We are interested in how mobile devices (phones, netbooks, pads) can be used to support and enhance student learning. This is a topic which is interesting both technically and educationally.

The motivation behind this research is that — in principle — a mobile device can interact with its user in a rich and context-aware manner. One can, for example, imagine a scenario where a student enters a classroom and their netbook automatically presents the material prepared by their tutor for the lesson, and tailored to the student's knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Of course, this is not entirely a problem which relates to mobile devices. A student can engage with a desktop PC in the classroom, and many of the same issues relating to adaptive presentation of educational materials still apply. However, mobile devices have the advantage that they will travel with the student.

This suggests the first of our themes. If the device knows where the student has been and what they have been doing, then that is information which can be harnessed for use by the adaptivity algorithm. A mobile device can, with current technologies, know its location (with a reasonable amount of certainty), and a student can plan where they should be at any given time. Combining the two sets of information should allow the device to present useful information to the student at appropriate times, and we have been investigating, through mCALS framework, how this can be done in practice, and how effective the approach is.

The second of our themes considers the use of a mobile phone (or other small device) when used in a restricted but well-defined context such as a museum. Within such an environment, interaction with the device can be carefully controlled, yet the user experience can be rich. Led by Ubique Lab, a part of the Educational Technology research group at the University of Eastern Finland, various games have been written and evaluated, including SciMyst, TekMyst, LieksaMyst and Heroes of Koskenniska, which explore how such pervasive learning systems can be deployed.

Publications

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. and Sinclair, J.E. and Hagan, S.J. (2012) Potential Deployment of Java Web-based Learning Objects from the Public Domain into Mobile Learning Environments. International Journal of Science, Innovation and New Technology, 3 (1). ISSN 2223-2257 (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Nygren, E. and Sutinen, E. and Islas Sedano, C. and Joy, M.S. and Blignaut, S. (2011) Ubiquitous Mathematics from South Africa to Finland: Does Reverse Transfer Work? In: Ubiquitous Learning: A Survey of Applications, Research, and Trends. Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC. (In Press) (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2011) A Context-aware Personalised M-learning Application based on M-learning Preferences. International Journal on Mobile Learning and Organisation, 5 (1). pp. 1-14. (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2011) M-learning Generations and Interview Study: Results of A Mobile Context-aware Learning Schedule Framework. In: Combining E-Learning and M-Learning: New Applications of Blended Educational Resources. IGI Global, Hershey, PA. ISBN 978-1-60960-481-3 (hardcover) 978-1-60960-482-0 (ebook) (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Islas Sedano, C. and Joy, M.S. and Sutinen, E. (2010) Critical Factors for Technology Integration in Game-Based Pervasive Learning Spaces. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies. ISSN 1939-1382 (In Press) (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Islas Sedano, C. and Sutinen, E. and Joy, M.S. (2010) Viable and Portable Architecture for Pervasive Learning Spaces. In: 9th International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia (MUM'10), 1-3 Dec 2010, Limassol, Cyprus. (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Vinni, M. and Islas Sedano, C. and Joy, M.S. (2010) On Designing a Pervasive Mobile Learning Platform. ALT-J: Research in Learning Technology, 18 (1). pp. 3-17. ISSN 0968-7769 (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2010) An Adaptive Context-aware Mobile Learning Framework Based on the Usability Perspective. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 4 (4). pp. 378-390. ISSN 1746-725X [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2010) Designing and Evaluating the Mobile Context-Aware Learning Schedule Framework: Challenges and Lessons Learnt. In: IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning 2010, Porto, Portugal. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2010) Proposal of a Mobile Learning Preferences Model. In: 5th Interactive Mobile and Computer Aided Learning Conference (IMCL2010), 16-17 September 2010, Hasselt, Belgium. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2010) Proposal of a Mobile Learning Preferences Model. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 4 (4). ISSN 1865-7923 [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. and Dickert, S. (2010) A Mobile Context-aware Framework for Managing Learning Schedules – Data Analysis from a Diary Study. Educational Technology and Society, 13 (3). pp. 22-32. ISSN 1436-4522 [PDF] (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Islas Sedano, C. and Vinni, M. and Joy, M.S. (2009) Characteristics of Pervasive Learning Environments in Museum Contexts. In: 8th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning (mlearn 2009), 26-30 Oct 2009, Orlando, FL. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Joy, M.S. (2009) Survey on Context-Aware Pervasive Learning Environments. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 3 (1). pp. 70-76. ISSN 1865-7923 [PDF] (BibTeX)

Turtiainen, E. and Blignaut, S. and Els, C. and Laine, T.H. and Sutinen, E. (2009) Story-based UFractions Mobile Game in South Africa: Contextualization Process and Multidimensional Playing Experiences. In: Story-based UFractions Mobile Game in South Africa: Contextualization Process and Multidimensional Playing Experiences: Second Workshop of Story Telling and Educational Games (STEG 2009), 19-21 Aug 2009, Aachen, Germany. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2009) A Mobile Context-Aware Framework for Supporting Self-Regulated Learners. In: IADIS International Conference Cognition and Exploratory Learning in Digital Age (CELDA 2009), 22-24 Nov 2009, Rome, Italy. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2009) A Mobile Context-aware Framework for Managing Learning Schedules – Data Analysis from an Interview Study. International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, 1 (4). pp. 29-55. ISSN 1941-8647 [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2009) A Mobile and Context-Aware Adaptive Learning Schedule Framework from a Usability Perspective - a ‘Diary: Diary-Questionnaire’ Study. In: 17th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE 2009), 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2009, Hong Kong. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2009) A Mobile and Context-based Learning Schedule Framework from a Pedagogical Perspective — an Interview Study. In: IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning 2009, 6-8 Jul 2009, Barcelona, Spain. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Laine, T.H. and Joy, M.S. (2008) Survey on Context-Aware Pervasive Learning Environments. In: mLearn 2008, 8-10 Oct 2008, Telford, UK. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Sitthiworachart, J. and Joy, M.S. (2008) Is Mobile Learning a Substitute for Electronic Learning? In: IADIS International Conference on e-Learning 2008, 22-25 July 2008, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2008) A Self-Regulated Learning Approach: A Mobile Context-aware and Adaptive Learning Schedule (mCALS) Tool. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 2 (3). pp. 52-57. ISSN 1865-7923 [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2008) A Self-Regulated Learning Approach: A Mobile Context-aware and Adaptive Learning Schedule (mCALS) Tool. In: 3rd International Conference on Interactive Mobile and Computer Aided Learning (IMCL2008), 16-18 Apr 2008, Amman, Jordan. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2007) Architecture of a Context-aware and Adaptive Learning Schedule for Learning Java. In: 7th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT 2007), 18-20 Jul 2007, Niigata, Japan. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2007) A Context-aware and Adaptive Learning Schedule Framework for Supporting Learners’ Daily Routines. In: Second International Workshop on Mobile Communications and Learning (MCL 2007), 22-28 Apr 2007, Sainte-luce, Martinique. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2006) Application of Learning Styles for Effective Mobile Learning. In: Mobile Learning 2006, 16-21 Jul 2006, Dublin, Eire. [PDF] (BibTeX)

Yau, J.Y-K. and Joy, M.S. (2006) Context-Aware and Adaptive Learning Schedule for Mobile Learning. In: International Workshop on Mobile and Ubiquitous Learning Environments (MULE) at the International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE 2006), 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2006, Beijing, China. [PDF] (BibTeX)