Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
In the mobile learning environment, the learners could receive the learn-
ing materials provided by a system according to where they are when learn-
ing [4,5]. Mobile learning strategy can actually achieve the goal of learning
at anytime and anywhere. Recently, ubiquitous learning has become an
interesting and important issue in informal learning [19], focusing on learn-
ers being able to learn with their various devices whenever and wherever
they want.
This paper reveals the project that plans to build a MAA-based ubiquitous
learning environment and apply the positioning technologies to design loca-
tion-aware learning services. For example, the dynamic grouping system
will help learners find a collaborative group when they are doing learning
quests, the learning path planner will arrange the route for learners when
they arrive at a learning spot, and the location-based guidance system will
navigate learners traveling from one learning spot to another.
Section 16.2 introduces the related research components, for example,
situated learning theory, ubiquitous learning researches, MAA, position-
ing technologies, grouping technologies, spatial relation structures, and
the landmark researches. Section 16.3 describes the main idea and design
plan of the project's MAA-based platform. In Section 16.4, we are talking
about the location-awareness application, the grouping system. Section
16.5 focuses on the learning path planner and the guidance message gen-
erator. Finally, Section 16.6 makes a conclusion and discusses the possible
future.
16.2 Research Background
In a traditional learning environment, the education is held in the classroom,
which find the teachers and learners face to face. The learners could only get
the learning materials prepared in advance from the teacher. As a result, the
learning activities are limited in what the teacher has arranged and then
materials and courses are difficult to adjust immediately according to stu-
dents' learning status and demands.
E-learning applies computer and the Internet technologies to assist teach-
ers' teaching and learners' learning [2]. E-learning provides a new learning
mechanism to run the education process with e-mail, web-camera, and web-
based testing, the teacher and learners are not together [14]. However, some
courses need students learning through observation and are not conducive
to a web-based learning environment, for example, the butterfly watching or
plant-learning experiences [4,5,20].
Mobile learning extends the learning from indoor to outdoor and gives
learners opportunities to understand the materials via touching, watch-
ing, and feeling the objects in the real world [13,24]. Furthermore, mobile
