Reconstructing an Informal Mobile Learning Experience with Multiple Data Streams Hilary Smith University of Sussex, with Kher Hui (Marina) Ng, Kevin Walker, Josh Underwood, Sarah Heldt, Geraldine Fitzpatrick, Rose Luckin, Judith Good, Peta Wyeth, Steve Benford MIL-RM Workshop, WLE, London, 14 December 2007

Investigating building collaborative relationships between schools and with scientists in use of science resources and data opportunities for hands-on learning and science engagement, both in school and beyond (secondary science KS3) methods to support teachers in creating new, usable learning experiences for themselves and others Educational e-science as “the use of ICT in education, to enable local and remote communication and collaboration on scientific topics and with scientific data”, Woodgate and Stanton Fraser, 2005 Introduction – e-Science Usability

My Mobile Mission (M3) Moodle guided introduction “Alternative and renewable energies” group discussion film Mob. mediated outdoor ‘treasure hunt’ Review and reflection iPod interviews 14:0014:3015:3016:30 Group discussion 17:00

My Mobile Mission (M3) Moodle guided introduction “Alternative and renewable energies” group discussion film Mob. mediated outdoor ‘treasure hunt’ Review and reflection iPod interviews 14:0014:3015:3016:30 Group discussion 17:00

Learning resources Per team of mobile phone for data capture 1 mobile phone for clues and communication Video camera Paper map Researcher as facilitator, camera and an eco-campus alternative energy examples

Research questions What aspects of the task are motivating and could be useful in a science related hands-on task? How the group co-ordinates their task, decide which tool etc. What do they observe, capture and discuss whilst attending to clues? What kinds of distractions, stimuli, triggers for articulation? Can familiar technologies be used to data collect for later review and reflection?

Analysis of data is from 2 perspectives 1.Participants’ review and reflection leading to conclusion building and presentation of results and reflection 2.Researchers’ & teachers’ review and reflection leading to iterative experience redesign Analysis of complete trail experience means compiling a (complete or partial) set of data sources into time- synchronised and efficient representations for re-use Research methodology

Photo story as research method Video stream Text message logs Online photo repository Other data sources that relate to the trail: Photos iPod interviews OOKL annotations Reflective comments

Pulling together of multiple data sources into a snapshot view Focuses on building group interpretation of the data Can be refined, altered, used to focus in on areas for more detailed analysis Could provide tagged links to the point in actual data files Could be created by learners to develop shared understanding of salient points in experience Opportunities

Issues raised for discussion Do aspects of method indicate challenges for other researchers to adopt versions of this methodology? What methods have been used to access the new knowledge that is being built within an experience by learners? What aspects contribute to the trade-offs between resources available for capture, quality of the data and the utility of those resources for future analysis? What tools and methods have others found particularly useful for research analysis e.g. synchronisation, analysis and re-player tools?

Acknowledgements, contacts The e-Science Usability project is funded by the ESRC. We would also like to thank The Sea for providing the OOKL service and mobile phones, and our summer camp participants and research helpers in Nottingham Project website Evolving blog of science resources e-science4schools.blogspot.com