WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Towards true mobile learning Lisa Gommer Wageningen University

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group The Netherlands

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Wageningen Amsterdam

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Audience questions Experience with wireless or mobile learning? Familiarity with: GPS, GPRS and PDA? Interests: Technical or Educational?

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Topics Project background Case studies (3) Evaluation & conclusions Future activities Questions Geo-information Vegetation science Archeology

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Project Background info (1) Gipsy project (2002 – 2003) First steps in implementation of Mobile Learning Cooperation between three Universities: Amsterdam, Wageningen & Nijmegen Two year collaborative project, grant by SURF foundation Joint development of course modules for internet and wireless environments Educause 2003

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Project Background info (2) Follow-up: Manolo Project (2004 – 2005) VU Amsterdam en Wageningen University Project Goals Integration of E-, W-, and M-Learning Improve ‘fit’ between educational goals and (wireless) learning environment Represent knowledge & experiences in blueprints and best practices

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Wireless Learning Matrix A B A B

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 1: Geo-Information Course description Students work on different case studies Topic: Geographical Information Systems Real problems from real stakeholders Multidisciplinary research teams Case examples: Discovering the Roman Limes PDA guided excursion for high school pupils

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Indoors: ‘Wireless Office’ Outdoors: PDA and GPS available Training & Support: Introduction on PDA and GPS Helpdesk Course website (manuals) Case 1: Geo-Information Wireless Components

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 1: Geo-Information Matrix positioning

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Wireless Office

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Introduction PDA & GPS

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Lots of equipment

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Excellent technical support

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 1: Geo-Information Problems & Successes Tablets mainly used in start-up phase Introduction assignment was essential Enthusiasm about new technology Excellent support contributed to success

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Tablets for cooperation

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Motivated helpdesk

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Frustrated helpdesk

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Real problems Real clients

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Student motivation

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 1: Geo-Information More information Course website (in English):

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 2: Vegetation Science Course description Goal: Developing a research plan about vegetation and ecosystems ecology. Literature research on vegetation composition Excursion to TerschellingTerschelling Data collection on vegetation species Pen and paper  Transfer to laptop by hand Analysis and reflection back home  Presentation

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Terschelling

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 2: Vegetation Science Wireless Components PDA for data collection PocketVeg for plant determination Group communication Tablet for uploading and processing data Training & Support Introduction exercise in Wageningen Remote support

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 2: Vegetation Science Matrix positioning

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 2: Vegetation Science Problems No full GPRS coverage on the island  No communication possible Logistic problems (equipment) More manuals and local support

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Quick start due to introduction exercise Students enthusiastic about practical advantage Practical value leads to educational value Continuation & expansion of experiment next year Case 2: Vegetation Science Successes

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Data collection

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Upload & Analysis

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Reflection & Fine-tuning

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 3: Archeology Course description Archeological fieldwork in Apulia, Italy Field surveys: Learn more about ancient Greek societies Search for fragments of ancient artifacts Registration of density Marking of measuring units using aerial photographs Paper registration of findings Back home: Digitizing and analysis of data

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Transect Walking

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 3: Archeology Wireless Components PDA and GPS for: Orientation (positioning) Mobile GIS (drawing of units) Digital input of findings Training & Support: Presentation Written manuals Local support

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Case 3: Archeology Matrix positioning

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Orientation

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group

Data Input

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Comparison

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Mobile Working Environment

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Getting used to new method GPRS connection not available Application development time consuming Case 3: Archeology Problems

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Practical value: No more tedious handwork Application performed well Simplifying the method  take turns on teamleader role More time for analysis Case 3: Archeology Successes

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Evaluation method Pre and Post evaluation students Usage Technique and support Experiences Attitude Learning effect Teacher interviews Student panel

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Evaluation results Familiarity 70% have some experience with wireless 80% not familiar with PDA and Tablet pc 40% have their own laptop

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Evaluation results Usage Desktop is used most (80% often) Processing / analysis of data Professional software available Writing reports Tablet PC used for cooperation (62%) Mainly used in start-up phase

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Evaluation results Attitude & learning effect Wireless useful in general - 90% 80% Wireless useful in education- 75% 80% Wireless interesting- 70% 75% Wireless fun to work with- 75% 70% Also in other courses % Easy to use- 50% 90% Before After

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Evaluation results Advantages - Disadvantages Advantages: Practical value (less time, less errors) Instructive experience New challenge! Disadvantages: ‘Hassle’ with equipment Time consuming

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Conclusions New-effect More support needed (teachers!) Technical imperfections Success strongly depends on support level User instruction Logistics Helpdesk (problem solving)

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Conclusions Added value? Practical value Student motivation Educational value

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Future activities WIKI – helpdesk op afstand Uitbreiding experimenten True Mobile Learning?

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY educational support group Future activities dokuWIKI – remote helpdesk Expansion of experiments Field connectivity: Can it really be done? Involve students in course (re)design

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