collaboration

Tangible Flags Technology Situating information Tangible Flag marks real world Flag has RFID tag Tablet PC views info RFID reader Info on wireless server Enhance students’ awareness Visual flag indicates Exploration activity Information creation Identity of author Easily turn awareness into collaboration

Collaborative Interface Flag page Concurrently shared space Instant collaboration Color indicates author Flag thumbnail Access discovered flags Context of original discovery See changes real time ScratChat IM Temporary messages

Tangible Flags at a National Park Rock Creek National Park ¼ mile forest walk Scavenger hunt Situated information Learner directs learning Ranger participation Observer mode Flagged interesting spots Enhanced collaboration Concurrent interaction Remote access

Conclusion Situate Information Enable students to Both access and create information in context Iteratively examine the real world while working with learning materials Guide their own learning Support Collaboration Support students in Awareness of peer activity and joint work Easily switching between individual and joint work Concurrent interaction

Acknowledgements National Park Service Microsoft Center for Young Children

National Park Examples

Future Considerations Addressing issues of scale Colored pens limits number of authors Shared space on Flag pages cluttered How to scale for many students Integrating artifacts with the classroom Both learning environments important Content specific application Structure around learning task Support for within team collaboration

Teachers videotape field trip In class reviewing software Match Tangible Flags in video with student created information Optical barcodes Students see both during discussion Possible Extension – Returning to the Classroom

Possible Extension – Plant Identification Application Different user interface based on task Data collection Data entry for plant characteristics Data comparison Graphs and statistics Allows comparison between different data Same plant or different plant Web-based identification guide Teams’ analysis and comments Each team member has a mobile device Independently view/edit information Easily distribute tasks within team Display aggregate of team’s input