In recent years, digital learning has been converting from e-learning to m-learning because of the significant growth of wireless and mobile computing technologies. Students can learn any time and any where with mobile devices. Consequently, context-aware ubiquitous learning (u-learning) is emerging as a new research area. It integrates wireless, mobile and context awareness technologies in order to detect the situation of the learners and provide more seamless adaptive support in the learning process. In this paper, a context-aware u-learning environment is developed for learning about campus vegetation in elementary schools based on an innovative approach by employing repertory grid method in designing learning content. In addition, we probe the feasibility of context-aware u-learning in courses by soliciting feedback from the students and teachers through interviews and questionnaires. The findings reveal that the environment is capable of enhancing students' motivation and learning effectiveness. Moreover, it is also capable of reducing the teaching load while enabling better control of class order. IntroductionMobile learning (m-learning) has been regarded as the advanced model following e-learning. Georgiev, Georgieva and Smrikarov (2004) defined it as the new stage of digital learning. It uses mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, portable computers and so on. It can be seen as part of ubiquitous computing that integrates mobile computing, context-aware mechanisms and pervasive computing technologies in our daily lives.

No abstract

The teacher-directed approach characteristic of the traditional classroom normally adopted by mathematics teachers provides few opportunities for students to develop their mathematical problem-solving skills and little encouragement for them to engage in conversation. Furthermore, this approach might not be flexible to students’ individual learning needs and could generate low interest in mathematics among students. To reduce these learning problems, this study proposes a student-centered learning activity called interest-driven video creation, which adopts interest-driven creator (IDC) theory in its design. By viewing cognitive apprenticeship strategies as subcomponent concepts of the creation loop in IDC theory, this study could articulate and enrich the creation loop model of IDC design in mathematics. In an interest-driven video creation activity, students solved mathematics word problems through individual and group creation of tutorial videos. With these videos, students could teach their fellow classmates by discussing mathematics concepts and sharing ideas. The preliminary results reveal significant improvements in mathematics achievement and show that both high- and low-achieving students have positive attitudes and low anxiety regarding the activity and perceive both mathematics and the learning activity to be highly useful. In addition, the students’ perceptions of the benefits of the activity for learning are positive overall. Students also agree that they enjoy and engage in the video creation activity and that the activity helps them to learn mathematics better and improves their communication skills, teamwork skills, and filmmaking techniques.

The interest-driven creator (IDC) theory is being developed as a group endeavor by Asian researchers to articulate a holistic learning design theory for future education in Asia. The theory hypothesizes that students, driven by interest, can be engaged in the creation of knowledge (generating ideas and artifacts). By repeating this creation process in their daily learning routines, they will excel in learning performance, develop twenty-first-century competencies, and form creation habits. We hope that with such practices in education, our future generations will ultimately become lifelong interestdriven creators. In IDC Theory, there are three anchored concepts, namely, interest, creation, and habit. Each anchored concept comprises three component concepts which form a concept loop. For example, the creation loop consists of three component concepts-imitating, combining, and staging. Imitating is concerned with taking in (or inputting) an abundant amount of existing knowledge from the outside world to form one's background knowledge. Combining refers to delivering (or outputting) new ideas or artifacts prolifically by synthesizing existing information encountered in the world and thoughts arising from the students' background knowledge. Staging relates to frequently demonstrating the generated ideas or artifacts to the relevant communities and receiving feedback from these communities to improve the novelty and value of the demonstrated outcomes while gaining social recognition and nurturing positive social emotions. This paper focuses on describing the three components of the creation loop. We provide three case studies to illustrate the creation loop at work, as well as how it intertwines with both the interest and habit loops in supporting students to develop their creation capabilities. In presenting this iteration of the creation concept, an anchored concept in IDC theory, we acknowledge the roles played of imitation, combination, and staging in different learning and education contexts-indeed, there are multiple theories that inform and intersect with it.

PurposeThis study proposes a mobile learning model that employs digital libraries to support investigative learning activities. A student‐centered mobile learning activity with self‐guided exploration for physical ecology observation has been conducted to demonstrate the benefits of using digital libraries to support investigation‐based ecology learning activities.Design/methodology/approachAn investigation‐based mobile learning model is proposed and an experiment is designed to show the effectiveness of the learning model, in which the students are asked to answer a series of questions by observing the real‐world learning objects and searching for supplemental materials from a digital library.FindingsThe instructional experiment conducted in an elementary school with 64 sixth grade students shows that the innovative approach is able to improve the learning achievement, learning effectiveness, as well as the learning attitudes of the students.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper imply that the use of the investigative learning model will significantly promote the utilization rate of digital libraries.Originality/valueAn investigative model for using digital libraries to support mobile learning is proposed in this paper. It provides good guidance to teachers for designing learning activities with digital libraries, and a good way for students to learn, utilizing the materials in digital libraries.