Title: Social Thinking in Mobile Learning new thinking strategies for the mobile learner
1Social Thinking in Mobile Learningnew thinking
strategies for the mobile learner
- Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, 9 February 2007
2Questions
In the context of learning What kind of
thinking is valued? What kind of thinking is
valued in the information age? What kind of
thinking might be valued in the mobile age?
3Existing frameworks for thinking
- Most frameworks describing the thinking processes
necessary for learninghave a cognitive and
affective emphasis. Few consider the social
dimension. - (Moseley et al., Frameworks for Thinking A
Handbook for Teaching and Learning, CUP, 2005)
4Examples
- Blooms taxonomy 1956, revised 2001 remember,
understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create - De Bonos thinking tools, 1976-85, e.g. consider
all factors, find other ways - Barons model of the good thinker, 1985, e.g. a
good thinker seeks evidence on both sides,
revises goals when necessary - Sternbergs model of abilities as developing
expertise, 2001, includes critical, creative
practical thinking
5Thinking in the information age
- 1990s critical thinking is an important
attribute for success in the 21st century ?
evaluate, synthesize - 21st century the ability to think flexibly
an ability to think strategically scenario
thinking ? adapt, create - new literacies, e.g. social networking,
blogging? enact, connect - distributed cognition, wisdom of crowds ?
embrace, capture
6Beyond the information age?
- the abilities that matter most are now closer
in spirit to the specialties of the right
hemisphere - artistry, empathy, seeing the big
picture, and pursuing the transcendent. - Daniel Pink, 2005, Moving from the Information
Age to the Conceptual Age
7Today and tomorrow the digital generation
- Digital pioneers
- Creative producers
- Everyday communicators
- Information gatherers
- Green Hannon (publ. January 2007) Their Space
Education for a digital generation, Demos.
8Whats special about the mobile age?
- Time Perpetual contact (Katz Aakhus, 2002)
- People Smart mobs (Rheingold, 2002)
- Presence interests, preferred communication
- Capture personal, shareable, multiple media
- Performance immediate access and application
9Knowing in the mobile age
- As wearing computers becomes a more common
practice knowing will become collaborative,
networked and distributed processes and
performances now is the time to start thinking
seriously about possible scenarios - Lankshear Knobel, 2003, New Literacies
Changing Knowledge and Classroom Learning, OUP,
p. 167
10Issues to consider in mobile learning
Accessibility Familiarity Duration of
use Ownership Personalisation
Motivations Costs Demographics Emotions and
pleasure Emergent needs
device
user
Accessories Software Content Applications
Technical support Collaboration Social
networks Study activities Other
tools Enhancement Extension Emergent uses
people
Lifestyle Social acceptability Travel
tasks
Conditions of use Reliability Speed
network
locations
Continuity Linkage across contexts Pervasiveness
(Kukulska-Hulme, 2006)
11Some empirical evidence
- Research on practitioner innovation
(Kukulska-Hulme Pettit, 2006) what are mobile
devices good for?
time-critical activity
personal activity
opportunity
social activity
continuity
resources
12time-critical activity
share-trading translation news
social activity
personal activity
alternative contact presence group
work sharing exchanging coordinating interviewing
priorities notes reflections brainstorming record-
keeping recording listening
opportunity
continuity
databases presentations ebooks games
resources
13Thinking for the mobile learner
Some possibilities
- Opportunistic
- Investigative
- Incremental
- Resourceful
- Generative
- Persistent
- Contextual
- Playful