Brown, E. (Ed.), Sharples, M., Clough, G., Tangney, B., Wishart, J., Wijers, M., Jonker, V., Cook, J., Glahn, C., Borner, D., 
Specht, M., Taylor, J., Lyons, L., Beddall-Hill, N., Priestnall, G., & Polmear, G. (2010). Education in the wild: contextual and location-based mobile learning in action. A report from the STELLAR Alpine Rendez-Vous workshop series. Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham: Learning Sciences Research Institute (LSRI). Stellar-project.

/pdf/education-in-the-wild-contextual-and-location-based-mobile-2toaw4r482.pdf

Education in the wild: contextual and location-based mobile learning in action

In this paper we investigate social dimensions of technology use in human-animal interactions, through a study of interactive systems at the zoo.Zoos are a familiar place for encounters between humans and non-domesticated animals. Accordingly, we examine zoos as a significant site to extend research into animal-computer interaction (ACI). We present a case study that examines the deployment and use of new digital technologies that intervene in, and influence, human-animal relationships.The paper reports on interactive systems in use at Melbourne Zoo. The study investigates the use and impact of technology in the course of human-animal encounters, including how human use of technology in this setting shapes encounters in subtle ways. We examine five interactive systems used by visitors (Digital Signs and the Zoopermarket), by zoo personnel with visitors (Educator Screens and Volunteer iPads), and by zoo personnel with animals (Apps for Apes).Our work draws broad insights for the design and understanding of animal-human-computer interaction at the zoo, as a catalyst for further research into this site of considerable significance to animal-computer interaction. We identified four key themes in the ways that interactive systems are intervening in human-animal encounters at the zoo. Firstly, interactive technology at the zoo risks distracting from visitors' encounters with animals. Secondly, the appearance and use of technology moreover runs counter to expectations of naturalistic zoo landscapes. Thirdly, interactive systems however offer opportunities to enhance important aspects of visitors' experience of animal encounters, and to widen the temporal and spatial dimensions of the encounter. Finally, we interpret these insights by examining how technology is used in the context of interactions between numerous human and animal actors, and in a setting impacted by complex social and organisational forces. From this, we identify the need for ACI to consider technology use by diverse people and animals; that multiple interactions may occur at once; the diverse social activities that may surround human-animal interactions; the distributed form of interactions between multiple participants; and the performative nature of some human-animal encounters. Zoos offer a site to study technology as part of complex human-animal interactions.Technology shapes human-animal encounters in subtle ways.Design needs to accommodate diverse human and animal participants.Human-animal interactions may be distributed or entail multiple interactions.Interactions occur as part of social activities and can involve performance.

Interactive technology and human-animal encounters at the zoo

A new report has been published by the LSRI/University of Nottingham that gives an essential overview of research into location-based contextual mobile learning primarily across Europe, edited by Elizabeth Brown. The report follows on from a 2-day workshop funded by the STELLAR Network of Excellence as part of their 2009 Alpine Rendez-Vous workshop series. Contributors have provided examples of innovative and exciting research projects and practical applications for mobile learning in a location-sensitive setting, including the sharing of good practice and the key findings that have resulted from this work. (http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/ejb/preprints/ARV_Education_in_the_wild.pdf)

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00593044/document

Education in the wild: contextual and location-based mobile learning in action. A report from the STELLAR Alpine Rendez-Vous workshop series.

In the paper we present a tour guide system, which brings the portable devices into museums to be your own expert guide. The purpose of the system is to construct a mobile learning environment with positioning technology and portable devices. People who are in this environment would obtain the detailed information, and even the history of the exhibit displayed in text, voice or video clips. Moreover, unequal explanations, mobile group learning, and learning activities management are provided in the proposed system.

A Tour Guide System for Mobile Learning in Museums ê

[About the book] 

The report follows on from a 2-day workshop funded by the STELLAR Network of Excellence as part of their 2009 Alpine Rendez-Vous workshop series and is edited by Elizabeth Brown with a foreword from Mike Sharples. Contributors have provided examples of innovative and exciting research projects and practical applications for mobile learning in a location-sensitive setting, including the sharing of good practice and the key findings that have resulted from this work. There is also a debate about whether location-based and contextual learning results in shallower learning strategies and a section detailing the future challenges for location-based learning.

Introduction to location-based mobile learning

In the LEGS system, GPS-equipped mobile phones are used to learn about animals and their bodies from the viewpoint of evolution in a zoo This system identifies nearby animals, asks questions about the animals' bodies to enhance observation, provides navigations for the next observations, and summarizes several observed animals' parts from the viewpoint of evolution 24 students (age: 14--15 years old) learnt about animals using the mobile phones in a zoo We evaluated the system and found that it helped students explore, observe, and learn about animals' bodies independently in the zoo

LEGS system in a zoo: use of mobile phones to enhance observation of animals

The authors have developed a system called Learning Evolution in a zoo with GPS equipped mobile phones (LEGS). In the LEGS system, GPS-equipped mobile phones are used to learn about animals and their bodies from the viewpoint of evolution in a zoo. This system makes use of GPS-equipped mobile phones to display appropriate content about an exhibit by acquiring and saving information about a user's current position and his/her history of past activities. We examined differences between cases where junior-high students use the proposed system and where they use exhibition panels. As a result, we have found that using the LEGS system could activate students' thinking and communication, and serve to deepen their understanding of the learning content, so that students were able to enjoy animal observations.

Kazuhiko Sawada

Papers

LEGS system in a zoo: use of mobile phones to enhance observation of animals

Enjoyable "LEGS" system deepens children's learning in a zoo