context aware mobile learning at the university of birmingham peter lonsdale, mike sharples

Mobile learning technologies and context awareness

Context Aware Mobile Learning at the University of Birmingham

Peter Lonsdale, Mike SharplesCETADL and Educational Technology Research Group

Russell BealeAdvanced Interaction GroupSchool of Computer Science


Projects

• MOBIlearn model of context generic architecture software implementation CAGE: Context Aware Gallery Exploration

• CAERUS bundled system to enable providers to build location-

dependent content delivery desktop authoring package handheld client for location-based content delivery


Technology

CAERUS• GPS with PocketPC• Local content• Authoring package

MOBIlearn and CAGE• Ultrasound with PocketPC• WLAN content• Context architecture


Context awareness

• What can we do with it? Deliver appropriate content Customise content, interface and interaction

– level of detail– order of presentation– appropriate display on different devices

Recommend and offer services and options– e.g. communication, databases, web sites

Enable appropriate activities– e.g. collaboration, physical movement


Aims

1. Support users of mobile devices without distracting their attention from the task or environment

2. Allow relevant content (including learning objects and services) to be selected, filtered, and passed to the user

3. Enable users to either engage with the content or select other content from the filtered set

4. Provide users with detailed information about the current derived context model and allow them to change it


Context Model

• Purpose: Context enables appropriate action - in this

case learning

• Process:Context = a dynamic and historical process……constructed from context states…… which are constructed through interaction

between actors, situations, objects and activities... etc


Context Model

ContextWhat’s going on over time

Context SubstateElements from the Learner and Setting that are

relevant to the current focus of learning and desired level of context awareness

Context StateElements from the Learning and Setting at one particular point in time, space, or goal sequence


CAGE Architecture

ContextAwarenessSubsystem

ContentServer

Sensors

User input

User profile

Contentmetadata

Contentrecommendations

XML

XML

XML

XML

XML

Content

Environment


Making it easy

• Developers/content creators can define: Context features

– what do they look for– what do they do when they find it

rank +/- n exclude link to another feature

Links– pairs of context features that pass:

values timings


CAGE at Nottingham Castle

• Context awareness: which painting? how long? been there before?

• Highlight links between paintings

• Encourage physical movement


CAERUSContext Aware Educational

Resource SystemLaura Naismith

Mike Sharples, Jeffrey Ting, Dan CorlettCETADL

Caerus, in Greek mythology, was the personification of opportunity and favourable moments


CAERUS Overview

Handheld Delivery

Desktop Administratio

n

Caerus, in Greek mythology, was the personification of opportunity and favourable moments

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Desktop Authoring System

• Import map image• Scale map to GPS

coordinates• Associate

multimedia with regions on the map

• Create tours linking map locations


CAERUS client

• Show map based on current location

• Show an pointer to the next location on the tour

• Multimedia content automatically ‘pops up’ when you enter a region

• Use menu to explore more detailed content


Research teams

• MOBIlearn Pat Brundell Will Byrne Peter Lonsdale Giasemi Vavoula

• Caerus Laura Naismith Jeffery Ting

context aware mobile learning at the university of birmingham peter lonsdale, mike sharples

Documents