Keynote presentation at Intel Summit on Mobile Learning, Stockholm, November 2012

1. Disruptive Devices
new pedagogies for mobile
technology
Mike Sharples
Institute of Educational
Technology
The Open University, UK

2. As mobile technology becomes
widespread, the emphasis shifts
from anytime anywhere access to...
... what kind of learning do you want
to achieve?

3. Learning as…
Changing behaviour Behaviourist
Enhancing skills Performative
Acquiring information Receptive
Gaining knowledge Constructivist
Making sense of the world Situated
Interpreting reality in a Collaborative
different way

4. Zurita, G., Nussbaum M.
(2004) A Constructivist
Mobile Learning
Environment Supported
by a Wireless Handheld
Network. In Journal of
Computer Assisted
Learning 20 pp. 235-243

5. The 3 C’s of effective learning
Construction
relating experience to knowledge,
creating new ideas
Conversation
with teachers, with learners, with
ourselves, and with the world
Control
actively pursuing knowledge

6. Toolkit for effective learning
Construction
• Multimedia computer
• Video and still camera
• Audio recorder
Conversation
• Phone
• SMS
Control
• Timer
• Accelerometer
• Location tracker
• Tilt sensor

7. Mobile social
Collaborative
networking
online writing
Conversational
language Serious gaming
learning
Personalised
Online research learning
Moblogging
Group
Science
learning
investigation Group media
creation
Peer teaching

9. Disruptive devices
Unequal
access Classroom
texting
Cyber-
bullying
Game
playing
Internet
predators Exam
cheating Loss of
teacher
control

10. How do we connect…

11. learning in the
classroom…

12. …and
learning at
home and
outdoors?

13. How do we connect…

14. learning about
the world …

15. … and
learning in
the world?

16. Active learning outside the classroom
Reflective learning inside the classroom

17. New pedagogies
• Seamless learning
– Learning by connecting knowledge across locations,
times, worlds (real and virtual), devices
Chan, T-W., Roschelle, J., Hsi, S., Kinshuk, Sharples, M. and 16 others (2006) One-to-one Technology Enhanced
Learning: An Opportunity for Global Research Collaboration. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced
Learning, 1,1 pp. 3-29.
• Personal inquiry learning
– Learning by personally meaningful investigation, guided
by mobile technology toolkits
Mulholland, P., Anastopoulou, S., Collins, T., Feisst, M., Gaved, M., Kerawalla, L., Paxton, M., Scanlon, E., Sharples,
M. and Wright, M. (2011) nQuire: Technological support for personal inquiry learning. IEEE Transactions on Learning
Technologies. First published online, 5th December 2011.
• Contextual learning
– Learning by creating ‘micro-sites’ for learning in
informal settings such as field trips
Boyle, T. & Ravenscroft, A. (2012) Context and deep learning design. Computers and Education, 59,4, 1224-1233.

18. Personal Inquiry
• Three year project
• University of Nottingham/ Open
University
• Aim:
– To help children to become scientists, by
developing their skills of effective science
investigation

19. Myself My Environment My Community
Personally meaningful investigations
Food packaging Urban heat islands
and decay
Fitness and heartrate
Healthy eating Effect of noise
pollution on birds Micro-

20. Effect of noise pollution on birds
• Investigation devised
by children, aged 14
• ‘What is the effect of
noise on bird
feeding’?
• Observation, quasi-
experiment, fair-test
• Plan in classroom,
collect data outside,
share and present in
classroom
• Inquiry toolkit on
netbooks

21. nQuire online
www.nquire.org.uk

22. Mobile learning
challenges
Connect learning inside and outside
the classroom
Manage children bringing their own
powerful personal technologies into
school
Support new pedagogies for mobile
learning